Education of future teachers with high didactic and scientific quality in particular in STEM subjects - this is the joint objective of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Karlsruhe University of Education (PH). An example of successful cooperation of both institutions is the “MINT²KA” project that is presently being funded with EUR 2 million by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science in the funding line of “Leuchttürme der Lehrerbildung ausbauen” (extending beacons of teacher education). To further intensify collaboration, both universities have now established the “Joint Commission for the Education of Teachers in Karlsruhe.”
“KIT and PH are aware of their responsibility for the education of the future generation of teachers. The strengths of both institutions – the PH with its pedagogic profile and KIT with its focus on natural and engineering sciences – complement each other optimally. We now plan to further intensify our successful cooperation and to jointly offer an excellent program for the education of teachers,” says KIT Vice President for Higher Education and Academic Affairs, Professor Alexander Wanner.
“Actually, both universities with their respective expertise in science and didactics in STEM subjects in particular can set new standards in the education of teachers,” Professor Christian Gleser, Vice-Rector for Studies and Teaching of the PH, emphasizes.
Cooperation of KIT and PH is to focus on the joint education of future teachers of biology, chemistry, German, geography, mathematics, physics, natural science and technology, sports, computer science, and ethics / philosophy for the lower classes of secondary schools as well as on the associated didactics and research.
Both universities plan to better coordinate their programs for a smoother course of studies. They will open their offers for students of the other university, provided that the required space, staff, and subject-specific capacities are available. Students will be allowed to use the libraries and facilities of the other university at the same terms than own students. Moreover, lecturers will be free to offer seminars at the partner university. KIT and PH also plan to more closely cooperate in teacher education research.
Joint Commission for the Education of Teachers in Karlsruhe
The Joint Commission now established is to accompany cooperation and to further develop the contents and structure. It is intended to foster the exchange of experience in teaching and to support cooperation on the subject level. Further tasks are the development of a concept for establishing joint structures for the education of teachers, quality management of all joint projects, the development of new projects, and the organization of “Karlsruhe Teacher Congresses.” Moreover, the commission is to coordinate plans of both institutions for the introduction and further development of master’s programs for teachers of secondary schools.
Apart from the KIT Vice President for Higher Education and Academic Affairs and the Vice-Rector for Studies and Teaching of the PH, representatives of teacher education, subjects, assistants, and students of both universities are members of the commission.
Karlsruhe University of Education combines know-how in education science, didactics, and scientific disciplines in an innovative teaching-learning culture and applies this know-how for research and theory formation. It has about 3500 students and 250 staff members.
In close partnership with society, KIT develops solutions for urgent challenges – from climate change, energy transition and sustainable use of natural resources to artificial intelligence, sovereignty and an aging population. As The University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT unites scientific excellence from insight to application-driven research under one roof – and is thus in a unique position to drive this transformation. As a University of Excellence, KIT offers its more than 10,000 employees and 22,800 students outstanding opportunities to shape a sustainable and resilient future. KIT – Science for Impact.