3rd Senftenberg Workshop - The BTU's New Teacher Training Program at the Start

Stakeholders from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science of the State of Brandenburg, from the city of Senftenberg, from agencies and associations, and from the BTU met in a workshop process on the Campus Senftenberg on July 5, 2023. Under the leadership of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs of the BTU, Prof. Dr. Peer Schmidt, they discussed the progress made in establishing the teacher training program and its further design.

The successful start of studies in the winter semester is assured. Interested students still have until July 15 to apply for the particularly practice-oriented study programme in primary education leading to a Bachelor of Education degree at the BTU in Senftenberg.

The pedagogical/didactic concept of the study programme presented by the interim head of the programme, Prof. Dr. Juliane Noack Napoles, met with much praise and broad approval from the participants at the third Senftenberg workshop. The study program is characterized by closely interlinked modules and a strong connection to school practice. The cooperation with around 100 partner schools in the region makes it possible for students to come into contact with students right from the start. They will not only be taught theoretical knowledge, but will also spend a fixed day each week working in the educational institutions and then reflect on what they have experienced and learned during the practical day. It is particularly important, he says, that the students understand how learning works. Learning workshops are designed to help them "learn and experience learning." In addition to the introduction to pedagogical thinking and action, for example, the focus is also on institutional and organizational aspects of elementary school. Among other things, students are taught comprehensive knowledge about the elementary school as a social institution, its legal and (educational) political framework. A lecture series on the legal framework is planned with partners from the field who will be relevant for every teacher in their later everyday school life.

Christina Adler from the Brandenburg Pedagogical Association emphasized: "I cannot tell you how satisfied and proud it makes me that things are moving forward. I want to thank you very much for this. We need to empower the new generation of teachers to get involved in school again. We will be happy to continue to support - in any way we can."

Uwe Mader, head of the Cottbus State Education Authority, was confident that many of the applications from the region would be retained after graduation. He also emphasized the high practical relevance of the course.

The response from parents was also extremely positive. Claudius Ksiazek, spokesman for the OSL District Parents' Council and member of the Brandenburg State Parents' Council, explained: "Teachers who go to schools today need a completely different kind of training than the one they have received up to now. They need equipment and support for everyday school life. Anything that contributes to this is worth its weight in gold."

In addition, the focus was on the workshop process for the further design of teacher training programs up to the master's degree. As the current ten-point program of the Ministries of Science, Research and Culture and of Education, Youth and Sports for better teacher training in the state of Brandenburg indicates, Senftenberg will not only be the site of a second teacher training program alongside Potsdam. It is also intended to become a nationwide pioneer in the field of co-op programmes. The BTU also wants to work together with partners in the region to achieve the goal of providing more school social workers.

Background

On March 13, 2023, the Brandenburg Ministry of Science, the Ministry of Education and the BTU presented the concept for the establishment of a teacher training program at the university's Senftenberg site. The application phase started on April 20. In the winter semester of 2023/24, the first 50 students of the new study programme for primary school teachers, initially for the subject combination Mathematics and German, will be able to start their studies.