Students and teachers in favour of democratic values and against violence against women

The photo session, which took place in the sports hall at Campus Senftenberg, was organised by the chairs of Physical Education and General Studies and the director of studies, Deputy Prof. Dr Maximilian Piotraschke.

Inspired by the annual UN campaign "Orange the World", which sets an example against violence against women and girls and aims to raise awareness of this issue, the teaching degree programme's photo campaign is intended to emphasise the importance of non-violence, diversity, tolerance and democratic values. The event emphasises BTU's role as an educational institution and underlines the educational mission of the teaching profession in teaching and supporting diversity and democratic values.

"Democratic and humanistic values are more important today than ever," emphasises Dr Alexander Ratzmann, Head of the Department of Sports Education and Sports Didactics in Primary Education. "It is our task as a teacher training institution to raise the profile of this topic. In the future, we will have to be measured by the extent to which we succeed in reflecting this topic in the curricula and making it a topic in the professionalisation of our teachers from the perspective of all subject didactics."

Dr ^Beatrice Kollinger, deputy professor of subject teaching with a focus on social sciences, explains: "The conditions under which children and young people grow up are still characterised by various dimensions of injustice. But in primary school, all children learn together. This can be a place where participation, non-violence and acceptance can be lived and experienced. Teachers play a decisive and highly responsible role in the educational pathways of current and future generations. The fact that our students join us in taking a clear stance in favour of plurality and diversity and against all forms of violence is a powerful symbol."

Sarah Kautz, Local Equal Opportunities Officer at the Faculty of Human Sciences, adds: "Every year, I am very pleased that we at BTU take a strong stand against violence against women and girls. By hoisting the flags at all three campuses and this year even illuminating central buildings in orange, but also with photo opportunities such as the one at the Institute of Education Sciences, we clearly show that violence has no place at BTU!".

The event is an opportunity for students and lecturers to actively contribute to the visibility of this issue in the teaching profession and beyond. The event was documented with a photo to send out a clear and united message. The participants displayed orange flags, symbolising violence against women and girls, and rainbow flags to demonstrate the many dimensions of diversity practised at BTU.

"We are delighted that so many students and lecturers from different chairs were able to take part in the photo session to send a visible signal for value-conscious and democratic teacher training at BTU," explains Deputy Prof. Dr Maximilian Piotraschke. The importance of democratic values and their permanent negotiation should be more firmly established in the teaching degree programme at BTU. "In future, we need joint teaching and research formats at the institute that address the great importance of democracy-related basic education in all subjects and appropriately recognise the interdisciplinary nature of this task. Practical transfer must also play a greater role in the future," says Dr Alexander Ratzmann. Deputy Professor Dr ^Beatrice Kollinger agrees: "Democracy education in theory, practice and research - that must be our Agenda 2030 for this location!"