Internationalization

Conceptual Approach

International perspectives within teaching degree programs

International perspectives, international experiences and cultural reflexivity are cross-sectional elements of teaching degree programs due to growing demands for skills and expertise regarding heterogeneity and diverse cultures of origin at schools and in classrooms. Modern universities are international players and international centers of science and knowledge, which is reflected in various international elements within our teaching degree programs.

Internationalization and global interconnection

It is the aim of internationalization to strengthen transnational approaches and activities of higher education institutions. Internationalizing teaching degree programs includes offering students the opportunity to complete parts of their academic achievements abroad. The Tübingen School of Education (TüSE) develops its profile within the international educational academic landscape and also realizes the overarching objectives of internationalization in accordance with the guidelines and standards adopted by the German Rector’s Conference (HRK), the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), as well as by the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

The Internationalization within the TüSE benefits from the University of Tübingen’s ongoing measures such as the HRK-Audit Internationalization of Universities and the existing university-wide internationalization efforts, considering especially cooperations with successful research centers worldwide.

International perspectives broaden horizons and create new perspectives on the ‘Familiar’

Meeting people from diverse backgrounds enables students to encounter diverse values and to develop understanding of foreign traditions and customs. By understanding different perspectives students may perceive their own construction of subject knowledge, theirown values and perspectives from a new angle and reflect on them in order to change them or to become more aware of them. (Schelle 2017, pp.316)

Student mobility

The aims of increasing mobility and improving the transfer of credits gained abroad refer to the following German and European Mobility Goals:

German mobility goals
Internationalization Strategy of the German Federal Government and the Federal States, 2013	Goal A: Every second university graduate should have been abroad during his studies. Goal B: At least 33% should have been abroad for at least three months or 15 ECTS.
European mobility goals
Communiqué of the Ministerial Conference, 2012	Until 2020, an EU average of at least 20% of higher education graduates shall have had a period of higher education-related study or training (including placements) abroad, with a minimum of 15 acquired ECTS or three months abroad

^{Source: (HRK 2016, Projekt nexus)}

Projects

Evaluation of exchange experiences of teacher candidates
Research on teacher education approaches outside Germany
Student exchange and cooperations: Promotion of international exchange with partner institutions
Support in questions of accreditation
Information on international school internships
Internationalization at home: activities to support incoming teacher candidates
International educational classes: developing special types of courses in English language for German and international students, also using E-Learning facilities.
Summer School / International Education Week