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Project PraxisPro starts with Kick-Off Workshop

Internationalisation of Teacher Education Programmes

2021/12/01 by

On November 15th and 16th, the kick-off workshop for PraxisPro, a project for the internationalisation of teacher education programmes funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), took place digitally via Zoom.

A number of stakeholders at the intersection of internationalisation and teacher education came together for this two-day workshop, amongst them members of the Center for Teacher Education (ZfL), internationalisation coordinators of different departments as well as representatives from the Department of International Affairs. Goal of the event was to connect the various stakeholders to work together more effectively for the internationalisation of teacher education.

The presentations and conversations on Monday focused on the cooperation with the partner institution University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Prof. Dr. Katja Adl-Amini (working group school pedagogy, TU Darmstadt) and Dr. Carmen Fies (UTSA) introduced their joint seminar that is attended by students of both universities. Julia Fitzthum and Philina Wittke addressed previous cooperations with the US in general and more specifically with UTSA. Ann-Kathrin Drohmann spoke about her experience teaching abroad and reflected on how it has affected her work as a teacher today. Prof. Dr. Lisa Montoya (UTSA), Dr. Ruth Mell (Project Lead), Dr. Jana Freihöfer (International Relations & Mobility, Deputy Dean of International Affairs) as well as Prof. Dr. Jens Schneider (Vice President, Transfer and International Affairs) provided words of welcome; Dr. Tara Rensch-Hewitt (Project Coordinator) guided through the programme of the day.

On Tuesday, the programme was dedicated to the topic of cross-cultural issues in the classroom. After an interactive workshop led by Katrin Köppl (Center for Cross-Cultural Competence), Philina Wittke presented her approach to working with students in cross-cultural training workshops. The day concluded with a discussion and many impulses for the project.

The project PraxisPro is a pilot project (funded until the end of 2024) within the DAAD programme Lehramt.International that receives its funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

For any questions, please contact Dr. Ruth Mell (Project Lead) or Dr. Tara Rensch-Hewitt (Project Coordinator).