Invitation – Final Conference of the Erasmus+ project ‘Teachers of English for Future Europe’ (TEFE A+)
When and where? Thursday, 21 May 2026 in České Budějovice, Czech Republic
The conference, entitled “International Teaching Practice: Teaching English, Bridging Cultures, Shaping Futures,” will bring together teacher educators, mentors and institutional representatives from across Europe to explore how international teaching practice can be embedded more structurally within initial teacher education.
Rather than focusing solely on project reporting, the event is designed as a working and exchange-oriented forum for colleagues engaged in the internationalisation of teacher education and teaching practice.
Alongside insights from the TEFE A+ project (2023–2026), we aim to create space for broader dialogue, comparison of approaches and shared reflection across institutional and national contexts, with a strong emphasis on discussion and networking.
Representatives of the TI Team and the Department of History and the Deparment Slavonic Studies travelled to the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice from 24 to 27 March 2026.
During the stay, there was an exchange of ideas regarding the current project. At the rectorate level, a meeting was held with several Pro-Rectors, representatives of the faculties and the International Office, during which the deepening of cooperation was discussed and concrete expressions of interest were made.
In addition, meetings were also held at the departmental level. The work meeting in the Department of History was used to further prepare a joint lecture. During the work meeting in the Department of Slavonic Studies, the organisation of an upcoming BIP was among the topics discussed.
There was also an opportunity to visit a school, observe a lesson and take part in the subsequent reflection.
International School Conference 2026
From 9 to 11 March 2026, the University of Greifswald will host the international conference of the Teaching Internationally project on the theme “From Attraction to Retention: Global Approaches to Teacher Education”.
The focus will be on:
- Recruiting and Retaining Teachers
- Professionalisation through Innovative Formats and
- Internationalisation.
The conference offers opportunities for exchange with international guests and inspiration for your own research and teaching. Participation is possible either in person or online.
Click here for the programme and registration form.
University and policy dialogue Mecklenburg-Western Pomerenia (20.11.2025)
Within the framework of the DAAD funding line Lehramt.International, a university and policy dialogue took place in Schwerin on November 20, 2025. The conference focused on the internationalisation of teacher training in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerenia. In particular, a look was taken at the University of Greifswald, which is making a significant contribution in the internationalisation of teacher training with its model project "Teaching Internationally" and its double degree course "Teaching German-Polish Language binational".
The University of Greifswald was represented by the TI team, Thomas Jenssen & Andrea Ponikwia, and the deputy managing director of the GULB, Prof. Dr. Leander Kempen, and entered into an exchange with representatives of the: Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs of the State of M-V, Ministry of Education and Child Day Care of the State of M-V, several members of the state parliament, the Federal Association of Teachers for Vocational Education and Training M-V e.V., the University of Rostock, former Lehramt.International scholarship holders and the DAAD.
The participants discussed how internationalisation can be further promoted in the state and how this can be specifically supported by the relevant stakeholders.
Meeting at the University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Representatives of the Teaching Internationally project and the Department of Slavonic Studies travelled to Sarajevo in October through the the Erasmus+ programme to discuss further cooperation between the universities, particularly in the area of teacher training.
Among others, talks were held with the Rectorate, represented by the Pro-Rector for Research and International Affairs Prof. Dr Narcis Pojskić and the Vice-Dean for Research and International Cooperation Prof. Dr Minka Džanko, as well as with the Department of Slavonic Studies, represented by Prof. Dr Mehmed Kardaš (Director of the BKS), Prof. Dr Adijata Ibrišimović Šabić (Russian Studies) and Jelena Grebenar, M.A. (Russian Studies).
In addition, a meeting was held with the representative of the ZfA in Sarajevo, Dr Martina Batteux, at which the possibility of sending students from the University of Greifswald to Bosnia and Herzegovina for school internships was discussed.
Information session on study abroad programmes - focus on teacher training
The information session on study abroad programmes is specifically aimed at teacher training students who are interested in spending time abroad during their studies.
We will provide you with general information on exchange and funding opportunities, as well as guidance on academic and organisational preparation. We will also present specific funding programmes aimed specifically at teacher training students. As a period abroad often requires considerable planning time, it is advisable to start looking into this well in advance. Attendance at an initial or subject-specific consultation with the International Office is a prerequisite for all more detailed consultations regarding stays abroad. We look forward to seeing you there!
Speakers:
- Dr Frances Hoferichter (Exchange Programme Coordinator)
- Dr Sebastian Krumpel (International Office, Erasmus+ Coordinator)
- Andrea Ponikwia (DAAD-Project Teaching Internationally)
When? Thrusday, 16 October 2025 at 2 pm
Where? Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 3, Lecture hall 2.33
DAAD Conference: "The Future Requires Cooperation: Strengthening Internationalisation – Creating Opportunities" (25 September 2025)
The TI team attended the DAAD conference “The Future Needs Cooperation: Strengthening Internationalisation – Creating Prospects” on 25 September 2025 in Berlin.
The event celebrated the DAAD’s 100th anniversary and looked to the future. Alongside practice-oriented workshops, information sessions and interactive discussion formats, study findings and forward-looking, strategic approaches to internationalisation were presented.
Click here for the BintHo study: Mobility in teacher training: motives, barriers and alternatives – a teacher training-specific analysis of data from the “Benchmark International University of Applied Sciences” (BintHo) project.
International School Conference 2025
The “School - inter - national” conference took place from 15–17 September 2025. The University of Greifswald welcomed representatives from the partner universities: Adam Mickiewicz University (Poznań, Poland), Lincoln Bishop University (UK), Södertörn University (Sweden), the University of Latvia (Riga, Latvia), the University of Michigan-Flint (USA) and the University of Zadar (Croatia). Over the three days of the conference, the topic “The Changing Role of Teachers and Teacher Educators from an Inter-National Perspective” was explored.
The Teaching Internationally team would like to thank all participants for the lively exchange!
Polonicum (Summer School) 8-13 September 2025
Hate Speech, Exclusion and Minorities in Poland - Linguistic and Cultural Studies Perspectives
Greifswald Polish Summer School under the academic coordination of Dr Grzegorz Lisek (Greifswald), Professor Dr Andreas Ohme (Greifswald), Dr Agnieszka Szlachta (Szczecin)
In view of the increasing brutalisation of society, the Greifswald Polonicum 2025 will examine the topics of hate speech, exclusion and minorities in Poland from a linguistic, literature and cultural studies perspective. The focus is on the various dimensions of hate speech against ethnic, religious and sexual minorities such as Roma, Ukrainian migrants and the LGBTQ+ community. The summer school addresses the question of how linguistic discrimination and stereotypical representations in public communication can be overcome so that fundamental values of democracy are not lost.
Further information on the programme, scholarships and applications here.
Meeting at the University of Zadar (Croatia)
In September, the project travelled to the Adriatic coast, where several meetings were held with colleagues from the University of Zadar. The focus was on the joint seminars, which are scheduled to take place in the winter semester 2025/26. The local Slavonic Studies department played a very active role in the meetings. Discussions with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sandra Hadžihalilović give us hope that teacher training and internationalisation can be even more successful.
Meeting at the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań (Poland)
In June 2025, the project management team and associated staff travelled to Poznań to visit the Adam Mickiewicz University, where they met with representatives from the departments of East Slavic Philology (Prof. Dr. Andrzej Narloch, Prof. Dr Beata Waligórska-Olejniczak), the Institute of Applied Linguistics (Prof. Dr Danuta Wiśniewska) and the Department of Educational Science. Topics such as university cooperation, joint seminars, and student and academic exchanges were discussed. There are similar challenges in teacher training faced by our colleagues in Poznań, which we would like to tackle together – an area where the Teaching Internationally project can provide support.
Research Colloquium Teacher Education (Primary Education) - Summer Sessions 2025
The University of Greifswald cordially invites you to the Research Colloquium Teacher Education (Primary Education):
14th May, at 2.15 pm (CEST/Berlin),
Exploring the development of teacher identity in initial teacher education and
beyond.
Dr Emma Towers (King's College London)
18th June, at 2.15 pm (CEST/Berlin),
Förderung von MINT-bezogenem Interesse, Selbstwirksamkeit & Wissen zum Klimawandel: Ergebnisse aus dem Projekt You-SCIE-MINT(in German)
Dr Annelie Schulze (University of Greifswald) & Paula Becker (Heidelberg University of Education)
9th July, at 2.15 pm (CEST/Berlin),
How do others shape decision making and learning across development?
Dr Julia Rodríguez Buritica (University of Greifswald)
This is a hybrid event. Please join us either in Greifswald (Lernwerkstatt in Haus der Grundschule, Steinbeckerstr. 15) or online: Zoom link
First consultation for the period of stay abroad - focus on teaching degree programmes
This information event on the topic of "Stays abroad" is explicitly aimed at student teachers who are interested in a period of stay abroad during their studies.
We will provide you with general information on exchange and funding opportunities and give you tips on subject-specific and organisational preparation. We also present specific funding programmes that are explicitly aimed at student teachers. As a period of stay abroad sometimes requires a longer planning period, it makes sense to deal with the topic in good time. Participation in an initial or specialist consultation at the International Office is a requirement for all more detailed consulations on periods of stay abroad. We look forward to your participation!
Speakers:
- Dr Frances Hoferichter(Exchange Coordinator)
- Dr Sebastian Krumpel(International Office, Erasmus+ Coordinator)
- Andrea Ponikwia(DAAD project Teaching Internationally)
- Roberta Wirminghaus(International Office, University Partnership Coordinator)
Meeting at the Polish University Abroad (London, UK)
Representatives of the University of Greifswald: Dr. Agnieszka Putzier (Rectorate/Slavonic Studies), Justyna Hryniewicz-Piechowska (Slavonic Studies), and Andrea Ponikwia (Rectorate) traveled to London in early May to meet with representatives of the Polish University Abroad / Polski Uniwersytet na Obczyźnie w Londynie (PUNO) and representatives of the Consulate School in London to explore opportunities for cooperation and internships in the field of Polish as a foreign and heritage language.
Among other things, talks were held with the rector of PUNO, Prof. Dr. Włodzimierz Mier-Jędrzejowicz, lecturers Dr. Dorota Hrycak-Krzyżanowska and Dr. Agnieszka Szajner, and financial accountant Urszula Lenik to discuss plans for joint courses within the Polish language teaching seminars, which could benefit the “Teaching Internationally” project and thus also students of the dual degree program “Joint German-Polish Teaching Degree Programme” and Teacher Training Course for the subject Polish.
In addition, the consulate school, which is located at Gumley House Convent School, was visited. Here, the representatives of the University of Greifswald gained an insight into the classes and lessons. A meeting was held with the school principal, Ewa Wojciechowska, to discuss possible cooperation.
Meeting at the University of Zadar (Croatia)
In April 2025 representatives of the Department of Slavonic Studies at the University of Greifswald travelled, within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme, to Zadar in order to further deepen the intensive cooperation with the partner university in addition to the teaching experience abroad.
Among other things, a meeting was held with the Vice-Rector Prof. Dr sc. Anita Pavić Pintarić, in which Dr Grzegorz Lisek (associate member of the Teaching Internationally project and member of staff at the Department of Slavonic Studies) and PD Dr habil. Martin Henzelmann (member of staff at the Department of Slavonic Studies) took part. There was also an exchange with Prof. Dr. sc. Rafaela Božić, izv. Prof. Dr Sandra Hadžihalilović and Dr Eugenija Ćuto (Institute of Russian Studies).
The participants were informed about the exchange of students, the upcoming lecturer exchange, professional cooperation and the reforms of the teaching degree courses. In addition, options for intensifying cooperation in the form of further possible Slavonic Studies projects were discussed.
16th International Week of Professors "Internationalisation and Future"
The International Week of Professors takes place from May 12 - 16, 2025
Aim: to welcome and give opportunity to professors from European universities to give classes/lectures/workshops to students, present research, give home institution presentations to would-be exchange students, advertise project initiatives and participate in students' research conference events (24th International Students' Research Conference on May 13 - 16, 2025).
Language: English.
Venue: University of Latvia, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, Teacher Education Department
Address: Imantas 7. līnija 1, Riga, Latvia
Deadlines: proposal submission till April 1, 2025(see the registration form)
For additional information, please contact: Dr. paed., Prof. Indra Odiņa
Email: indra.odinalulv
International Scientific and Artistic Conference: Rethinking Childhood IV Towards Transdisciplinarity
The Department of Teacher and Preschool Teacher Education at the University of Zadar and the Faculty of Education at the University of Maribor cordially invite you to the
International Scientific and Artistic Conference
Rethinking Childhood IV
Towards Transdisciplinarity
which will be held in Zadar from May 28 to May 30, 2026.
Applications for presentations and workshops are available via the Google Forms. Submissions of artistic works for the exhibition should be sent to the following email address: rethinkingchildhood.IVgmailcom
For more information about the conference, please visit the official website
The Department of Linguistics at the University of Zadar invites you to the 14th Mediterranean Morphology Meeting (MMM14), which will take place from June 12-14, 2025.
The Mediterranean Morphology Meeting (MMM) is a biennial event that brings together linguists from diverse theoretical backgrounds and at various stages of their careers to engage in discussions on morphology in a collaborative, inspiring, and informal setting.
Whether you are an established researcher or early in your academic journey, the University of Zadar looks forward to your participation in what promises to be an engaging and enriching experience.
Please save the date and join the meeting to explore the fascinating world of morphology, share your research, and connect with the international linguistic community.
Meeting at the Södertörn University 24-27 November 2024
At the end of November, the Teaching Internationally team visited Södertörn University (Sweden). Cooperation between the two universities already exists within the KreativEU Alliance and will now be expanded on in the teaching programme through the follow-up funding for Teaching Internationally.
Several meetings took place during the trip. On the one hand, there were discussions with the International Office, represented by Karin Granevi and Felicia Fernelius, and on the other, there were talks with representatives of teacher training programmes of all school types.
In addition, there was a meeting with Ms Anne Sander (representative of the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad in Stockholm) to discuss internship opportunities for students at the University of Greifswald.
Project extension until 2029
The University of Greifswald has been successful with its follow-up proposal for the project funding line Teaching Internationally, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), managing to secure additional funding up until 2029. The project Teaching Internationally is one of 36 projects approaching the internationalisation of teacher-training degree courses in Germany to receive funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The project will start on 1 January 2025. The full funding amount for the five years totals approximately 625,000 euros.
The aim of the Teaching Internationally project is to promote the international mobility of Greifswald's student teachers. In addition to periods of study at partner universities, the project aims to establish a network of schools abroad, where student teachers can complete periods of teaching practice. Studies are further internationalised by joint digital classes held by Greifswald lecturers together with partner universities in several foreign languages, study-related short-term stays at the partner institutions, and guest lectureships for foreign academics at the University of Greifswald.
The following partner universities and their nearby (campus) schools belong to Greifswald's internationalisation network:
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece)
University of Zadar (Croatia)
University of Latvia, Riga (Latvia)
Vilnius Academy of Arts (Lithuania)
Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań (Poland)
Södertörn University (Sweden)
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (Czechia)
University of Michigan-Flint (USA)
Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln (United Kingdom)
Further foreign universities are interested in getting involved in this project.
Click here to find the full press information.
DAAD Publication - Innovation, cooperation, impact: Lehramt.International - a programme takes stock
During the Lehramt.International conference in Berlin (4-6 Nov. 2024), the DAAD released the publication Innovation, Cooperation, Impact: Lehramt.International - a programme takes stock.
The publication provides a wide range of insights into the internationalisation work of the model projects, periods of stay abroad and student internships. It also presents the results of the overarching work of the policy dialogue at the level of the schools and science ministries of the various federal states, accompanying studies and the marketing measures of the "studieren weltweit - ERLEBE ES!" campaign.
Guest lecture: Exploring AI Applications in (Language) Education
Jakov Proroković, PhD, University of Zadar (Croatia)
Teaching Internationally welcomes Jakov Proroković, PhD as a guest lecturer at our university this October/November!
Proroković is a Research and Teaching Assistant at the Department of Teacher and Preschool Teacher Education at University of Zadar (Croatia).
During his stay he will hold seminars at the English Department as well as an open lecture on "Exploring AI Applications in (Language) Eduaction" open to all students.
The goal of this presentation is to provide an overview of rapidly advancing large language models (such as GPT and Gemini) and their applications in language education, as well as to identify key AI-powered tools and techniques in the broader educational context. The implications of AI for both students and teachers will be discussed, along with the ethical considerations that educators face in light of these rapidly evolving technologies. This includes outlining key concepts and tools such as computer-assisted instruction, intelligent tutoring systems (ITS), automated error detection, and intelligent tutoring for specific language skills (reading, writing, pronunciation), as well as exploring primary technologies like natural language processing (NLP), automated speech recognition, and machine learning. Additionally, he will present some results from an unpublished study on the limited lexicographic potential of AI in the context of English loanwords. Finally, the lecture will conclude with an invitation for discussion on the contrasting views of AI in education: the utopian vision versus the dystopian perspective.
The open lecture took place on the 5th of November 2024, 4 PM, at lecture hall 2, altes Audimax (Rubenowstraße 1).
Contact-building trip Athens 28-31 October 2024
The Teaching Internationally team visited the National and Kapodistrias University of Athens at the end of October to talk in depth about cooperation within the framework of the "Teaching Internationally" project for the 2025-2029 funding period.
This led to a lively exchange with the Institute of German Studies, represented by Prof. Karakassi, among others. There were also discussions with the Dean Prof. Drosos (Dean of the School of Philosophy). As well as with the Institute of Education and History with Prof. Foteinos (Dept. of Educational Studies; President of the Faculty).
In addition, a meeting was held with Ms Wiskamp (representative of the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad) and a representative of DSD schools to explore internship opportunities for studies at the University of Greifswald.
Finale Conference 2024 - AI and Internationalisation in Teacher Education
The final conference of the "Teaching Internationally" project took place from 16 September to 20 September 2024. Representatives from the partner universities Bishop Grossetteste University (Lincoln, UK), University of Latvia (Riga, Latvia), University of Languages & International Studies (Hanoi, Vietnam), University of Malta (Malta) and University of Michigan-Flint (USA) came to Greifswald to discuss the topic of "AI and Internationalisation in Teacher Education" in workshops led by members of the University of Greifswald as well as partners of the project.
In addition, the participants looked back on the project and received impressions from scholarship holders who completed their semester of study abroad and internship within the framework of the project.
Discussions also took place on how cooperation between the partner universities can be continued and intensified beyond the project.
The Teaching Internationally team would like to thank all participants for the lively exchange!
Meeting at the University of Zadar (Croatia)
Representatives of the University of Greifswald travelled to Zadar from 2 to 6 September 2024 to further deepen the intensive cooperation with the partner university.
Among other things, a meeting was held with the Vice Rector Dr sc. Anita Pavić Pintarić and Dr sc. Nikolina Miletić (Institute of German Language and Literature), during which Mr Jenssen (project manager Teaching Internationally) and Dr Grzegorz Lisek (associate member of the project) took part.
There was also an exchange with Izv. prof. dr. sc. Ana Pejdo (Institute of Geography).
The participants discussed the exchange of students, the upcoming lecturer exchange, professional cooperation and the reforms of the teaching degree courses.
In addition, the requests for the continuation of the Teaching Internationally project and the request for an ERASMUS+ Teacher Academy were discussed.
Invitation: Finale Conference 2024 - AI and Internationalisation in Teacher Education
The conference "AI and Internationalisation in Teacher Education" marks the qualification of the DAAD project to support internationalisation in teacher education. The focus is on teaching concepts, writing skills and testing and measuring knowledge progression. In particular, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) will be discussed in detail.
The conference will take place from 16 September to 19 September 2024 and will focus on the following topics:
16/09/2024: General Introduction
17/09/2024: Teaching Concepts
18.09.2024: Writing Competence
19.09.2024: Testing and Performing Measurments
The conference enables participants to gain insights and help shape the future of teacher training. It aims to promote the internationalisation of teacher training with practical and innovative approaches.
Click here for the programme and registration form.
Workshop: (Inter-/Pluri)cultural communication and culturally reflective learning at school and university
Prof. Dr. Sylwia Adamczak-Krysztofowicz (AMU)
Culturally reflective learning is not just a subject specific to the teaching profession. It is not only pupils who learn, but also university students. Student teachers in particular should be sensitised to (inter/pluri)cultural communication.
In the first part of the workshop, students will first familiarise themselves with the theoretical basics of different cultural concepts, interculturality and communication. In a next step, terms such as intercultural competence, self-image, image of others and meta-image, prejudices and stereotypes will be discussed in more detail. The introductory theoretical part with interactive tasks for the participants is intended to form a basis for the joint acquisition of intercultural competence and for the critical and reflective analysis of ethnomemes in the second part of the workshop.
In the second part of the interactive workshop, the question of how ethnomemes can be used as valuable media for culturally reflective learning both in advanced foreign language teaching and in multicultural collaborations will be addressed.In order to demonstrate the importance of ethnomemes in the treatment of ethnostereotypes, an overview of the different criteria for analysing ethnomemes is given after an introduction to the term (ethno)memes with a focus on their didactic-methodological potential and illustrated with selected examples. The first hybrid trilateral project seminar is then presented, which took place within the framework of the study trip between the universities in Marburg, Nijmegen and Poznań funded by the German Academic Exchange Service. Finally, the presented didactic-methodological model for the integration of ethnomemes into university project work will be discussed and tested with students from Greifswald.
The workshop will take place on Thursday, 11 July 2024 in Wollweberstraße, room 0.27.
Part 1: 10:15-12:00
Part 2: 13:30-15:30
Critical Issues Conference: Generative AI in Education - Call for proposals
The University of Michigan-Flint cordially invites you to submit a proposal to the Frances Willson Thompson Critical Issues Conference: Generative AI in Education. This one-day conference will take place in the Riverfront Conference Center, March 7, 2024. The day will begin with presentations and panel discussions in the morning, followed by a luncheon, additional breakout sessions in the afternoon and will culminate in a keynote address and dinner.
Generative AI can be a dynamic and visionary tool that exemplifies the synergy between technology and education. It offers a compelling glimpse into a future where both educators and students are not merely equipped, but empowered, to flourish in the face of ever-accelerating societal transformations.
The goals of this conference are to spark a meaningful dialogue between higher education and K-12 professionals, staff and international partners; foster new professional connections and insights; and gain practical ideas for integrating GAI into our respective work contexts around the globe. To this end, proposals are invited that address a wide spectrum of issues pertaining to GAI and education.
The deadline to submit a proposal is December 4, 2023. Proposals will be reviewed and selected by the conference organizing committee. Decision notifications for all proposals will be sent via email in mid-January.
Guest lecture: The linguistic landscape in Finland - A linguistics study of the country
Finland is a multilingual country. According to the constitution, Finnish and Swedish are national languages with equal rights. In addition, there are several officially recognised minority languages and other regularly used languages.
Prof. Dr. Michael Rießler 's lecture is a general introduction to Finland's linguistic diversity and offers an insight into the country with the happiest people in the world.
Michael Rießler is a professor of general linguistics at the University of Eastern Finland and is currently a visiting professor at the University of Greifswald as part of the Teaching Internationally project.
The event will take place on 22 November 2023 at 16:00 in lecture hall 2 of the old Audimax (Rubenowstraße 1).
From Greifswald to the world - periods of stay abroad in teacher degree programmes
On 15 November 2023, at 16:00, the "Teaching Internationally" project is organising an information event on the topic of “Period of stay abroad in teacher degree courses” in cooperation with the International Office and the GULB. In addition to a general overview of funding opportunities and application procedures, you will also receive information about the "Teaching Internationally" project and its partner universities. You will also find out how you can apply for scholarships for a period of stay abroad in the winter semester 2024/2025 by 15 December 2023 and which selection criteria must be considered. Within the framework of "Teaching Internationally", you can apply for a scholarship for a stay at one of the following partner universities of the project: Finland (Itäsuomen Yliopisto, UEF), Latvia (University of Latvia, Riga), Great Britain (BGU Lincoln) and Vietnam (University of Languages and International Studies, Hanoi).
The event will take place in lecture hall 3 of the New Audimax (Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 6).
During a visit to the University of Zadar from 10 to 13 May 2023, intensive discussions were held with representatives of various subject. In order to identify opportunities for cooperation and intensify the exchange of students and teaching staff, talks were held with, among others, the History and Geography departments.
At the same time, Rector Prof. Dr Katharina Riedel also visited the University of Zadar to discuss the university cooperation that has been in place since December 2022. During the talks with three Pro-Rectors of the University of Zadar, among other things, the academic cooperation opportunities for establishing a European university partnership were explored.
"The University of Zadar has a wide range of interesting research topics, including for example marine biotechnology, where there are opportunities for research cooperation with academics from Greifswald," said the Rector after the talks in Zadar.
The university partnership is the result of the efforts of the "Teaching Internationally" project to establish cooperation between the Baltic Sea and the Adriatic. Within the framework of the project, ERASMUS+ contracts have already been concluded in the fields of Educational Science, German Language and Literature, English and History.
In the winter semester 2023/2024, students from Greifswald will go to Zadar for the first time to study at the new partner university for a semester.
The students of the University of Latvia, Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art invite you to share your research, knowledge and experience with other students in the 22nd International Students' Research Conference on May 16 - 18, 2023.
The aim of the conference initiative is to motivate students to carry out their research and present it in the English language, thus preparing and leading them in personal development as professional researchers and strengthening the collaboration between educational institutions in Latvia and in Europe.
The conference welcomes proposals for the sessions that focus on studies done on aspects of the foreign language; foreign language skill development; foreign language teaching methods; linguistics; literature; translation; education; teacher education; documents on education; students' life; and personality development. The research can be presented as a 15 minute talk. The deadline for the submission of presenter's application forms is April 1, 2023.
On 13 December 2022, the two universities signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, which further intensifies the previous cooperation within the framework of the Teaching Internationally project and at ERASMUS+ level.
The history of the University of Zadar (Croatia) goes back to a Studium Generale established in 1396. Initially established as a faculty of the University of Zagreb in 1955 and then assigned to the University of Split in 1974, the independent University of Zadar was founded in 2002. The university is divided into 25 departments and focuses on Humanities and Social Studies (including teaching), but also offers degree courses in the fields of Economics, Health, Ecology, Tourism, Information Science, Marine Engineering and Logistics. The University of Zadar is also a member of the European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (EU CONEXUS).
At present, around 6,000 students are enrolled. The university is an employer for around 650 employees.
Within the framework of international cooperation, the University of Zadar has been a partner in the DAAD-funded Teaching Internationally project of the University of Greifswald since 2021. ERASMSUS+ contracts exist with the Departments of British and North American Studies, German Philology and Educational Science. Further ERASMSUS+ contracts are in the pipeline.
"With the University of Zadar, the University of Greifswald has gained its first cooperation partner in Southeast Europe. The university also offers interesting starting points for cooperation in research and teaching beyond teacher training," summarises the Manager of the Office of the Rectorate, Thomas Jenssen, who signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of the University of Greifswald.
The University of Eastern Finland is organising a Virtual Open Day event on Wednesday, 23 November, at 2.00-4.00 pm (Helsinki time), to showcase the university's courses, programmes and services offered in English. The Virtual Open Day is specifically aimed at people interested in the university's educational opportunities available in English.
Currently, the University of Eastern Finland is home to around 2,000 international students. The university's academic offering includes nearly 30 Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes taught in English, a wide range of opportunities for student exchange, research training for doctoral researchers, and the UEF Summer School.
Programme:
Our Virtual Open Day starts with an Opening Session "We are UEF". This part of the event includes opening words from our Academic Rector, Tapio Määttä, interesting key facts about our university and study opportunities. We will hear thoughts and experiences of our students and alumni from around the world. We will also take a virtual jump to our beautiful campuses.
Our staff and students will also be present in Presemo chat, where you can ask questions during the event. The chat opens at the same time as the event itself, 2pm.
After the Opening Session there are field or programme specific Zoom-rooms where you can learn about the studies in more detail.
On 17 and 18 October 2022, the Teaching Internationally workshop took place at the University of Greifswald. It is part of the DAAD-funded project (2021-2024) of the same name, which aims to internationalise teacher training.
After countless bilateral and multilateral online workshops since 2021, the first face-to-face and on-site conference finally gave participants the opportunity to get to know each other in person. The international guests experienced living tradition by participating in the cemremonial matriculation of the new students in Greifswald's cathedral, where the university was founded exactly 566 years earlier to the day (17 October 1456). The fact that the long historical tradition of the University of Greifswald is also organically linked to innovation and modernity in research and teaching is documented by the innovative research and teaching projects being pursued at the five faculties.
The participants came from four partner universities in Finland (University of Eastern Finland, School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education), Latvia (University of Latvia, Teacher Education Department), Croatia (University of Zadar, Departments of German and English Studies) and the UK (Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln, Teacher Training) - the previously existing European partners in the international UG network Teacher Education, which is being established within the framework of the project.
Long-standing university and ERASMUS+ partnerships already exist with the universities in Finland, Latvia and the UK. The University of Zadar has joined as a committed new ERASMUS+ partner, and a university agreement is in preparation to put the cooperation on an even broader footing. The network partners from overseas will be represented by guest lecturers in 2022, who will come to the UG for one month each for research and teaching stays: one guest lecturer from the University of Michigan-Flint in the USA (06/2022) and two guest lecturers from the University of Languages and International Studies in Hanoi (12/2022).
The project workshops continued the exciting exchange on current key topics, challenges and visions for teacher education in an international comparison, which had already been initiated by a joint digital lecture series on this topic in winter semester 2021/22. Educational scientists from Greifswald provided information on the latest developments in teacher training at the UG as well as reform efforts brought about by the upcoming amendment to the teacher training law in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Particularly with regard to the organisation of Primary Education, for example, the UG can also benefit sustainably from the many years of experience of the Finnish partner university in this area.
The first TI programme scholarship holders began their studies in the USA, Finland and Vietnam in the winter semester 2022/23. Their selection and preparation has once again highlighted the full range of problems that teacher training students face during a study abroad project and the result of which is the low international mobility of teacher students. The problems range from a lack of mobility windows to questions of recognition.
Therefore, one of the key topics discussed during the workshop was the issue of internships in teacher training programmes - from the theoretical discussion of theorist-practitioner relations in general to the very practical issues of recognising internships completed abroad for the teacher training degree programme in MV. The corresponding presentations by the international workshop participants revealed an exciting variety of internship forms and their different temporal positioning in the course of study. At the same time, they highlighted the need for all those responsible for teacher training programmes to intensify their joint comparative work on study structures in order to enable students to have their internships completed abroad recognised without any problems. Good progress has already been made with the Vietnamese partner university ULIS.
Within the project framework, the discussion will be continued in a joint summer school on the topic of International Challenges of Teacher Education, which will take place in Greifswald in August 2023. However, comparable and studyable module structures (in analogy to the internationally common BA/MA system) including mobility windows guaranteed in the study and examination regulation as well as consistent, transparent and adequate ECTS assessments in accordance with European requirements are already proving to be important points of reference for the optimisation of teacher education in MV.
The second round of applications for the project scholarships will take place in the current winter semester 2023/24 and summer semester 2024.
