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Project Summary connect4future
All Higher Education Institutions for Teacher Training are currently required to address internationalization in teacher education as a central task. This is motivated by two main reasons. On the one hand, schools, teaching, and teacher training are increasingly taking place in international and culturally diverse environments. On the other hand, many of today’s societal challenges can only be sufficiently understood and sustainably overcome by considering their global contexts and with the aid of international cooperation.
Therefore, prospective teachers need to acquire interdisciplinary skills beyond their professional studies in order to manage complex, cross-cutting themes such as health education, intercultural education, digitalization and inclusion in schools and society. Teacher Training must consequently create interdisciplinary teaching formats, that are systematically anchored within the course of study, and purposefully promote international perspectives and intercultural proficiency in the pedagogy of migration.
The project connect4future supports these developments by combining both approaches - internationalization and work on cross-cutting themes. Students, faculty and partner institutions work together on central issues of teacher training within an international higher education network. Their goal is to substantially develop and enhance the students’ intercultural and future-oriented skills.
The aforementioned teaching and learning formats are being developed and implemented in close cooperation with European partner institutions of University of Siegen. All participants will benefit from intensive professional exchange as well as the joint formats. Furthermore the project places emphasis on climate-sensitive and resource-saving implementation: mobility formats and events will be – whenever possible – sustainably organized as digital formats, short-term stays or a targeted use of existing infrastructure.
Connect4future is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), as well as by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), within the programme „Lehramt.International 2.0: Internationalisierung der Lehramtsausbildung an deutschen Hochschulen, Modellprojekte an deutschen Hochschulen (Modul A) (2025–2029)“ (Internationalization of Teacher Training at German Higher Education Institutions).
Cross-Cutting Themes and Future Skills in Teacher Training
The project focuses on four selected cross-cutting themes in teacher training, which are essential for the students’ interdisciplinary and intercultural proficiency:- Media Education and Digitalization
- Education for Sustainable Development
- Health Education and Resilience
- Education for Democracy
Events and Formats
Various learning and teaching formats, developed in cooperation with faculty in teacher training and partner institutions, will primarily focus on conceptional work on and professional exchange related to cross-cutting themes and future skills of prospective teachers. These measures will include:- Internationally oriented lecture series
- International summer schools, both in Siegen and at partner universities
- Guest lectureships and interdisciplinary project seminars
- Excursions to partner universities and other short-term mobility opportunities
- Hybrid event formats in the context of internationalization@home
- International meet-ups “Lehramt.International”
Informationen für Studierende
Connect4future supports you in internationalizing your teacher training.It can be exhausting to organize a stay abroad alongside your studies – we’re here to help you get a taste of international life, without the stress.
- Don’t want to spend a whole semester abroad? We offer short-term programs like excursions or summer schools – so you can continue your studies and still broaden your horizons!
- Your course of study doesn’t require or plan for a stay abroad? That’s where we come in! With us, you can gain international experience – no matter your subject combination or school type.
- Worried your subject combination isn’t suitable for going abroad? We offer an international focus on relevant cross-cutting themes in teacher training. Together, we’ll explore topics like media education and digitalization, sustainability, democracy education, health education and resilience – all through an international lens.
- No money for a short stay abroad or excursions? Apply for a grant to join our programs – you can still take part!
- No time to plan everything on your own? Participating in connect4future requires much less planning than an individual stay abroad.
- You’d rather stay in Siegen but still feel drawn to the wider world? Join our hybrid events and international lecture series here in Siegen, so you can get started with your internationalization@home!
Information for Faculty
Connect4Future offers you the opportunity to easily implement international teaching formats – such as project seminars on cross-cutting themes relevant to teacher training, excursions to partner universities, and guest lectureships – either in person or online. We provide you with organizational and financial support, so that you can focus on your course content and the exchange with international colleagues.
Strengthen international cooperation in your teaching – and let us take care of the rest!
We would be happy to advise you on suitable formats and funding opportunities during our digital consultation hour.
Project Coordinator
Vanessa Breitkopf
0271 / 740-2078
Digital Consultation Hour
for Students and Faculty
Tuesday 13:30 - 15:00
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