So far there has been hardly any research into the effects of placement-based experience abroad on internationalizing teacher training at German universities and thus opening up German schools to the wider world. The SCHULWÄRTS! Research Hub seeks to remedy this situation by networking researchers in various disciplines and providing a working platform and discussion forum to promote professional exchange between them.
The result after around 2 years of the research hub: Our SCHULWÄRTS! anthology entitled ‘Internships abroad in teacher training programmes. Initial findings from the Goethe-Institut's SCHULWÄRTS! research hub’
This volume is a product of the synergies created in the hub and a sign of fruitful cooperation beyond the individual subject disciplines. Within the framework of theoretical and empirical research, the Hub members take an interdisciplinary approach to the topic of internships abroad in teacher education and embed it in the context of internationalisation.
Studies from cultural theory, educational science, didactics, school practice, international teacher training & education research and education policy provide insights and initial findings on the significance and effectiveness of mobility programmes such as SCHULWÄRTS! for the domestic and foreign education system. Together with the Research Hub, the Goethe-Institut is thus participating in the exchange of knowledge on educational mobility and the concept of a change of perspective as a significant educational factor.
We are very pleased about the successfully completed joint project and its excellent outcome. Many thanks to the Research Hub members and their co-authors for their valuable contributions!
The anthology is available in German with an open access licence under the Creative Common Licence CC BY-NC-SA 4.0:
Twice a year, the SCHULWÄRTS! team organises workshops for the hub members to ensure space for presentation, exchange and feedback on the respective research work, to bundle the different areas of expertise and to create synergies for joint scientific projects. Co-operation agreements were concluded with the research hub members in time for the one-year anniversary in October 2020.
In cooperation with individual hub members, theoretical and empirical research work was carried out on the following aspects, among others:
Highlighting the different possibilities for completing a practical phase abroad across the 16 federal states and their conditions for success
Development of a concept of cultural competences specifically for teacher training
Investigating the effects of SCHULWÄRTS! internships on the professional development of (prospective) teachers, taking into account a newly developed test instrument for recording aspects of intercultural competence
Motivational development for practical phases abroad
Systemic effects of projects within the internationalisation of teacher training and their sustainability
Initial results are published in our collective publication ‘Auslandspraktika im Lehramtsstudium. Erste Erkenntnisse aus dem SCHULWÄRTS!-Forschungshub des Goethe-Instituts.‘
Members
The Research Hub currently comprises eight permanent members from the fields of cultural theory, educational science, specialised didactics, school practice, international teacher training & educational research and educational policy.
Senior Manager of the Internationalisation of Teacher Education project area in the ABL at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
Research assistant and coordinator of the sub-project ‘KulturPLUS: Kulturbezogene Lehrerinnen- und Lehrerbildung’ of the project ‘WegE: Wegweisende Lehrerbildung’, lecturer at the Chair of Literature and Media at the Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg
Designated Head of Research & Development, Continuing Education and Services at the Centre for Vocational Studies and Research Associate at the Institute for Competence Diagnostics, St. Gallen University of Teacher Education
Project Manager SCHULWÄRTS!
Coordination of the research hub in the department DaF-programmes of the Educational Cooperation for German at the head office of the Goethe-Institut
Opportunities for Universities
Through the Research Hub, you can share expertise
As a member of the SCHULWÄRTS! research group
By presenting papers at Research Hub workshops and network meetings
By consulting on research projects
By taking part in or providing support for research projects
By initiating new research projects together with other universities
By reviewing research studies
The SCHULWÄRTS! Research Hub has a lot to offer:
A worldwide network of educational institutions
A vast network of student teachers and alumni
Workshops and network meetings with researchers and other people involved in educational research
Empirical data from the SCHULWÄRTS! programme
The SCHULWÄRTS! Research Hub provides assistance and support in
Establishing contact with educational institutions and establishments, researchers and administrators in Germany and especially abroad
Researching and mining data in areas explored by the Research Hub
Evaluating the SCHULWÄRTS! programme
Publishing Research Hub results
Opportunities for Students
SCHULWÄRTS! is looking for students to look into the effects of our placement programme in their theses: Use your own empirical research for your Bachelor's, Master's or PhD thesis and make the SCHULWÄRTS! programme your research topic.
Look into the effects of student teacher placement abroad on the German education system or on schools in host countries to shed light on the (bilateral) benefits of international teacher training. In doing so, you’ll be making an important contribution to an area of research largely neglected so far. The SCHULWÄRTS! team will support you in your research endeavours.
Goal: To investigate the effects/impacts of the SCHULWÄRTS! programme on the educational system and stakeholders in Germany and/or host countries
Method: An empirically based thesis involving qualitative or quantitative research (e.g. questionnaires, interviews etc.)
The SCHULWÄRTS! programme has a lot to offer:
A worldwide network of educational institutions
Around 170 partner schools and 34 Goethe-Instituts in 34 countries around the world
Contact with a large number of SCHULWÄRTS! student teachers and alumni
Assistance in recruiting respondents and interviewees
Assistance in finding research topics
Participation in network meetings with people involved in empirically based research on education via the SCHULWÄRTS! Research Hub
Assistance in finding a suitable school abroad for field research (e.g. India, Vietnam, Sweden, Finland etc.)
