International teacher training: universities in exchange for the future!

International teacher training: universities in exchange for the future!

From May 13th to 16th, 2025, an important project meeting took place at the Heidelberg University of Education (PHHD), which focused on the close cooperation between the university and training schools for prospective teachers. The event was organized by the Center for School Practice Studies (ZfS) as part of the “ExPiTe³ – Trinational Exchange on School Practice for Teacher Education” project. The participants consisted of training teachers from the PHHD as well as partner schools from PH Zug (Switzerland) and Saxion University (Netherlands), who will work together in international tandems for a period of two years.

The matters include internships and project meetings at which Swiss teachers were able to get to know the requirements and structures of the partner schools in Heidelberg. In addition, they took part in class debriefings with university lecturers in the integrated semester internship. This didactic support for teacher training students is considered a key quality feature of the universities of teacher education in Baden-Württemberg, such as ph-heidelberg.de emphasized.

Key findings and actions

During the meeting, the participants also received insights into the structures and offerings of the PHHD. This includes educational and didactic accompanying seminars, which are important for the training. Another highlight was the presentation of the concept of digital portfolio work, which is intended to help participants reflect on practical phases. In addition, the university's internal advisory services for teacher training students were presented.

Dr. Isolde Rehm, head of the ZfS, emphasized the importance of personal and professional exchange. Internationalization and the quality of teacher training are central concerns that are becoming increasingly important in Germany. Over 200,000 students are enrolled in teacher training courses, and the HRK sees internationalization as an urgent necessity. These measures are intended to prepare teachers for cultural diversity in everyday school life and take into account the demands of global education.

A look into the future

The focus of the discussion was also the planned return visit in November 2025, during which tandems from Heidelberg and the Netherlands will visit PH Zug. The continuation of this international collaboration is financed by the Swiss National Agency for Exchange and Mobility Movetia and is scheduled to run until July 31, 2026.

It cannot be overlooked that the demands on teacher training have increased. The need for teachers with international experience is crucial to adequately prepare students for the international labor market. Like in one Commentary on teacher training is emphasized, the intercultural and international orientation of teacher training is essential, also in view of the demographic changes in schools, where over 33% of primary school students already have a family history of migration.

In order to meet these challenges, it is crucial to support teachers through full scholarships for school internships abroad and structural internationalization of teacher training courses. Dialogue formats are intended to improve the political framework so that teacher training students have the opportunity to gain international experience, something that was often missing in the past.

In summary, it can be said that the further development of teacher training in an international context is particularly important because it plays an essential key role in shaping a cosmopolitan and responsible society.