MINT studies abroad: PH Schwäbisch Gmünd starts new project!

MINT studies abroad: PH Schwäbisch Gmünd starts new project!

On March 9, 2025, an important project will be launched at the Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Education (PH): “Act & Reflect smart: STEM Education in Motion”. The aim is to promote the intercultural skills of teacher training students in the MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology). Despite the importance of foreign-related study experiences, few prospective teachers in these subjects are willing to spend their study time abroad. However, study-related stays abroad are crucial for the acquisition of intercultural and professional skills, such as PH Gmünd reported.

The project is supported by the DAAD funding program “Lehramt.International 2.0” with more than 600,000 euros. The PH Schwäbisch Gmünd hopes to improve the professional quality of teacher training and school lessons with the help of international cooperation. The first steps include strengthening university cooperation, integrating international aspects into the MINT curriculum and removing mobility barriers.

Goals and measures of the project

A central goal of the project is the sustainable internationalization of teacher training courses in MINT subjects. This should be achieved through the following measures:

• Stärkung von Hochschulkooperationen mit einem MINT-Schwerpunkt.
• Integration internationaler und interkultureller Aspekte in das MINT-Curriculum.
• Abbau von Mobilitätshürden für MINT-Studierende.
• Förderung von fachlicher Qualität und interkultureller Kompetenz durch gemeinsames Lehren und Lernen in internationalen Gruppen.

The kick-off event took place on January 29, 2025, at which Prof. Dr. Kevin Larkin from Griffith University Brisbane and Prof. Dr. Mellony Graven from Rhodes University Makhanda presented the opportunities for PH students. Thilo Rentschler, General Manager of the IHK, and the PH Rector Prof. Dr. Kim-Patrick Sabla-Dimitrov emphasized the importance of the project for the East Württemberg region.

International cooperation in the education system

The internationalization of universities is seen as crucial in order to ensure the attractiveness of Germany as a university location. In 2023, a total of 18,153 international collaborations between 312 universities in Germany (excluding Erasmus) were registered, such as Federal Government underlined.

The internationalization strategy, which was adopted by the federal and state governments in the summer of 2024, aims, among other things, to increase the attractiveness for international students and researchers and to reduce hurdles for their integration. Furthermore, high-quality international experiences for students and employees should be promoted in order to strengthen the global competitiveness of German universities.

Intercultural training and its importance

In the context of internationalization, intercultural training plays a crucial role. These training courses are offered at many universities to prepare students and employees for stays abroad and to promote internationalization locally. The DAAD Academy provides information about developments in this area and emphasizes that current specialist discourses on intercultural communication must be taken into account.

The challenge is to design contemporary training for various target groups. Current requirements, such as the integration of refugee students and the qualification of skilled workers, require a continuous exchange of experiences and methods. Intercultural training is primarily intended to strengthen the international skills of the participants and prepare them for the globalized demands of the world of work.

In summary, the project “Act & Reflect smart: STEM Education in Motion” at the PH Schwäbisch Gmünd is an important step towards increasing the intercultural competence of STEM teacher training students. In the long term, this could help to improve the quality of teacher training and the prospects for future teachers.