Graduation ceremony in Bielefeld: New teachers for NRW get started!

Graduation ceremony in Bielefeld: New teachers for NRW get started!

On June 6, 2025, a significant graduation ceremony for graduates of the “Teachers Plus” program took place in Bielefeld. This event was organized by the University of Bielefeld, the Ruhr University of Bochum and the University of Duisburg-Essen. Around 60 graduates who had successfully completed the program came together in the Hechelei district of Bielefeld to receive their certificates.

“Teachers Plus” serves to qualify teachers from third countries who may also have a refugee background. Professor Dr. Dario Anselmetti, Prorector for Studies and Teaching at Bielefeld University, emphasized the relevance of the exchange and networking between the three universities during the celebration. This is the seventh year at the University of Bielefeld and the Ruhr University Bochum and the fifth at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Program structure and training

The program, which is located in the schools of education and in the center for teacher training at the universities, is aimed at international participants who have already completed university studies abroad. The participants not only bring advanced knowledge of German, but also practical teaching experience from their home countries. Over the course of the one-year program, your knowledge of German will be deepened and supplemented by pedagogical-intercultural and subject-didactic courses.

Participants have the opportunity to gain practical experience through internships at schools. Many of them, including Ali Mahmood, have benefited from new teaching methods, such as the “Fish Bowl” method, which allows students to actively express their opinions in class. Mahmood, who has worked as both a student and a teacher in the LK-Plus project, uses his experiences to empathize with the students. After the program, he plans to take part in the International Teacher Support (ILF) program to further deepen his knowledge.

Background and social significance

The relevance of such programs is underpinned by the demographic situation in Germany. In the 2020/2021 school year, 12% of students at general education schools did not have German citizenship, with over 33% of primary school students having a family history of migration. These developments require teachers who have international experience and can therefore convey authentic global content. The focus is on the quality of teacher training. According to the OECD teaching study TALIS 2018, only 32% of international teachers had multicultural and multilingual contexts in their training.

Given the challenges that schools face, the need for intercultural teacher training also comes to the fore. Strategies for internationalization in teacher training, such as awarding full scholarships for school internships abroad and expanding cooperation with foreign universities, are crucial. These measures are intended to help increase the mobility rate of teacher training students and provide targeted support for stays abroad.

The graduation ceremony was not only a celebratory occasion, but also an important step into the graduates' professional future. Combined with the practical experience and intercultural skills they acquire through the program, they are well prepared for teaching in a globalized world. Guests like Professor Dr. Stefan Rumann from the University of Duisburg-Essen and Minister Ina Brandes sent their congratulations and supported the vision of modern teacher training that meets the challenges of an increasingly multicultural society.