Progress in teacher training: Dual master's program for Senftenberg!

Progress in teacher training: Dual master's program for Senftenberg!

On April 9, 2025, the 7th Senftenberg workshop took place at the Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU). The focus of the event was the further development of the Senftenberg model of teacher training, which has been implemented at the BTU since 2022. Representatives from ministries, educational institutions and higher education came together to work on a new dual master's degree program for primary school teaching, which is planned for the winter semester 2026/27. The BTU also reported on the high practical relevance that arises from the link between university and school.

A central element of this workshop was the continuation of a workshop on dual teacher training courses that took place in October 2024. The event included both plenary discussions and working groups aimed at promoting innovative approaches to teacher education. Prof. Dr. Peer Schmidt, who described the diverse approaches of the Senftenberg workshop as the key to the design of the dual teacher training course, and Prof. Dr. Juliane Noack Napoles, who emphasized the importance of the exchange, led the discussions.

Cooperations and exchange

Members of the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MWFK), the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MBJS), the Brandenburg Teachers' Association as well as teachers and students from the BTU also took part in the workshop. Representatives of primary schools, mayors and educational institutions from the region also contributed their experiences. These discussions were crucial in identifying key challenges and discussing possible solutions for implementing the dual master's degree program.

The event received positive feedback from participants, which is seen as an indicator of the progress and effectiveness of the Senftenberg workshops in teacher training in Brandenburg. Juliane Hohlfeld, a student on the primary school teaching bachelor's degree program, was enthusiastic about the planning of the dual master's degree and the involvement of students in the development process.

Expansion of teacher training

Brandenburg would like to significantly expand its capacity for training teachers in the future. Science Minister Dr. Manja Schüle and Education Minister Britta Ernst presented plans for a teacher training program in Senftenberg, which was developed in collaboration with the Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research (ZeLB) at the University of Potsdam. The first teacher training students for the subject combination of German and mathematics will begin their studies in the winter semester of 2023/24. A total of 12.31 million euros is budgeted to advance teacher training.

According to a resolution by the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), the introduction of dual teacher training courses is also being promoted in many federal states. These new courses are intended to partially integrate the preparatory service into the teacher training course. The proposed models include dual bachelor's and master's degree programs as well as part-time study programs for career changers, which are intended to bring more flexibility to the teaching profession.

Overall, the new developments face the challenge of providing more students with current teaching methods and at the same time increasing the number of teacher training students. The responsibility for designing these programs is left to the individual federal states, with Brandenburg taking a pioneering role.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Juliane Noack Napoles is available as contact person.

The comprehensive impulses from the Senftenberg workshop represent an important step in the further development of teacher training in Brandenburg, especially with regard to the new dual study programs.