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Ruhr University Bochum: PiStE

Intercultural teaching and learning in the school laboratory

Networking lecturers at international universities with German teacher education students and school pupils

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Structure and objectives

The Alfred Krupp School Laboratory at Ruhr University Bochum (AKS) provides a unique learning environment in which classes of school pupils are introduced to scientific topics. Students of many different subjects at the university also have the opportunity to work independently or with lecturers to develop new programmes and deliver them with school pupils. Programmes of this kind are a core element of teacher education curricula in Bochum.

Professional School of International Education (PiStE)

As part of the PiStE project, all visiting lecturers from our partner universities in Quito and Oulo took part in the RUB programme, which is unique in Germany. There, they were able to share ideas and experiences with a wide range of stakeholders and support the delivery of projects. At the same time, the concept was presented as part of a visiting lectureship at our partner university Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, using video to document local science teaching practices with the goal of exploring implementation locally.

Sofía Luzuriaga Jaramillo, docente-investigadora, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
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A classroom that isn’t a classroom. It’s exactly what we need: a place for experiments and dialogue, whose doors that are open to society. The university often bemoans the divide between the thinking that goes on there and what is taught in schools. Why can’t both sides join in dialogue and learning from each other? In my opinion, the School Laboratory answers this question and can function as a model for plural constructions of knowledge.
Sofía Luzuriaga Jaramillo, docente-investigadora, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador

Implementation and outcomes

As part of a project seminar in Spanish, a programme for school pupils is being developed during the 2024 summer semester, focusing on the theme of diversity in Ecuador. Based on learnings from the multi-year collaboration facilitated by Lehramt.International, the programme not only puts the spotlight on ways of handling linguistic, ethnic and cultural heterogeneity, but also focuses on the biodiversity which characterises the South American country. Funding for visiting lectureships has created a unique opportunity to run the seminar course on a co-teaching basis. Jorge Andrés Cruz Silva, visiting lecturer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, is contributing his expertise in media studies and media didactics, which looks at the country in an authentic and holistic way across a diverse range of media. This has so far been under-represented in curricula and teaching materials, despite the fact that the matrix of issues around diversity represents a fascinating point from which to stimulate intercultural learning processes, not only among school pupils, but also among the lecturers and students who are delivering the programme.

Knowledge transfer and sustainability

In this way, AKS represents a key space for knowledge transfer and introduces students to their future work as teachers. Over the long term, the programmes developed so far will remain integral elements of the training curriculum for future generations, and will be continuously updated and expanded through future forms of exchange, digital and otherwise. The knowledge and ideas generated through the Lehramt.International funding line will therefore achieve a high level of dissemination to various groups of stakeholders.

Johanna Anabel Herrera Segarra, Escuela de Ciencias de la Educación, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
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Seeing children and young people and teaching staff at schools and universities interacting on campus is a fantastic idea which will have a huge impact on how teacher education students are prepared for their careers. In addition to this, there’s nothing like seeing the children when they feel like adults in labs, making a contribution to research.
Johanna Anabel Herrera Segarra, Escuela de Ciencias de la Educación, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador

Further information & contacts

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