International Experience and Reflection in Teacher Education (INTER)
Now accepting applications: Internship abroad
The application deadlines run from June 1 to June 30 for a stay in the following spring.
Bachelor's (orientation internship abroad with DiCoT): All information on the available locations, application formalities and access to the application form can be found here.
Master's (Internship abroad with ITE): All information on the available locations, application formalities and access to the application form can be found here.
Welcome to the website of the project “International Experience and Reflection in Teacher Education” (INTER) at the University of Hamburg. INTER addresses the increasing diversity in educational contexts and the need to integrate diversity competencies into teacher education. The aim is to develop a progressive internationalization programme at the Faculty of Education at the University of Hamburg that runs through the entire course of study.
Background and Objectives
In a globalized world, teachers need the skills to deal with socio-cultural complexity. Building on the successful projects "Diversity Contexts in Teacher Education" (DiCoT) and "Tricontinental Teacher Training" (TTT), a comprehensive curricularly integrated volume is being created that can exist in the long term (without third-party funding). The academically supervised orientation internships abroad (DiCoT) will be continued and further developed within the framework of INTER. The Tricontinental Teacher Training (TTT) exchange program will be expanded to include several project partners and continued as Intercontinental Teacher Training (ITE). In addition to internships abroad, students have the opportunity to choose individual internationalization elements or to complete the entire program and obtain an internationalization certificate. The aim of this program is to provide students with international experience that they can incorporate into their teaching practice in a theoretically sound and reflective manner.
Theoretical Foundation
The project is based on several theoretical pillars:
- Colonialism and postcolonialism: students should acquire the ability to recognize and reflect on colonial power structures in educational institutions
- Diversity, anti-bias and transcultural sensitivity: Through the anti-bias approach and modern intercultural theories, students learn to recognize and question their own prejudices and stereotypes.
- Teacher professionalization and dealing with uncertainty: The ability to act in uncertain situations is taught on the basis of various pedagogical theories.
Theoretical and self-guided reflection: The combination of different levels of reflection promotes a profound understanding of international experiences.
Partner Institutions
Our partner universities are located in different parts of the world, including:
- Universidad de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Argentina)
- Griffith University (Australia)
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil)
- University of Education Winneba (Ghana)
- University of Pretoria (South Africa)
- Indiana University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Greensboro (USA) (Departures for the U.S. currently on hold)
- Ho Chi Minh City University of Education (Vietnam)
Further collaborations are planned and are currently being developed!
Project Structure and Measures
INTER is embedded in the study structure and course of the teacher training programs. The measures include:
- Internships abroad in the Bachelor und Master
- Reflection seminars on internships abroad
- Theory-focused courses on diversity and interculturality
- Digital international seminars
- Research workshops and further implementation in Master's theses
- Central international study camps in Hamburg
Overview of the internationalization measures that can be used variably in the internationalization band. English version not available.
In addition, we have the opportunity to invite international guest lecturers to our faculty every year. The project also offers scholarships for research stays abroad as part of final theses.
Internationalization Certificate
Participating students have the option of completing individual modules or the entire program, depending on their interests. Upon successful completion of the internationalization units, students receive an official internationalization certificate from the University of Hamburg. This certificate documents the international and intercultural skills acquired and can serve as a valuable element in a professional portfolio. It underlines the commitment and willingness of graduates to work in a globalized educational world and to deal with cultural diversity in a reflective manner.
INTER will further strengthen the links between our international partner universities and create extended mobility opportunities for students. By 2029, the goal is to fully integrate the internationalization band into the curricula of teacher training courses so that an in-depth examination of cultural diversity becomes an integral part of teacher training at Universität Hamburg in the long term!
We invite all interested students, teachers and researchers to become part of this exciting project and to join us in shaping the opportunities of internationalization in teacher training!