Centre for Edu­ca­tion­al Re­search and Teach­er Edu­ca­tion (PLAZ)

The Centre for Educational Research and Teacher Education at the University of Paderborn (PLAZ) sees itself as a research and development agency with professional cross-sectional management that works closely with the faculties in fulfilling its tasks.

Accordingly, the PLAZ sees itself as an institution with a task structure transversal to the faculties, which is active in overlapping areas in cooperation with them. The connection back to the faculties takes place through project groups and discussion groups. A reform of teacher education always needs the active participation of the people involved, both teachers and students. The members of the PLAZ (teachers and students from all teacher training faculties) organize themselves into working and project groups (see also organizational structure), which are formed according to the tasks named below and are supervised by the staff of the PLAZ.

Read More

Gen­er­al tasks of the PLAZ

  • to improve the organization of studies and to promote innovative teaching,

  • to carry out and support interdisciplinary research and development in the field of education and teaching research and to promote young scientists in this field or to support their advancement,

  • to expand cooperation with schools, centres for practical teacher training, and other institutions involved in teacher education,

  • to develop and implement quality assurance measures.

  • Development of framework regulations (studies and examinations) for study programs with the goal of becoming a teacher and for internships, as well as cross-sectional tasks related to studies, examinations and the establishment of teaching degree programs

  • Awarding of degree titles in teaching degree programs together with the faculties

  • Participation in the accreditation and re-accreditation of study programs with the goal of becoming a teacher

  • Further development and coordination of practical phases in cooperation with external institutions

  • Conducting and supporting interdisciplinary research related to schools and teacher education, especially with a focus on subject- and domain-specific teaching and learning, curricula, and the conditions and impact of teacher education

  • Establishment of research networks and research colleges as well as provision of infrastructure for the acquisition of third-party funding and for the implementation of research, development and consulting projects

  • Support of research-based development of concepts, models and instruments in the cooperation between science and practice fields in the educational sector

  • Promotion of young scientists in the field of didactics and educational science as well as participation in doctoral programs in the sense of systematic graduate support.

  • Participation in appointment procedures of university teachers who work in the subject didactics and educational sciences

  • Development of advising systems as well as advising students and teachers in matters of teacher education

  • Implementation of evaluation and quality assurance measures according to § 13

  • Distribution of resources allocated to the PLAZ for the area of teacher education

  • Institutionalization of cooperation structures with schools and other phases of teacher education

  • Development and maintenance of a network with research institutions, educational policy and administration as well as other cooperating institutions

  • Public relations, policy and educational consulting as well as organization of and participation in conferences and public events in the national and international arena

  • Development of structures and offers for consultation and further education, especially for teachers and representatives of the centers for practical teacher training.

Further information: