Guidelines for studying and teaching

The University of Erfurt, newly founded in 1994 as a reform university with a profile in the humanities, cultural studies and social sciences, is committed to qualifying students in academic disciplines and also preparing them for the challenges of a modern society by analysing and integrating different academic perspectives. The University of Erfurt sees its contribution to contemporary university education in the combination of intellectual and personal education. The basis of the programme is the direct exchange between lecturers and students in classroom teaching.

The basic idea of the degree programme at the University of Erfurt is a standardised study model with the highest possible degree of polyvalence for all students on the Bachelor's degree programme. Two subjects are studied, one as a major and the second as a minor. The essential elements of the Bachelor's degree programme also include the compulsory, interdisciplinary Studium Fundamentale and the study area "Professional Field".

At Master's level, the University of Erfurt distinguishes between application-oriented and research-oriented Master's programmes.
The teacher training programme is integrated into the dual Bachelor's structure during the Bachelor's degree course. Following the Bachelor's degree, the Master's teacher training programmes then provide a qualification that is consistently geared towards future professional practice.

Research-based learning

Through its future-orientated research, the university develops new insights, perspectives and solutions for pressing social issues and problems, thus constantly creating new knowledge. A degree programme at the university enables students to participate in new research findings in addition to acquiring basic academic knowledge. Research-based learning as a didactic principle of higher education enables students to actively participate in research projects as part of courses or to conduct their own research projects.

Interdisciplinarity is a basic prerequisite for overcoming social challenges in an increasingly networked and globalised world.
The University of Erfurt guarantees a course of study that integrates multi-perspective analyses for the critical exploration of the world and enables collaborative approaches to solutions beyond the boundaries of specialist disciplines.

The University of Erfurt prepares its students to act confidently and courageously in professional, social and societal contexts, to deal with uncertainties and ambiguities in a reflective manner, to apply their knowledge in a meaningful way and thus to assume social responsibility.

The University of Erfurt creates opportunities for students with heterogeneous educational biographies, experience backgrounds, study expectations and life situations to realise their desired academic success. In addition, it takes on the task of lifelong academic (further) qualification.

The University of Erfurt creates study conditions and programmes for its students that are committed to the ideas of internationality, cosmopolitanism and diversity. The promotion of international cooperation, incoming and outgoing mobility and foreign-language courses are among its core tasks.

The University of Erfurt faces up to the challenges of digitalisation in knowledge transfer and promotes the use of digital teaching and learning opportunities. It pursues action in the digital world as a subject of academic investigation and as the content of its degree programmes. Digitisation strategy for teaching at the University of Erfurt

The University of Erfurt sees itself as a gender-equitable and diversity-sensitive university. Gender and diversity competence are important teaching topics. Dealing constructively with diversity is combined with the aim of actively promoting students in their diversity and providing them with the best possible support in developing and acquiring skills. Care is taken to ensure that gender equality and family friendliness are promoted and that an open and positive understanding of diversity is practised on campus.

The University of Erfurt sensitises its students to the concept of sustainability. It teaches them skills that enable them to help shape our society in terms of sustainable development. The University of Erfurt is orientated towards sustainability principles in the design of all learning and study conditions, thus creating an authentic space for experiencing sustainable development.

Good framework conditions for teaching and study programmes guarantee their high quality. Quality assurance measures ensure compliance with the applicable academic and formal standards of the degree programmes at the University of Erfurt. Comprehensive and closed quality control loops for all aspects of study and teaching form the basis of quality management. This is continuously developed and communicated in order to ensure a comprehensive quality culture in teaching and learning.

The organisation of quality in studying and teaching characterises the culture of the university, which is based on understanding needs, functioning interaction, appreciation of those involved and mutual trust. As teachers and teaching support staff at the University of Erfurt, we are committed to the continuous assurance and qualitative development of degree programmes, teaching and the framework conditions for successful study.

Guidelines for studying and teaching at the University of Erfurt