"CoPrax" – University of Erfurt successful in the Stifterverband's "WandelBar" funding programme

With this dual study programme, the University of Erfurt has introduced a new model of teacher training together with the Free State of Thuringia: From the third semester onwards, students spend two days a week working in training schools. This intensive practical integration requires closely coordinated, institutionally supported cooperation. However, as the university, school authorities and training schools follow different logics, time structures and working cultures, there is a great need for binding and flexible cooperation structures. This is precisely where "CoPrax" comes in and pursues the goal of establishing a cross-institutional community of practice that:

• systematically strengthens the coherence of the dual cstudy programme,
• sustainably improves the link between theory and practice,
• institutionalise joint work processes,
• promotes exchange, professionalisation and knowledge transfer between all those involved,
• jointly developing training practices,
• visualises and integrates the needs of all stakeholders and thus
• has a lasting effect at the interfaces of the dual study programme.

The project involves Dr Ina Semper, Professor Petra Knorr and Hannes Seifert (University of Erfurt), Juliane Voigt (State Education Authority of Southern Thuringia) and Maria-Magdalena Lessat and Sylvia Luck as heads of training schools. The aim of "CoPrax" is to more closely interlink the cooperation between the university, state education authorities and training schools in the dual study programme and to strengthen the model's theoretical-practical coherence in the long term.

The project team will now develop and test specific joint working methods that will enable the university, school boards and training schools to better coordinate their cooperation in the dual study programme – such as binding communication channels, reflection and feedback formats as well as materials for practical support. In addition to financial support totalling 5,000 euros, the team will also receive extensive process support.

"The impetus for 'CoPrax' came from our experience with the newly introduced dual study programme for secondary school teaching," explains course coordinator Dr Ina Semper. “This study model creates the possibility of a particularly close interlinking of studies and school practice, but requires intensive and continuous coordination between all participating institutions. Up to now, cooperation has taken place under very different framework conditions in some cases, which has led to an increased need for coordination, uncertainties in roles and responsibilities, communication challenges and, at the same time, great potential for joint professionalisation. The project idea therefore arose from the desire to shape cooperation not only formally and organisationally, but also as a joint professional development process – in the form of a community of practice that works structurally and permanently at the interfaces of dual study programmes.”