On 6th June 2012, the University of Bremen will be concentrating on everything surrounding the topic of academic teaching and studies. Students and teaching staff will be meeting in all twelve of the University’s faculties and in mixed central forums to discuss numerous aspects of learning culture at the University. In order to ensure that all members of the University are able to take part in Academic Teaching Day, the 6th June has been declared a “Dies Academicus”. In place of regular lecture courses, students and instructional staff will concentrate on discussion revolving around the general situation of university studies. The objective: To promote learning in constructive open dialogue and further improve the quality of academic teaching. The main event of the day is the presentation of the Berninghausen Prize for teaching excellence, which will commence at 6 p.m. in building GW2, room B 3009. This year’s prizewinners are Prof.Lothar Probst (Political Science) in the category “Introductory module”, Dr.Tanja Henking and Dr.Andreas Maurer (Law Faculty) in the category “Teaching Project”, and Dr.Hans Konrad Nettmann (Biology) in the category “Student Prize”.

“Academic Teaching Day” agenda

The morning is reserved for discussion on the concrete teaching and learning situation in the faculties. This will take place in meetings between students, the deans and teaching staff of the different faculties and departments. What problems are there? What can teaching staff do to improve the quality of their courses? What expectations do teachers have of their students? What mutual steps can be taken to improve teaching and the environment of studies?

The afternoon will start with a talk by the Vice Rector for Academic Teaching and Studies, Prof.Heidi Schelhowe, entitled “On Equal Footing – Open Dialogue on Teaching and Studies”. Following this, seven open workshops will be held on a number of different topics, e.g. the Bologna Reform from the students’ point of view. Other topics include discussion on a new approach to intercultural and international exchange on the campus and to student participation in the structuring of teaching, studies, research and development. In yet another workshop, the focus will be on research-based learning and, hence, the question how students can be motivated to do their own research while under the pressure and stress of studying in Bachelor and Master programs: “Research-based Learning – When, if not now? Where, if not here,...?”. Other topics that will be dealt with in the open workshops are digital media in teaching, learning in the State and University Library, activating methods for large groups of learners, and quality management in academic teaching and studies.

You can find more information on Academic Teaching Day under: www.uni-bremen.de/lehre-studium/hochschuldidaktik/tag-der-lehre.html