Event details

Inclusion in school systems is at the center of educational policy discussions in both Switzerland and Germany. The course “Cross-border perspectives on inclusion: concepts and practices in Switzerland and Germany” aims to promote an in-depth understanding of the diversity and complexity of inclusive education from primary to tertiary education in the two countries. Through a comparative analysis of policy, practice and theoretical foundations of inclusion in Switzerland and Germany, participants will be encouraged to recognize similarities and critically question differences.

The course uses a wide range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, discussion rounds, case study analyses and planned visits to school institutions that successfully practice inclusion, to enable participants to experience innovative and pragmatic approaches to improving inclusion in schools in practice on the one hand and to deal with them on a scientific basis on the other.

Participating students from KIT and the Educational Sciences program at the University of Basel will deal with the various issues in a preparatory session (online) and two short excursions (Karlsruhe and Basel).

The aim is for students from both universities to exchange ideas and get to know the EUCOR partner university and the partner city (city tour and campus tour).

Train departure times will be announced in the seminar. Train travel and hotel accommodation will be covered by KIT.

The selected topics will be scientifically analyzed and presented in a poster.

Learning objectives:

• Comparative understanding: Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the inclusive education systems in Switzerland and Germany, including the legal foundations, political frameworks and pedagogical approaches of the two countries.
• Analysis and critique: Students develop the ability to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of inclusive education practices in the two countries.
• Intercultural competence: Students are sensitized to cultural differences and similarities in the implementation of inclusion in order to promote effective intercultural communication and cooperation.
• Innovative educational concepts: Students will be encouraged to design innovative approaches to support inclusive educational environments.

 Procedure:

1. Session (Online): Fri, 02.05.2025 14:15 – 17:30
2. Block seminar Basel/Muttenz with overnight stay at Ibis Budget Basel: 23.05.25: 9:00 am to 24.05.2025: 6 pm Train departure times will be announced at the seminar
3. Block seminar Karlsruhe 06.06.25: 12:30 – 20:00 (incl. dinner together) 07.06.25 9:00-15:00 Building 01.52 Large hall in the guest lecturer house

Workload:

3 ECTS: Active participation in the seminar/excursion; reading of recommended specialist literature as preparation; preparation and presentation of a poster on a topic of the seminar in partner work

Lecturer:

Ines Schulze-Hemrich is a long-time employee at the Center for Teacher Education. She is a trained biotechnologist, studied at the KIT and at the University of Strasbourg (EUCOR) and, as an EUCOR alumni, is interested in enabling student teachers to look beyond national borders.

Thomas Oeschger is a scient. Thomas Oeschger is a research associate at the Institute for Educational Sciences at the University of Basel (IBW). He is a trained primary school teacher, studied psychology and educational science in Bern and Basel and holds a doctorate in educational science from the University of Basel. As coordinator of the student exchange programs (SEMP, EUCOR), he enables students from partner universities to gain a transnational perspective on issues in the context of education.