Teaching in this field is based on fundamental research and aims to provide students with a historical perspective on current developments and possibilities in educational theory and practices. Particular attention is paid to the historical development of educational sciences, basic educational concepts, scientific work, qualitative research methods, the use of visual sources (including film and photography), internationalisation (through integrating international research and using international guest lecturers via Erasmus+ and other programmes), promoting creativity and reflexivity, and cooperating with museums, archives and educational institutions.

The Research Unit “History of Education” is responsible for Module 1 “Theoretische, historische und begriffliche Grundlagen der Erziehungswissenschaft” (Theoretical, Historical and Conceptual Foundations of Educational Science), in the BA programme, as well as the double bachelor’s degree in “Allgemeine Erziehungswissenschaft” (Foundations of Education). The department is also responsible for Module 4, “Projektseminar Historische Bildungsforschung” (Project Seminar in Educational History Research), in the MA programme in “Allgemeine Erziehungswissenschaft” (Foundations of Education).

Lecturers from the research unit also deliver seminars on module 3, “Forschungsmethoden der Erziehungswissenschaft” (Research Methods in Educational Science), and module 4 “Pädagogisches Handeln, seine theoretischen und konzeptionellen Grundlagen” (Pedagogical Action, its Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations), as part of the BA programme and the double bachelor’s degree in “Allgemeine Erziehungswissenschaft” (Foundations of Education). They also deliver seminars on module 6.2, “Gestaltung konstruktiver Lernumgebungen an exemplarischen Beispielen” (“Designing Constructive Learning Environments Using Exemplary Examples”), as part of the MA in the Teacher Training programme.

Lecturers from the research unit also supervise the first compulsory internship as part of the BA programme in “Allgemeine Erziehungswissenschaft” (Foundations of Education). Students can also contact Professor Van Gorp for supervision of BA and MA theses in educational sciences, teaching or other areas of the humanities. Please feel free to contact us if you are unsure whether your proposed research topic fits the research unit’s research profile (see “Research”).