There was a reason to celebrate at Paderborn University: the "Vielfalt stärken" project, which the PLAZ - Professional School of Education is organising together with the Institute of German and Comparative Literature, celebrated its tenth anniversary. Around 50 students, contact persons from the partner schools, (former) employees and supporters from the region and Paderborn University came together on campus on Tuesday, 21 November. They not only toasted the success story of "Vielfalt stärken", but also took a look ahead. Among other things, the new sub-project "Language education in the school of the migration society" was presented.
Prospective teachers at Paderborn University are to be well prepared to participate in social transformation processes in the classroom. For ten years now, "Vielfalt stärken" has been a flagship project for dealing with linguistic and cultural differences. In what are now eight sub-projects, it offers student teachers at Paderborn University the opportunity to professionalise themselves, particularly in the areas of language education and interculturality. The schools in the region, where the students support pupils in their day-to-day work, benefit from this even before they graduate.
Shaping the future
"Vielfalt stärken" is constantly evolving in order to provide students with up-to-date further qualifications. This is illustrated by the sub-project "Language education in schools in the migration society", which has been designed for the next three years. "The sub-project pursues the goals of valuing linguistic and cultural diversity in schools in the migration society and using it as a resource, as well as helping to shape the areas of language education and digitalisation and the transition of students from school to work," say Prof. Dr Constanze Niederhaus, academic co-head of "Vielfalt stärken", and project team member Dr Kodjo Hola Fambi, outlining the project.
Numerous congratulations on the success story
"'Vielfalt stärken' is a win-win situation for everyone involved, both inside and outside Paderborn University. Over the past ten years, it has become a flagship project that will continue to have an impact," said Prof Dr Bardo Herzig, Director of the PLAZ - Professional School of Education, at the ceremony and congratulated the university on its milestone birthday. Claudia Holle, Managing Director of the Osthushenrich Foundation, which supports many sub-projects, emphasised the benefits for the city and the region that are achieved through the cooperation: "The project is an outstanding example of how much everyone involved, i.e. schools, students and the university, can benefit from the interdisciplinary and practical training of student teachers." Bernhard Lünz, Head of the Municipal Integration Centre at the Paderborn District Education and Integration Centre, also agreed: "Vielfalt stärken' projects make an important contribution to the strong community of all people in the Paderborn district." As the project sponsor, Wolfgang Walter congratulated the city of Paderborn: "The intensive support provided by Paderborn University and the close dialogue between the students and pupils have made 'Vielfalt stärken' such a success."
Project managers Dr Cornelia Zierau and Claudia Decker were delighted with these congratulations: "'Vielfalt stärken' helps to shape social challenges such as digitalisation and migration. We would like to thank all of the student teachers, cooperating schools and their pupils and teachers, supporters, associations and partners involved, without whom none of this would be possible." They also thanked the Osthushenrich Foundation, the city and district of Paderborn and the alumni association "PLAZEF" for their support.
The ceremony was rounded off with the presentation of the new anthology "Sprachbildung und interkulturelle Kompetenz im Lehramtsstudium. 10 years of project experience strengthening diversity at the university and in the Paderborn education region". It provides insights into the milestones of the project, in which around 650 students and 3,700 pupils have taken part to date, as well as its special features, design and conditions for success. It includes articles on popular events such as the "Vielfalt stärken" summer camp at Paderborn University, which many pupils attend every year, as well as on the scientific transfer of project knowledge and results.
This text has been translated automatically.
