Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg is planning to establish the first university school in Saxony-Anhalt, working in cooperation with the state capital, Magdeburg. Jens Strackeljan, Rector of the University, and Eik Ruddat, Director of the “Willy Brandt School“, signed an initial cooperation agreement at the end of December 2023. The aim of the future institutional cooperation is to further develop innovative educational concepts in schools, as well as providing practical teacher training at the university, by closely combining science and practice.

In the coming months, the two institutions will develop a joint mission statement and agree on a pedagogical and didactic concept for the school’s future model. If approved by its responsible body, the state capital of Magdeburg and the Ministry of Science, Energy, Climate Protection and the Environment, the comprehensive school will be able to use the name ‘University School’ from 2027  to reflect the close  cooperation with the University of Magdeburg.

Modern teaching and learning concepts would then be jointly researched, trialled and established, according to Renate-Dolores Stieler-Hinz, the state capital’s cultural councillor responsible for school development. “The research results obtained can be transferred to other schools in the future and improve overall school quality in the city of Magdeburg, and across the state of Saxony-Anhalt”.  Stieler-Hinz continued, “After the comprehensive school moves into the new building close to the main university campus on Universitätsplatz, which is planned for 2027, the proximity will provide ideal conditions for the first university school in the state capital.”

“The Willy Brandt school offers a wide range of educational programmes so that innovative concepts for various courses can be tested and scientifically supported by the university,” said its rector, Prof. Dr Jens Strackeljan, at the signing ceremony. “Our scientific and technical profile opens up many opportunities for cooperation in the STEM field, and the university also offers great potential for innovation in the area of teacher training.“

Teaching staff at the university will also benefit from the future close collaboration. They will receive new impetus for the teacher training programme and can directly incorporate current challenges in the practical field of teaching into student training.

“As a model school, and in the long term as a university school, new scientific findings can be incorporated into our everyday school life more quickly,” explains Eik Ruddat, director of  the school “With the help of university support, we can test innovative educational concepts under scientific supervision and drive forward important topics such as digitalisation in schools in specific projects, thereby improving school quality.”

[Photo credit: Jana Dünnhaupt @OVGU]