Combining education and technology: launch of the new degree programme

07/07/2026

Digital transformation in STEM education is at the heart of the new elite degree programme, EET4STEM, at the University of Würzburg. In June, students found out more about the new programme – applications are still being accepted.

Students are exploring the possibilities of digital teaching and learning in the STEM subjects. (Image: Stefan Kraus)

The digital transformation of STEM education requires the development and research of educational technologies that are effective for learning, their integration into the school system, and their practical application in a way that is tailored to the target audience. This is precisely where the new degree programme ‘Emerging Educational Technologies for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics’ – EET4STEM for short – at the University of Würzburg comes in.

On 18 June, trainee teachers specialising in biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science and physics, as well as students on computer science-related degree programmes such as Human-Computer Interaction, were able to gain an insight into the new degree programme, which is due to be introduced in the winter semester 26/27 and is funded by the Bavarian Elite Network.

Combining didactics and computer science

At the event, the participating faculties presented the interdisciplinary programme, which combines didactics and computer science. At its heart is a development lab running over three semesters. In this lab, students from the various disciplines work together to design educational technologies – for example, for use in school lessons – develop concrete prototypes based on these, and present them to the public.

The courses led by Professor Marc Erich Latoschik (HCI) and Professor Martin Hennecke (Didactics of Computer Science) provide the foundational knowledge of computer science as well as shared ways of thinking and working for the development lab. The link between educational technologies and the various subject-specific didactics is established by their heads – Dr Sabine Gerstner (Biology), Professor Hans-Stefan Siller (Mathematics), Professor Thomas Trefzger (Physics) and Professor Katja Weirauch (Chemistry) – through programmes with different focal points such as open data, inclusion, learning analytics and generative AI.

Market of Opportunities

To get an idea of what products from the development lab might look like, the students explored innovative examples at a ‘Market of Opportunities’ that demonstrate how teaching and learning situations can be supported through the use of technology: from virtual audiences for practising public speaking, to creating simulations for science lessons using VibeCoding, understanding AI with the PilzLabor, or learning analytics in maths lessons.

For anyone interested

The new EET4STEM degree programme qualifies students to develop, test and apply educational technologies, thereby broadening their career prospects. It is aimed at students training to be secondary school teachers in STEM subjects, as well as students on computer science-related degree programmes, and can be undertaken as a supplementary programme alongside a primary degree or as a Master’s programme. The programme begins in the winter semester 2026/27. Full details of the programme can be found on the website. Applications for the winter semester are still open until 15 July.

Interdisciplinary network

The EET4STEM programme, funded by the Bavarian Elite Network, uniquely and specifically combines insights and research from the fields of didactics and computer science. To ensure effective implementation, the consortium of subject-specific didactics from the fields of biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, physics (MIND Centre), led by Professor Thomas Trefzger, and the Chair of Human-Computer Interaction, led by Professor Marc Erich Latoschik, have joined forces.