International Teacher Training: New Approaches in the Erasmus Project

In collaboration with the University of Cádiz in Spain and the University of Hradec Králové in the Czech Republic, the Professional School of Education (PSE) at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) is launching a new international seminar. The programme combines online sessions with an in-person meeting.

The focus is on cross-national exchange, comparing different education systems, and exploring how schools can best address diversity and the individual needs of pupils.

Learning about education together

How is education understood in different cultural contexts? How do different education systems deal with diversity? And what can trainee teachers learn from perspectives that go beyond their own national experience?

These questions form the focus of the new English-language seminar ‘New perspectives through exchange on education – comparison of how differentiation is handled’, which will be offered for the first time in the 2026/27 winter semester. Students from Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic will explore different perspectives together and work in international groups.

The programme is delivered as an ‘Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme’ (BIP). This is a European Union funding scheme that combines virtual online collaboration with a short period of face-to-face study on site. The seminar combines digital collaboration between the three universities with a joint face-to-face phase in Würzburg.

“The opportunity to enable students from our partner universities to take part in GoTEd+ Week with financial support for the first time, and thus to promote international cooperation at student level, was the main motivation for applying,” explains Maike Madera, Erasmus+ and GoTEd+ project coordinator at the PSE.

Comparing education systems across national borders

In terms of content, the course focuses in particular on cultural diversity in schools. A special emphasis is placed on the question of how the targeted support of individual schoolchildren is understood and implemented in practice in different countries.

The students compare the similarities and differences between the three education systems and critically examine educational inequalities. At the same time, they reflect on the extent to which their own cultural background can shape their perception of teaching, learning and educational opportunities. Through collaboration, participants learn to view teaching and learning processes from a transnational perspective whilst strengthening their skills in international communication and cooperation.

From virtual exchange to a conference in Würzburg

In the winter semester of 2026/27, the students will first get to know one another in two online meetings in November and December, in order to work on the topics together.

The highlight will be the subsequent in-person phase in Würzburg: from 22 to 26 February 2027, the international students will take part in the 6th GoTEd+ Week, the PSE’s international winter school. There, they will meet their fellow students from the partner universities in person and present the results of their joint project.

The project enables teacher training students from all types of schools to integrate international experience directly into their studies and earn credits (ECTS) towards their degree – for JMU students, for example, 5 ECTS. Interested students can apply to take part here with immediate effect.

A review of the 5th GoTEd+ Week 2025 can be viewed here