Cardiff Met Welcomes Student Teachers From Germany

Students at Munich University of Applied Sciences’ Early Childhood Education Centre have benefitted from the expertise of staff and students at Cardiff School of Education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 23 German students have spent a week with Cardiff Met’s PGCE Primary Programme staff and students, visiting Early Learning centres and sitting in on relevant education sessions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The visiting students are qualified and state approved teachers who are continuing their education to gain additional academic skills in order to qualify for leadership roles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Students on the Early Childhood Education Centre programme at Munich University of Applied Sciences are encouraged to be aware of other countries’ practises and previous international visits have included a trip to Barcelona. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cheryl Anthony, PGCE Primary Programme Director for Cardiff Met, said: “We were delighted to be able to provide support for the visiting students and for them to gain an insight into different teaching practices in South Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“At Cardiff Met, we always encourage our students to share their knowledge and experiences and being involved in these visits has been a great learning tool for everyone concerned. Both sets of students will benefit from the knowledge transfer in relation to improving their own practices in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This is the first time Cardiff Met has worked with Munich University of Applied Sciences and Prof. Dr. Claudia Ueffing, Coordinator of International Affairs for the Early Childhood Education and Development study programme in Munich is now looking to maintain a relationship with Cardiff Met and to set up a future partnership through programmes such as Erasmus+. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking about the visit, Prof. Ueffing said: “The week at Cardiff Met has been fabulous, with a great group of people hosting. The University’s lecturers provided great insight and knowledge about their practices and I am confident that the students have taken home some great information. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with Cardiff Met again in the future and also welcome both the University’s students and lecturers to Munich University to experience a similar program.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Julia Bades, one of the students from Munich University who took part, said: “Taking part in the visit was a very good experience and we experienced a warm welcome from Cardiff Met from start to finish. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I have been able to learn about different practices at the University and also a wide set of skills, such as coping with the challenges of different socio-economic areas. It was very insightful and I am glad I was given this opportunity.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​