What do we want or have to teach students today? This is certainly a timely question.  Universities are undergoing a continuous change, may be more so than ever before. But are we aware of this? Rapidly changing labor markets, continuously shifting IT markets and newly emerging demand on the side of students (no matter where and how) produce new expectations and learning patterns on the side of consumers of education. The mix of qualifications to be gained while learning is shifting: instead of easily accessible basic knowledge, soft skills and transferable skills are in rising demand. The same can be said about extracurricular activities. Processes of trans-nationalization endanger classical national education contexts and standards.

Options for life-long learning have to be designed and marketized. The U.S. wave of MOOCs is just one solution, if at all. New forms of blended learning are emerging.

Traditional organizations, like universities, have increasingly to compete with new players on education markets.

 

So what do we have to face in the next ten or so years in terms of "human capital" development? How will criteria like "excellence" be (re)defined? How can learning periods be reconciled with job requirements, and private life needs? How is the interaction between teachers and students changing? In this course, we will identify the basic causing factors and triggers for changing educational patterns. We will try to figure out differences between various clusters of sciences, like humanities, social sciences, and life sciences. And also between different societies – particularly in Western and Eastern Europe, and in China and the U.S.

 

Good English language capabilities are necessary as the seminar is supposed to be held in English. In regard to the presentation exceptions can be negotiated. Regular and active participation is required.

 

This lecture uses the E-learning platform Blackboard. Please register under: http://lms.fu-berlin.de. The password will be given during the first lecture.

 

Additionally, please also register under http://www.oei.fu-berlin.de/politik/anmeldungsformular/index.html.