TU Dresden received praise from the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) for its outstanding social commitment. HRK acknowledged the pilot project University School Dresden – the only one of its kind in Germany – with an honorable mention. In the project, Professor Anke Langner’s team is testing and researching the school of the future. The school uses innovative teaching and learning methods as well as digitally supported organizational structures worthy of 21^st-century education. As a long-term project, the school trial is overseen by the City of Dresden, with academic support from Technische Universität Dresden.

“The school trial aims to uncover information on how to successfully create a school fit for the 21^st century,” said Prof. Dr. Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden. “Above all, this means ensuring equal opportunities for all within the education system and researching the potential of digitality in a school context. In this research project, titled ‘Academic supervision of the University School Dresden,’ educational scientists and students of TU Dresden work closely with the local community to lay the foundations for this. We are delighted that this long-term engagement has been acknowledged by the German Rector's Conference.”

With the University School Dresden, TU Dresden is using excellent research as the basis for advancing societal change in close collaboration with the local community. The University School Dresden – School of the Future is a living laboratory and exemplary of sustainable transferability. The focus lies squarely on critical, evidence-based reflection. This interdisciplinary research project falls under TU Dresden’s ‘Culture and Societal Change’ Research Priority Area.

“The University School Dresden pilot project should drive change within school culture in Dresden and Saxony. In educational research, this school combines practical teaching elements and expert knowledge to make it a catalyst and incubator for the development of the school of tomorrow, joining the ranks of  the prestigious Laborschule in Bielefeld as a,” said Prof. Dr. Anke Langner, initiator of the University School Dresden, explaining her motivation.    

The findings from teaching practices at the school and the accompanying research project flow directly into TU Dresden’s teacher training courses. Students are updated and encouraged to get involved in the development of the University School through seminars and final theses. Additionally, findings are made available to teachers and parents at the school via specially developed qualification programs such as the University School Dresden’s Education Academy and Parent’s Academy.

About the ‘Hochschulen mittendrin’ Prize

‘Hochschulen mittendrin’ (‘Universities in the thick of it’) is a prize for social engagement awarded for the first time in 2021 by the German Rector’s Conference (HRK) and ZEIT Verlag publishing house in partnership with the Robert Bosch Foundation. Due to the pandemic, the award-winning projects will be presented and celebrated as part of a wide-ranging online campaign in the coming weeks.

More information online: www.hrk.de/preis

About the University School Dresden
The University School Dresden is a joint project of the City of Dresden and Technische Universität Dresden. It is a public primary and secondary school funded by the city, where innovative teaching and learning formats are tested under academic supervision. Furthermore, it serves as a training school for current and future teachers at TU Dresden.

Read more about TU Dresden’s research project: https://tu-dresden.de/gsw/unischule
Read more about the University School Dresden: http://universitaetsschule.org

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Maria Völzer
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