Teaching Constitution

Central educational objectives include the development of sovereign and responsible Personalities, which are able to make sustainable contributions to societal development. The WHZ explicitly follows the goal to prepare students for the labour market by fostering relevant competencies for employment and lifeworld. Here, particular emphasis is placed on problem-solving competencies, so that graduates can solve complex tasks independently and responsibly. This contains the fostering of interdisciplinary thinking and working, of self- and social competencies, digital or AI-competencies as well as the conveying of scientific or academic reflected working methods. The students are enabled to form critical and fact-based opinions and to express them, as well as act reflected. Therefore, solid fundamental knowledge is of great importance, so that long-term orientation, ongoing learning and quick familiarization with new subject areas is possible.

To achieving these educational objectives, a supportive teaching and learning environment contribute, as well as the inclusive culture of WHZ, which bets on personal communication between teachers and students as well as individual support. The WHZ is a safe space for students and teachers for free discourse on humanist foundations as well as a catalyst for change and a shift in thinking grounded in academia.

In the lectures content is offered on a high professional standard. The content of the lectures is based on the current state of knowledge, serve the preparation for the labour market and are processed in an accessible form (well structured and understandably explained). The contents of the lectures are conveyed in a way that fosters the attention of the students and the interest in the content. During the lectures students and teachers work together on academic objects.  In doing so, it is acknowledged that there is not a sole, optimal teaching format, but that different didactic approaches in dependency on the respective teaching objects are sensible. The expectations of the competence-oriented transcript of records are depicted transparently.

The students contribute with their active participation, their personal initiative and their constructive collaboration significantly to the quality of the lectures. The teachers foster the independence and personal responsibility, the self-reflexion and creativity of the students. The logical-abstract thinking, the scientific working as well as the development and depiction of the own academic opinion are goals of studies. During the lectures students solve practice exercises, develop approaches to a solution and are involved in projects. Teachers help the students to participate motivated in lectures and develop zeal and enthusiasm during the analysis of the teaching content.

A digitally supported teaching serves the improvement of the teaching quality, the encouragement of active studying and the student engagement as well as the overcoming of organisational challenges. Digital teach-and-learn-offers support in-person study, personal communication and self-study. Study activities are aligned with the digital aspects of the worlds of life and work, as well as the competencies required for them. Part of these competencies is also the critical, reflected and responsible usage of AI-powered tools. Offered are digital competence-oriented transcripts of records which are justified on didactic and organizational grounds.

Teachers engage themselves in their teaching and show enthusiasm for their teaching contents. They look after student projects, advise students and are out of lectures approachable for student interests. Teachers express themselves appreciatively about their students’ achievements and encounter students on eye level; they treat them with respect, take criticism seriously and explain their decisions transparently. They show interests in student interests and try to take the students situation, features and criticism into consideration while designing their lectures.

The contents of the curriculum are oriented on the required competencies in the students’ future fields of career. The curriculum is aligned with competence-based learning objectives and combines subject-specific content with practical learning activities. During the course of study students will be confronted with appropriate challenges. Basic contents at the start of studies makes reinforcement, application and research possible during the course of study. Students can gain study experience outside the university or in an international context.