Participation at the university (contributing teacher)
Participation at the university (contributing teacher)
Working as a teacher at the university
As part of the teacher training programme at the University of Oldenburg, so-called "cooperating teachers" from schools support university teaching by establishing a practical connection to schools, e.g.
- in the preparation of school internships or
- in the planning, application and reflection of teaching-relevant methods, media, experiments and much more.
What are the benefits of participating in the courses?
The aim of participation in the courses is to prepare students for teaching practice and to strengthen and reflect on the theory-practice relationship.
At the same time, the involvement of teachers promotes and improves cooperation between the university and schools:
- Teachers gain an insight into current discussions in teaching and research and gain impetus for their own practical professional work.
- The students and teachers gain valuable practical references for strengthening a theory-practice-orientated teacher training and insights into the practical professional requirements of a teacher.
- The collaboration may also lead to joint approaches to solving specific problems, e.g. in school internships, or to co-operation for research and development work in schools.
How can you become a contributing teacher?
If you are a teacher interested in participating in university teaching, you should contact the respective lecturers in the subject areas that are active in teacher training with a practical school connection (professorships in subject didactics in Faculties I-V, professorships in the Institute of Educational Sciences or Special Education in School I).
Participating teachers require the approval of their school management prior to the official application by the university. Teachers who already have another teaching assignment for the university or who are employed in functional positions at the school are not eligible for approval.
The specific application is then made by the university lecturer. The events are organised exclusively in collaboration with a university lecturer.
Even if you have already worked as a participating teacher, the application for hours must be submitted anew each semester by a university lecturer.
How do I apply for participation?
University lecturers can apply to the office of the Centre for Teacher Education - Didactic Centre (DiZ) via Stud.IP. Registration is possible twice a year: for the summer semester (approx. in November) and for the winter semester (approx. in April). As a rule, teaching hours can be applied for for participation in a course; this corresponds to two credit hours per week for the teacher applying.
University lecturers who would like to apply for teaching assistantships can register with the responsible clerk at the DiZ, Lena Leisner, in order to be informed about the application periods and the registration procedure in good time.
The hours requested by the university lecturers are then forwarded by the DiZ to the Regional State Offices for Schools and Education and the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs for review and approval.
It should be noted that factors such as regional teaching supply and overall capacity considerations by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs can lead to proposals not being approved. Teachers who already have another teaching assignment for the university or who are employed in functional positions at the school are also not eligible for approval.
Application periods
It is possible for university lecturers to apply for a Contributing Lecturer in the following periods
- 02.03.2026 - 20.03.2026 for the winter semester 2026/27
- 05.10.2026 - 23.10.2026 for the summer semester 2027
Business trips by participating teachers
Business trips for the participation of participating teachers in events as part of teacher training and/or practical school studies (SPS) in accordance with the assignment can be settled. This applies to teachers whose place of work and residence is outside Oldenburg, as the events usually take place at the university. The cut-off period for claims for travel expenses ends 6 months after the end of the business trip to be settled.