On 24 March 2023, the Low German and Sater Frisian section of the Institute for German Studies welcomed around 70 guests from the worlds of politics, education, culture and academia to a joyous occasion that had been eagerly anticipated in Lower Saxony for some time: a new degree programme, the Bachelor’s in Low German, is set to launch in Oldenburg in the winter semester 2023/2024. Three years later, two teacher-training Master’s programmes will follow – one for teaching at Haupt- and Realschulen, and the other for teaching at Gymnasien. The degree programmes are currently undergoing accreditation. Training for teachers of Low German is then set to begin in Oldenburg this autumn; the subject is due to be introduced shortly in Lower Saxony as an elective at secondary schools. The launch of the Bachelor’s degree in Low German this year coincides with the 25th anniversary of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which paved the way for Low German to be taught as a school subject and for teacher-training degree programmes at universities.

The audience was welcomed by Jörg Peters, Professor of Sociolinguistics and Pragmatics/Low German and Head of the Institute for German Studies, and by Doreen Brandt, Assistant Professor of Low German Literature. Following welcoming addresses by the Lower Saxony Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs, Julia Willie Hamburg; the Vice-President for Early-Career Researchers, Gender Equality and Diversity at the University of Oldenburg, Prof. Dr Annett Thiele; and the Dean of the School of Linguistics and Cultural Studies at the University of Oldenburg, Prof. Dr Gun-Britt Kohler, the objectives and structure of the new degree programmes were presented. This was followed by a programme of talks featuring presentations that highlighted the relevance of Low German in schools and universities from educational, language policy and academic perspectives. One request was repeatedly voiced by both the audience and the speakers: the introduction of a Master’s degree programme for primary school teacher training. According to the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, there are currently no plans to integrate Low German into the curriculum of Lower Saxony’s primary schools. Whether representatives from schools, the Regional State Offices for Schools and Education, the Low German Advisory Network, the districts, regions and regional associations in Lower Saxony, the Bunnsraats för Nedderdüütsch and the Low German Secretariat, universities and other institutions – the audience and speakers were in agreement that the next step in Lower Saxony must be to establish a training programme for primary school teachers of Low German.

At present, only the University of Greifswald offers this training programme. Low German can also be studied there as a minor subject. In Kiel, Low German is a supplementary subject, which is also due to be introduced in Flensburg next year.

The future degree programmes in Oldenburg will be undergraduate degree programmes in Low German, comprising modules on the language, literature and the teaching of Low German, as well as practical language exercises, to train students for a teaching post in secondary schools, whilst also preparing them for a subsequent PhD in the subject of Low German or for work outside the school system, for example in the fields of media and culture. At present, students of German Studies in Oldenburg can undertake a specialisation in Low German and graduate with the Low German Certificate. This programme is set to continue.

The lecture programme was followed by a champagne reception with musical accompaniment by the Schneider Swing Trio from Oldenburg. The event ‘Niederdeutsch macht Schule’ was generously funded by the Oldenburg University Society. It was organised by the staff of the Low German and Sater Frisian specialisation in Oldenburg. The event was supported by student assistants Thees Becker, Annalena Otte, Janna Sanders and Joschka von Lienen. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to all supporters and contributors to the launch event, as well as to all colleagues and students at the University of Oldenburg and from the Low German Academic Society who were involved in the planning and accreditation of the degree programmes.

For further information on studying Low German in Oldenburg.