University of Passau, Germany
Founded in 1978, the University of Passau is a young and dynamic institution consistently ranked among the top 10% in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings. Within Bavaria and Germany, too, the University of Passau consistently achieves top positions in rankings, particularly in the fields of law, economics, computer science, communication studies, political science and cultural studies. Surveys such as the Study Quality Monitor confirm the high level of student satisfaction. With 12,000 students from over 100 countries and approximately 1,300 employees, UP is renowned for its excellence in research, innovative teaching, and active knowledge transfer. It fosters diversity and maintains a strong global outlook, supported by partnerships with more than 140 universities and research institutions worldwide. The University of Passau adopts an interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching, focusing, among others, on “Europe and Global Transformation” and “Migration, Sustainable Development and Just Order” as key themes.
Internationalisation is a key priority for UP, particularly in teacher training. Its Teacher Education Centre (ZLF), a central interdisciplinary unit overseeing teacher education, has a dedicated department for internationalisation, serving as a hub for these activities. The university coordinates a variety of global initiatives, including Erasmus+ collaborations, long-standing exchange programs, as well as successful KA171 partnerships. Additionally, the University of Passau is experienced in designing and hosting joint classes and Blended Intensive Programs (BIPs), which are integral to multiple international projects.
Karsten Fitz
Karsten Fitz holds a PhD and is a Professor of American Studies / Culture and Media Studies at the University of Passau. His expertise lies in the fields of Native American Studies, American popular visual culture, cultural memory, American political culture, and German-American cultural relations. What brings him to the TEFE-project is his interest in teaching American Studies in the EFL-classroom, on which he has also published, and his passion for intercultural academic exchanges.
Matthias Fuchs
Matthias Fuchs is the Managing Director at the Centre for Teacher Education at the University of Passau, where all processes concerning teacher training are coordinated. One of his main areas of responsibility is the project management of national and international third-party funded projects. Alongside digitalisation, education for sustainable development and heterogeneity and diversity, there is a particular focus on the internationalisation of teacher training courses and enabling students to gain international experience.
Teresa Fischler
Teresa Fischler is a research assistant and doctoral student at the University of Passau. She joined the first TEFE project while studying International Cultural and Business Studies in the master’s programme. Her research interests include interationalisation, American and Indigenous Studies, and social media. Alongside her research, she is working at the University of Passau as a research assistant at the Chair of Educational Science with a focus on Diversity Research and Middle Childhood Education and as the local project coordinator of TEFE A+.
Jonas Scharfenberg
Jonas Scharfenberg holds a PhD and is a tenured researcher at the University of Passau in the field of educational science. His research interests are teacher professionalization and professionalism, career choice, diversity and interculturality, assessment in the context of diversity and inclusion as well as methodological issues, particularly in the context of transnational research. His research has an international focus; next to TEFE, he works together with partners in the US, South Africa, Sweden and Romania in both research and teaching practice.