Main Content

P-9 Development of Subject-Specific Education (2017-2020)

Contents: In order to strengthen research and promote young talent, the P-9 programme supports national and international networking and allows higher education institutions to set up and develop Master's programmes as well as to create junior academic positions at Master's and doctoral level.

Target group: The programme addresses UTEs, UASAs and universities.

Duration: Project contributions 2017–2020

Call for tenders: Higher education institutions were invited to submit applications at the beginning of the period. Other calls for proposals take place in 2020 and 2021.

The "Development of academic skills in subject-specific education 2017-2020" project aims to ensure that Swiss universities of teacher education (UTEs) continue to have highly qualified specialists in subject-specific teaching methodology as lecturers and are able to offer education to their trainee teachers based on a strong scientific foundation.

UTEs have submitted 57 individual projects, in two sub-projects, in close cooperation with the Swiss universities and universities of applied sciences and arts (UASAs). These projects aim to support the creation of an effective structure for subject-specific education as an academic discipline, as well as the promotion of young talent.

Project Content

Subject-specific education as an academic discipline is of central importance to teacher training. This discipline cover subject-specific teaching and learning, and forms the foundation for good quality and effective teaching of subjects at primary and secondary schools.

Therefore, universities of teacher education require lecturers trained in subject-specific education. One of the goals of this project is to create qualification opportunities for lecturers in subject-specific education. Another goal is to establish more – and more specific – connections with international research and development.

Sub-projects

Two sub-projects at universities of teacher education will therefore support the structured expansion of the academic discipline of subject-specific education and the promotion of qualified young talent, in close collaboration with universities and universities of applied sciences. In a third sub-project, an expert committee will be created. This expert committee will provide advice for the development of subject-specific education and coordinate its structure with a view to developing a national strategy.

Sub-project 1 (TP1)

By means of TP1, subject-specific education is to be institutionally and structurally consolidated and developed.

Specifically, the setting up and development of subject-specific education as an academic discipline is to be advanced and financially supported in TP1 by the following means:

  • Creating or developing Master's degree programmes
  • Supporting and developing new and existing networks of researchers to create and promote scientific knowledge in the respective field of subject-specific education
  • International consolidation of research in subject-specific education (e.g. by cooperative endeavours with international networks, organising conferences, setting up an academic journal for subject-specific education, etc.)
  • Preparing applications for project funding by the Swiss National Science Foundation, based on cooperation among the various types of higher ecudation institutions.

Sub-project 2 (TP2)

TP2 aims to support the disciplinary structure of subject-specific education by promoting qualified young talent. To promote personnel development, qualification and career positions are to be created.

Creation of qualification positions at the Master's level

Qualification positions are created for Master's degree students meeting the following requirements:

  • assisting in the field of research in subject-specific education;
  • assisting in the field of teaching subject-specific education;
  • any additional specialist requirements;
  • attending a Master's degree programme for the respective field of subject-specific education

Creation of qualification positions at the doctoral level

Persons who have a Master's degree in subject-specific education or in a subject-specific discipline, or teachers of secondary school level I and/or II, will be given the opportunity to do their doctorate subject to the following requirements:

  • assisting in the field of research in subject-specific education;
  • assisting in the field of teaching subject-specific education;
  • any additional specialist requirements or ensuring practical relevance

Sub-project 3 (TP3)

TP3 will establish an international expert committee, which will be in charge of contributing to the development of a national strategy in the field of subject-specific education. This will be done in close cooperation with the Chamber of Universities of Teacher Education. The strategy will be implemented within the ERI 2021–2024 period.