University of Greifswald: First primary school teachers ceremoniously farewelled

University of Greifswald: First primary school teachers ceremoniously farewelled

Something is happening at the University of Greifswald! Since 2020, students have been able to study primary school teaching here, and the first graduates are now ready to embark on their professional careers. Among them is Fine Diehn, who recently successfully passed her exams. August 30, 2025 marks an important milestone for new teacher training in the region.

The ceremonial farewell to Fine and around a hundred other teaching students took place in August 2023 and represents the first certificate awarding for primary school teaching at the university. Fine, who originally moved to Greifswald from Berlin, appreciated the family atmosphere and the small number of students at the university. “Here we simply have a good knack for providing individual support,” she says.

A practice-oriented course of study

The training in Greifswald follows a practice-oriented concept. Already in the first semester, the prospective teachers sat in on schools once a week. Fine Diehn, for example, gained experience at a Protestant elementary school in Anklam and at the inclusive Martinschule in Greifswald. She completed her practical semester in Berlin, which is part of the study module in the 9th semester. This includes, among other things, the opportunity to give lessons independently and take part in school organizational events. “The practical semester showed me how everyday school life really works,” says Diehn.

The course stands out for its innovative approaches. During the course of their studies, the students had to observe a total of 60 hours of lessons and teach 40 hours themselves in the areas of math, German and English. “One focus was reflecting on our own skills development, which we had to record in a report,” explains Fine, adding: “That gave me a good foundation for my later traineeship.”

International perspectives

International exchange for prospective teachers is also very important at the university. Students who are interested in studying to become a teacher for a semester abroad can take part in international programs that offer them the opportunity to get involved in foreign language teaching at schools abroad. These programs, which are supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), among others, enable students to immerse themselves in the educational landscape of another country and gain valuable intercultural experience. Internships are possible at 140 German schools abroad as well as at PASCH schools abroad that are operated according to German guidelines.

Fine is now planning to take some time off after her exams and travel to Vietnam and Thailand before starting her traineeship in Germany. “I am convinced that I belong in the teaching profession,” she says with a beaming smile. Her passion for children and teaching is evident, and she looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

All in all, the career of Fine Diehn and her fellow students shows that the University of Greifswald is making an important contribution to the training of future teachers with its new degree program. The first graduates are not only well prepared, they also bring a breath of fresh air to the region's schools.

For further information about the teacher training course at the University of Greifswald, you can contact Ostsee-Zeitung and Universität Visit Greifswald. You can find out more about internationally active programs on the Bildungsserver.