Mission Statement Teaching and Learning

1. Human dignity, democracy, and freedom build the foundation of our education

Building upon reliable science and research, the University of Cologne ensures and promotes disciplinary and interdisciplinary education and skills, rooted in our responsibility for respecting human dignity, preserving peace, freedom, equality, democracy, diversity, and tolerance. Founded upon a humanistic view of humankind, the University of Cologne is guided by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The University of Cologne understands education as a right to progress, as well as an obligation to act in a socially responsible manner, and commits itself to educational equity and inclusion. This educational concept demands diversity awareness and resolutely opposes any form of discrimination.

2. We stand for uniting excellent research with teaching from the start

Based on nationally and internationally renowned basic and transformative research, science, and innovation, that are realized across generations and with all, the University of Cologne practices research-based teaching and learning from the start. In doing so, it utilizes its potential as a comprehensive university for excellent disciplinary and interdisciplinary education, as well as for the holistic promotion of skills that include knowledge of a variety of theories, models, and methods, empowering students to apply and further develop these skills.

The University of Cologne promotes a Scientific Habitus characterized by critical, reflective, and rational thinking and action, as well as the perpetual pursuit of new knowledge. It is based on scientific and ethical integrity, the rules of good scientific practice, and is characterized by a systematic scientific working method. The University of Cologne also relies on an intradisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approach.

3. We stand for an inspiring and constantly-evolving culture of quality, teaching and learning

The University of Cologne fosters and achieves educational and professional development processes in cooperation with all educators and students. The University of Cologne commits to modernizing the teaching and learning culture and creating the best conditions and spaces for innovative teaching and learning. It promotes an inspiring, performance-oriented, participatory, and supportive teaching and learning culture, as well as a culture of free discourse and debate that is particularly characterized by mutual respect and constructive feedback. The University of Cologne is committed to ensuring that all her stakeholders in teaching and learning, regardless of their socio-cultural backgrounds, individual circumstances, and personal ambitions, can discover and develop their potential, talents, and interests and continue their education in flexible formats throughout their lives. Diversity is understood as inspiration for innovation and knowledge. The University of Cologne thus promotes internationality, multilingualism, and interculturality, as well as academic and career paths within and beyond academia.

4. We are committed to social responsibility, dialogue, and transfer

The University of Cologne encourages all stakeholders in teaching and learning to contribute scientific findings that have a lasting impact on society and to help find solutions to the great challenges of our time. As designers of the future, stakeholders are empowered to take responsibility for themselves and their environment, to lead personally and professionally successful lives, to develop resilience, and to engage in well-being and lifelong learning. They are expected to contribute their competencies, knowledge, skills, and experiences as critical and constructive thinkers and as socially responsible global citizens in a team-oriented and communicative manner. They are enabled to initiate processes of renewal and to take responsibility for themselves and their community, society, and the environment.

The University of Cologne considers it of utmost importance that all its learners, who are being prepared for academic professions, take on a high degree of personal, ethical and professional responsibility. The decisions, judgments, and actions of those who work in these professions can have a significant impact on the personal integrity of those entrusted to them, as well as on the living conditions and circumstances of their fellow human beings. This is especially true for teacher education. For this reason, the University of Cologne creates the prerequisites for all students at the university to acquire both differentiated and diverse knowledge about influences, consequences, and alternative courses of action, as well as an understanding regarding the application of knowledge in complex, dynamic, and sometimes seemingly contradictory situations.

The University of Cologne also supports the digital sovereignty of all stakeholders and works towards an informed, critically reflected, ethical and socially responsible handling of small and big data, as well as artificial intelligence. In this way, the University of Cologne realizes teaching and learning that, considering the past and present, is directed toward the opportunities and challenges of the future. We approach these challenges in an innovative, creative, and proactive manner.