University for Life

At the Role Model Night, which has the theme ‘My career path as a first-generation student’, guests can enjoy an evening full of honest stories, moving moments and optimism. Impressive young people share their educational journeys with guests, many of whom are at the beginning of their studies. The role models' educational journeys have been, and continue to be, characterized by structural obstacles and internal struggles. Above all, however, these are stories of courage, potential, and the strength to not accept the system's disadvantages as a given. MORE…

The talent scouting programme at the University of Cologne supports students on their personal educational journey, focusing on each individual's potential and opportunities. Young, talented individuals should not be prevented from achieving their life and career goals due to difficult socio-economic circumstances or limited knowledge of the educational landscape. Talent scouts support upper secondary level students in overcoming specific challenges and transitioning to vocational training, a vocational qualification or a degree programme, thereby opening the doors to university. In addition to regular one-to-one meetings at schools, group activities tailored to the needs of talented students are offered to enable them to network with each other. MORE...

The JuniorUni at the University of Cologne offers workshops and field research projects for young people. A study day is also organized once a year for upper secondary level students. The events are organized and supervised by dedicated lecturers on a voluntary basis. This ensures that young people do not incur any costs and can take full advantage of everything on offer. Many of the workshops cover STEM topics. The objective is to encourage enthusiasm for science, IT and technology, and to address the long-term and medium-term shortage of skilled labour in these areas. MORE...

The University of Cologne is currently training around 13,000 students to become teachers. These individuals will help secure the future prospects of children and young people. This is an important task, as the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs predicted a shortage of around 25,000 teachers by 2025, with experts estimating the figure to be as high as 40,000.

As one of the largest teacher training universities, the University of Cologne is stepping up. Along with Ford Philanthropy and other partners, STEM student teachers are receiving even more comprehensive support as they make their way into schools. After all, everyone deserves a good education, which is the foundation for prosperity and democracy. MORE…

PROMPT! combines social responsibility with knowledge acquisition. Student teachers gain experience and develop valuable skills in language-sensitive subject teaching.

PROMPT! is a professional internship for student teachers in which the students provide language support to children and young people in Cologne's emergency accommodation centres and schools. The focus is on acquiring basic language skills to facilitate integration into German society and advancement in education and the workplace. MORE...

Every semester, non-profit organizations from the fields of culture, ecology or social affairs look forward to welcoming students who support their daily work for a few weeks or take on projects for which there is otherwise no time. 

Through service learning, students acquire the skills they will need in their future careers while doing good and earning credits for their studies. Thanks to Ford Philanthropy's long-standing support, student projects are financially backed and their commitment is recognized. MORE...

The considerable importance of digital skills presents a variety of challenges for teacher education. Students must be prepared to participate responsibly in a digital society. 

The Centre for Teacher Education (ZfL) at the University of Cologne offers courses that introduce teachers and student teachers to the fundamentals of Big Data Literacy, equipping them with practical skills that can be easily applied in regular lessons. Workshops enable participants to use the bigdataliteracy.net database to develop their understanding further and to access additional learning materials. MORE...

The Gateway Excellence Start-up Center works with students from several universities and higher education institutions in Cologne throughout the start-up life cycle. The goal is to raise awareness among students and university staff, to educate them and to empower them to start their own businesses and to transfer their knowledge to economy and society.

Thanks to funding from Ford Philanthropy, there is an increased focus on social mobility and diversity in Cologne's start-up scene. For example, special workshops are offered for first-generation students and sponsorship awards are given to women. MORE...

Once a year, the University of Cologne Forum provides a space to examine one current social issue. These free public lectures, readings and workshops are for anyone who wants to broaden their horizon. Whether you’re a university student, senior student, professor, administrative staff member, pupil, alumnus or citizen – everyone is invited to come together to find and discuss new solutions. This is an important offer in turbulent times, and in a world characterized by constant change. MORE…