»Teaching and Learning Mission Statement« Published
Good teaching and good learning – how is this understood at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar?
This summer, the Senate adopted the »Teaching and Learning Mission Statement«. In this document, University members commit themselves to a positive teaching and learning culture as well as to sustainable and quality-oriented higher education based on shared values. The mission statement highlights the strategic foundations of higher education and defines a common understanding. It expresses a vision that is put into practice and benefits students and instructors alike.
Goals of the Mission Statement
The new Teaching and Learning Mission Statement should provide internal and external orientation. It specifies values and quality objective intended to guide degree programmes, curricula, teaching formats, and quality assurance processes. The aim is, among other things, to:
- establish a common understanding of good teaching,
- boost motivation for the continuous improvement of teaching and learning,
- increase identification with the University and its teaching culture,
- make University-wide values and quality objectives visible both internally and externally,
- and actively influence the strategic development of the University.
Participatory Development Process
The mission statement was developed through an open, participatory process that begin in 2023. The process involves all status groups at the University – instructors, students, researchers, and staff. University members contribute their perspectives and experiences in workshops, group discussions, and other participatory formats. Dr. Simon Frisch , Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs, Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs, was responsible for the overall process and Laura Muske from the University Strategic Development Office acted as coordinator.
Background and Legal Framework
The development of a Teaching and Learning Mission Statement is not simply an expression of internal standards; it also follows the guidelines set out in the Framework Agreement V between the state government of Thuringia and the state’s universities (2021-2025). In the Framework Agreement, the universities committed to further developing their quality assurance systems in teaching and to formulating a teaching mission statement as a central part of internal quality management.
The mission statement can be found on our website:
https://www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/profile/guidelines/