The Alice Salomon Hochschule (ASH) Berlin is organizing the conference "20 Years of Childhood Education Courses" from 19 to 20 September 2024. The occasion is the 20th anniversary of childhood education degree programs in Germany. In 2004, the first six early childhood education and childhood pedagogy bachelor's degree programmes were created, recognizing the eminent importance of academic qualifications for pedagogical work with children and families.
The conference looks back and forward, highlights progress as well as problems and emphasizes the necessity of the discipline for society as a whole with a view to the future. Today, there are 76 Bachelor's degree courses and an additional 14 Master's degree courses in this field throughout Germany. ASH Berlin, the venue for the conference, offers two Bachelor's degree courses in childhood education: the full-time degree course in Childhood Education and the integrated degree course in Childhood Education, which is aimed at teachers already in employment and other professionals working in the field of childhood education.
The establishment of the childhood education degree courses was and is a complex project at various levels. "Together with the organizing team, we have put together a program that takes a look at the study landscape, refers to political framework conditions, both beneficial and obstructive, analyzes scientific findings and formulates future requirements for early education," says Prof. Dr. Dagmar Bergs-Winkels, Professor of Childhood Education at Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin and co-organizer of the conference.
The aim of the conference is to shed light on the development paths, current requirements and prospects of academic qualifications for educational work with children and families. The links between research, teaching and professional practice play an important role here. Childhood educators from professional practice will contribute to the conference, students and graduates will provide insights into their studies and academics from the early days of childhood education such as Manfred Baberg, Hilde von Balluseck, Ursula Carle, Klaus Fröhlich-Gildhoff, Norbert Hocke, Iris Nentwig-Gesemann, Stefan Sell and Cornelia Wustmann will speak. They will address important topics such as inclusion, media education and childhood education learning workshops.
The hybrid conference will take place at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences in Berlin-Hellersdorf and is organized in cooperation with the Studiengangstag Pädagogik der Kindheit, the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Bildung und Erziehung in der Kindheit e.V., the Kommission Pädagogik der frühen Kindheit der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft, the Deutscher Berufsverband für Kindheitspädagogik e.V., the Erziehungswissenschaftlichen Fakultätentag and the Fachbereichstag Sozial Arbeit. It is aimed at childhood education practitioners, educational policy actors, graduates, students, specialists/teachers working in training and further education, university representatives and all interested parties.
Further information can be found on the conference website.
Media representatives are cordially invited to the conference. For accreditation, please contact hochschulkommunikation@ ash-berlin.eu
If you are interested, we will be happy to arrange interviews and/or background discussions on the topic and conference.
Contacts:
Prof. Dr. Dagmar Bergs-Winkels
Professor of Childhood Education at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin
bergs-winkels@ ash-berlin.eu
Prof. Dr. Corinna Schmude
Professor of Inclusive Education with a focus on Childhood Education at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin
schmude@ ash-berlin.eu
Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin
University Communications Office
Christiane Schwausch | Susann Richert
hochschulkommunikation@ ash-berlin.eu