University College of Teacher Education Styria
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Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark[1] | |
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 2007 |
| Affiliation | Non-denominational |
| Rector | Elgrid Messner,[2] since 2012[3] |
Academic staff | 400 |
| Students | 2,700 |
| Location | , , Austria 47°04′41″N 15°26′57″E / 47.07806°N 15.44917°E |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | www |
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The University College of Teacher Education Styria (German: Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark) is a teacher training university in Graz, Austria awarding undergraduate and master's degrees. It also operates continuing education programs.
The University College of Teacher Education Styria is an Austrian educational and research institution in the tertiary sector. It specialises in teacher education degrees and programs, and research into the development and improvement of the education system. It trains primary and secondary teachers and vocational teachers. There are also continuing courses for practicing teachers.
Background
The oldest component college was the former Teachers' Educational Institute dating from 1870, and was located at Burggasse 13 in Graz. It relocated to the current main building on Hasnerplatz in Graz-Geidorf and was reopened in 1909 by the governor of Styria, Manfred von Clary and Aldringen (1852-1928), in the presence of Governor Edmund von Attems-Heiligenkreuz (1847-1929) and the mayor of the city of Graz, Franz Graf (1837-1921).[4]
The Teacher Education Act (Hochschulgesetz, HG) of 2005 established 9 public university colleges of teacher education (Pädagogische Hochschule) in place of the post-secondary colleges for teacher training (Akademien für Lehrerinnen- und Lehrerbildung). University colleges of teacher education operate teacher training programmes (Lehramtsstudien) as bachelor's and master's degree programmes as well as further-education programmes (weiterbildende Lehrgänge).[5] The University College was founded on 1 October 2007 from a merger of the Federal Education Academy in Styria, the Graz Vocational Education Academy and the Pedagogical Institute Styria, giving it several buildings in Graz.
Activities are managed by a Rector, a Hochshule Council (Hochschulrat), and curriculum committees (Studienkommission). All matters regarding the university colleges of teacher education come under the competence of the Federal Minister of Education and Women's Affairs (Bundesministerin bzw. Bundesminister für Bildung und Frauen), and not the Federal Minister of Science, Research and Economy (Bundesministerin bzw. Bundesminister für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft) as for the PhD-awarding public universities.[5]
Core mission
The aims of the University College are:
- Teaching: Science-based and professionally oriented education, training and further continuing education of teachers
- Research: Occupational and applied research in education and practice
- Development: Development of quality in schools and other educational institutions
