Hochschuldidaktik

Elevate -- Informed Practice in Higher Education Teaching


Elevate is a condensed programme designed to provide an initial introduction to key principles and practices of teaching and learning in higher education. It offers international academics at the University of Göttingen to acquire fundamental knowledge in didactics, effective communication and assessment, and student-centered learning, with a strong focus on applicability in everyday academic teaching contexts and reflection of own's professional practices.
The programme, which runs completely in English, is intended as a compact introduction for international academics on all experience levels who seek to enhance their teaching skills in the German higher education system. The core components are completed within a fixed cohort, thereby specifically fostering collegial learning from one another.
By completing the programme, which comprises 60 working units (WU) per 45 minutes, participants gain a basic qualification in higher education teaching and are equipped to reflect on and further elevate their own teaching practice.
The Elevate programme does not meet the demands of accredited teaching and learning certificates in the German higher education landscape, but offers a well-designed starting point for further qualification. The accredited programme 'teaching and learning in higher education' (Zertifikatsprogramm Hochschuldidaktik) at the University of Göttingen runs in German only, but of course also happily welcomes international academics with teaching duties.


The Elevate-programme runs over one year (June to June) and consists of a mixture of predefined and self-selected elements. It begins with a basic course in which all Elevate participants of that cohort start the programme together and address fundamental questions about teaching and learning at universities. In the following months, participants take part in workshops of their own choosing on core subject areas of university teaching (e.g., advising students) and complete accompanying elements of the programme (see below), mostly within their own group. At the end of the programme, the group reconvenes for a follow-up closing workshop and completes the programme together.

  • Obligatory workshops (24 WU): The two-day joint kick-off workshop lays the foundations for teaching at a university. How does student learning work? What does this mean for the design of university teaching? And what expectations does this entail—on the part of society, the university, but also and above all on the part of students and teachers? These and other questions will be addressed in the course. In addition to examining the fundamentals of university teaching, the focus is also on learning with and from other programme participants. The closing workshop aims at reflecting ones development as teacher during the Elevate-programme and supports participants to consolidate the amount of information and impulses they gained through the programme.
  • Focus by choice-workshops (24 WU): There are --- beyond the fundamentals in teaching and learning (subject area A) --- four core subject areas on which participants can work during the programme: Planning and implementation, presenting and communicating, assessment and evaluation, and consultation and conflict resolution. To successfully attend the programme, each participant has to select workshops in at least two of the four core subject areas of higher education teaching and learning. Participants can choose single courses from our open workshop offers that are of interest to them and would be enriching for their individual teaching contexts. While it is needed to choose workshops in at least two subject areas, the 24 WU can also be split amongst all four areas.
  • Supporting elements (12 WU): During the programme and especially parallel to the individually selected workshops, participants of one cohort work together in tandems/groups of three to reflect the impulses from the different workshops to transfer them to their individual contexts. In one Midterm meeting (4 working units) these reflections as well as possible challenges that have arised during the semester will be discussed in the whole group. The various impulses participants gain through the Elevate-programme shall flow into the development of a teaching statement (max. 2 page; 8 WU) that each participant needs to hand in before the closing workshop at the end of the programme.


    • Dates

    • The Kick-off workshop is scheduled for Monday, 15th of June and Tuesday, 16th of June 2026, 10.00-16.00, as on campus event. Part of the workshop is a 4 WU self-study phase which starts after the on campus event.
    • The Midterm meeting takes place on Tuesday, 24th of November 2026.
    • The Closing workshop will take place on Tuesday, 8th of June 2027.
      • Please register to participate in the Elevate-programme before the 15th of May 2026 via this website (registration form on the right).


    • Target group: The programme is designed for international academics who teach at the University of Göttingen. It specifically addresses non-German speakers.
    • Registration for the programme is open until 15th of May 2026 and can be completed via the registration form here on the Elevate-programme website.
    • The costs of participating in the programme is €150. This entails the obligatory workshops and the organisation of the supporting elements. Additional costs will result though the registration for the focus by choice-workshops. Often departments cover the costs for teaching development programmes and courses, so we recommend to check this in ones own institution.
    • The programme comprises 60 working units (45 minutes each), which will be documented in a certificate of attendance after completion of the Elevate-programme.