Paderborn University is facing up to the challenges of studying and teaching in a digitalised world. It utilises the potential and seizes the opportunities offered by technology to meet the heterogeneous needs of an increasingly diverse student body and to continuously improve the quality of studying and teaching. At the same time, it takes responsibility for analysing the risks of change and avoiding them wherever possible. It develops visions and designs innovative concepts for studying and teaching that are groundbreaking for the future of teaching and learning processes.

Participatory, diverse study programmes

Paderborn University is committed to the unity of research and teaching. This is reflected, among other things, in the early involvement of students in research practice and in the orientation of teaching towards current topics of academic discourse. Paderborn University attaches great importance to excellent quality of study and teaching. By promoting the personal development of students, it contributes to the development of a modern, diverse and democratic society and stands for unprejudiced, innovative and interdisciplinary teaching. Paderborn University is a place of participatory exchange between teaching staff and students who shape educational processes together.

Activating, skills-orientated teaching

Paderborn University offers attractive, competitive study programmes that are characterised by high quality and up-to-date content. Various exchange programmes, transnational partnerships and foreign language courses give them an international orientation. Teaching and studying is geared towards students' individual acquisition of skills in dealing with subject-specific and content-related issues and takes into account the heterogeneity of the student body by opening up individual learning paths and encouraging a high degree of independence in the didactic design of teaching. Teaching takes place at eye level and in open dialogue. Individuality and diversity are seen as an opportunity for both students and teaching staff. At the same time, students are sensitised to cultural, professional and social diversity.

Responsible, independent graduates

The specialised knowledge, subject-related skills and interdisciplinary key qualifications acquired during the degree programme enable graduates to take up professional activities in academic and non-academic fields of work and enable them to assume social responsibility, react to changes and develop innovative solutions. They should view the world critically from the perspective of a scientist, regardless of their career path. They should also be characterised by commitment, responsible action and critical faculties and be able to participate in social discourse.

Good, sponsors study conditions

In order to ensure good study conditions for students, a technical infrastructure for optimal study organisation has been institutionalised. Furthermore, framework conditions are created that enable equal and non-discriminatory studies. The tension between standardised study programmes and individual learning paths is managed constructively. Digital teaching and learning formats are used to complement classroom teaching. To maximise academic success, Paderborn University students are offered a wide range of support and counselling options throughout the entire student life cycle. Teachers are actively supported in the further development of their didactic skills and motivated to provide excellent and innovative teaching through an incentive system. Both lecturers and students are given the opportunity to discuss teaching and develop it further together. The quality management system for studies and teaching, in which students are fully involved, supports the improvement of the quality of studies in terms of content, methodology and organisation.