Shaking Up the Classroom: Round Table Sessions Discard Traditional Lectures at Viadrina University
Discussion-based seminars instead of traditional lectures at Viadrina University - Discussion-based seminars replacing traditional lectures at the University of Viadrina
The Europa-Universität Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder) is undergoing significant changes due to dwindling student enrollments. The university administration is keen on embracing modern teaching methods: Dropping lecture halls in favor of round tables aims to create a more conference-like ambiance. The university leadership made this announcement. The Viadrina is planning to reach more students through new programs, and they are open to reconsidering underperforming offerings.
A university reform plan drafted by the Viadrina is set for presentation to the Ministry of Science by early July. In the winter semester 2018/19, the university had around 6,500 students, with the current enrollment standing at approximately 3,700. Student numbers have also decreased at various German university locations.
University President: Emphasis on Quality
University President Eduard Muhl responded to the reasons behind this shift, stating, "Perhaps we haven't worked hard enough." The university's marketing could use improvement, and many young people in the economic sector opt for private universities instead. Muhl stresses that this decline in student numbers presents an opportunity for the university to invest more in quality.
The Viadrina maintains a focus on Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and Ukraine, in its international outlook.
Vice President: Urges Seriousness from Students
The university expects greater seriousness from students in the future. According to Christoph Broemmelmeyer, the Viadrina's vice president for teaching and studies, who teaches business law himself, lectures should not be considered optional entertainment. He clarified that he is not an entertainer and cannot attract students primarily through entertaining antics. "I'm not Jan Boehmermann."
The university aims to restore a "culture of commitment" to encourage students to attend crucial lectures seriously. "One must engage with topics thoughtfully," said Broemmelmeyer.
Modernizing the Teaching Approach
The university intends to make teaching more forward-thinking: The Viadrina aims to move away from conventional frontal teaching, where the professor stands at the front and students are seated in fixed rows in front of them. "Good teaching should be the hallmark," said Broemmelmeyer. He often chooses conference formats employing round tables because it promotes increased participation.
New Business Administration Model: Three Days at Uni, Two Days at the Office
The Europa-Universität is exploring dual study programs, such as the "Three days at uni - two days at the employer's" model, for instance, in business administration ("Business Taxation"). A degree program will commence in the autumn, with students simultaneously working in tax consultancy firms, shared Viadrina professor Christina Elschner.
New degree programs are planned in the fields of digitization, migration, and sustainability. The university management anticipates offering these programs as early as the winter semester 2026/2027.
Statistics show that there were a total of 48,133 students enrolled at the universities in Brandenburg during the summer semester 2024, an increase of 1,726 students compared to the previous summer semester.
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The Europa-Universität Viadrina is considering new initiatives to boost student enrollment, including the introduction of dual study programs that combine university education with vocational training through internships.
The university is also planning to modernize its teaching approach by moving away from traditional lecture halls and adopting round table sessions for increased student participation. This shift emphasizes education-and-self-development and encourages serious learning in a conference-like ambiance, as part of the Viadrina's focus on quality and promoting a "culture of commitment."
