Retrospective
Anniversary conference: 20 years of childhood educational degree programmes
In 2004, the first childhood education degree programmes were created, including the degree programme in Early Childhood Education at the Department of Social Sciences and Education. The conference, which was organised by the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences, was intended to take stock: What were the milestones in the establishment of the degree programmes? What has been achieved? What are the prospects?
The first Bachelor's degree programmes in early childhood education were created in 2004. The Early Childhood Studies (BABEK) degree programme at the Department of Social Sciences and Education (FB 1) at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam was one of them. There are now 76 childhood education degree programmes across Germany, with 14 Master's degree programmes on offer, including the Master's in Early Childhood Education at the department 1 of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam .
The aim of the event was to take stock:
- What were the milestones in the establishment of childhood education degree programmes?
- What has been achieved so far?
- And what are the prospects?
Around 200 people, including students and graduates, explored these questions in presentations and workshops over two days, both on site and digitally. The Department of Social Sciences and Education was well represented.
A key finding of the conference was that childhood educators have arrived in various fields of childhood education, such as day care centres or educational support, and are often in leadership positions. At the same time, the challenge of further publicising the profile and contribution of childhood educators to childhood education practice was identified. It was also noted that one of the most pressing issues for childhood education is how to deal with right-wing populism and the rise of right-wing parties. This needs to be addressed more intensively in childhood education teaching and research.
The Childhood Education Study Programme Day, the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Bildung und Erziehung in der Kindheit e.V., the Pädagogik der frühen Kindheit der DGfE (PdfK) commission and the Deutsche Berufsverband für Kindheitspädagogik e.V. as well as other supporters planned the event. The Department of Social Sciences and Educaton of the FH Potsdam was represented.
The conference programme and documentation can be found here.
