Vocational High School Teachers Awarded Taipei Instructional Innovation Award Visit Alanus University in Germany

The delegation of 14 award-winning teachers, led by Ms. Tsai Shih, an inspector at the Department of Education of the Taipei City Government, visited Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences in Bonn and the Vocational School of Automotive and Aviation Technology (Städtische Berufsschule für Fahrzeug- und Luftfahrttechnik) in Munich, between October 2 and October 5. Their program was arranged by the Education Division at the Taipei Representative Office in Germany.

At Alanus University Professor Jost Schieren and Dr. Juergen Peters gave a presentation on the core ideas of Waldorf education (also called ‘Steiner education’), and associated scientific research studies, and the delegation visited Waldorf education style classrooms on site.

Prof. Schieren enjoys a worldwide reputation as being an expert on Waldorf education, and he devotes himself to promoting this alternative form of education. Alanus University provides a degree in teaching Waldorf education. The presentation was followed by vigorous discussion among the delegation members.

On October 5, the delegation visited the Vocational School of Automotive and Aviation Technology in Munich. The principal, Mr. Wolfgang Keil, gave an outline of the vocational training system in Germany and of important features of the school. The delegation visited classrooms and had some short conversations with teachers and students. All the delegation members felt that they had strongly enriched their knowledge and understanding of dual systems of teaching and learning.