Shaking Things Up at Europe-University Viadrina: Chat Sessions Over Chalkboards at the University on the Border
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Discussion-based seminars replacing traditional lectures at Viadrina University - Discussion-based seminars replacing traditional lectures at the University of Viadrina
The Europe-University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder) is undergoing a transformation due to a notable drop in student enrollment. The university's leadership is also aiming for a more contemporary learning environment: Traditional lecture halls are set to disappear, and round-table discussions are set to foster a more conference-like ambiance instead. Europe-University Viadrina's administration made this announcement. The university is also considering expanding its curriculum and does not exclude phasing out less popular courses.
By early July, a reform plan for the university on the Poland border is expected to be ready and then presented to the Ministry of Science. In the winter semester 2018/19, there were approximately 6,500 students, and as of now, there are around 3,700 students enrolled. The student count has also declined at various German university locations.
University President: More Attention to Quality
University President Eduard Mühle addressed the concerns: "Maybe we haven’t tried hard enough." The university's marketing strategy requires improvement, and many young people in the business sphere are opting for private universities. Mühle stated that the dwindling student enrollment also presents an opportunity, enabling the university to concentrate more on the quality of education provided.
The university has a focus on Eastern Europe, particularly on neighboring Poland and Ukraine.
Vice President: Academics over Amusement
In the future, the university aspires for a more serious commitment from its students towards their studies. Lectures should not be considered an "optional entertainment program," said Europe-University Viadrina's vice president for teaching and studies, Christoph Brömmelmeyer, who teaches financial law. He doesn't consider himself an entertainer and cannot rely on entertainment to attract students. "I'm not Jan Böhmermann."
The university aims to revive a culture of dedication so that students attend essential lectures to engage seriously with important subjects. "One must meet the topics head on," said Brömmelmeyer.
Modernizing Teaching: Rethinking the Classroom
The teaching style will evolve: Europe-University Viadrina aims to abandon traditional classroom settings where the professor stands at the front and the students are arranged in fixed rows in front. "Good teaching should be our trademark," said Brömmelmeyer. He has already adopted round table formats because it encourages engagement and active participation.
New Business Administration Model: Three Days at Uni, Two Days in the Field
Europe-University is also emphasizing dual study programs, such as adopting the model "Three days at university – two days at the workplace.” A business administration degree ("Business and Taxation") is due to start in autumn, where students will also work in tax consultancy firms, said Europe-University professor Christina Elschner.
New degree programs are in the works, including digitalization, migration, and sustainability. Europe-University hopes to offer these options as early as the winter semester 2026/2027, according to university administration.
According to the statistics office, there were a total of 48,133 students at Brandenburg universities in the summer semester 2024, which was 1,726 more than in the previous summer semester.
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- Europe-University Viadrina
- Europe-University
- Students
- Frankfurt (Oder)
- Lecture
- Entertainment program
- Poland
- The university, with a focus on community policy and education-and-self-development, is considering expanding its curriculum, potentially phasing out less popular courses and introducing new degree programs in areas like digitalization, migration, and sustainability, aiming for a more serious commitment from students towards their studies.
- As part of the modernization of teaching, the university plans to adopt vocational training methods, such as the "Three days at university – two days at the workplace" model for a business administration degree, emphasizing the importance of practical, experiential learning in the field alongside traditional classroom learning.
