Universities Handbook of Switzerland

The University of Teacher Education Thurgau PHTG Switzerland (De:Pdagogische Hochschule Thurgau, Schweiz) is one of 14 universities of teacher education in Switzerland and was founded in 2003 as an independent public-funded establishment. In three years of full-time study teachers are trained in pre-primary (kindergarten) or primary school education (forms 1-6). Both courses of study are structured by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and allow for flexibility and mobility due to a transparent credit system. The degree awarded by PHTG to successful candidates is the Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Primary/Primary Education. Since 2007 we also offer a course of study for teaching at secondary schools (Sekundarstufe II). This course enables students who have previously completed a degree program to gain a teaching qualification and includes modules in pedagogy and didactics whilst offering practical training. Successful students are awarded the degree of Master of Advanced Studies in Secondary and Higher Education. Courses concentrate not only on teaching skills but also on individual subjects, such as music, languages, biology, history, religious diversity and so on, in order to give future teachers a solid basis for their classroom work. Considerable attention is also paid to giving indepth insights into how communities and societies function as well as to communicative and intercultural skills. With less than 400 students we are a small community with a friendly atmosphere. Our students and lecturers offer a friendly welcome to exchange students, who can count on everybody's helpfulness. PHTG is only a few minutes away from the Swiss-German border, which enables exchange students to get to know two countries and cultures. Certain modules given at Konstanz University (Germany) can be attended by our students - in this way an exchange semester becomes a true border-crossing event!