Discussions and Challenges in Teaching and Learning Politics

Political science in higher education faced wide-ranging changes during the last years. This is not a new observation. Areas of activity and responsibilities are changing permanently. However, what does this mean – concrete and on a qualitative level – to those who teach in higher education? This is the question addressed by this presentation and paper. In doing so, the paper discusses five aspects that appear on the agenda of European teaching and learning conferences and meetings. First, there seems to be no clear theoretical foundation of teaching politics in higher education. We see plenty of best practice examples published in journals and presented at conferences. However, these examples often lack empirical and theoretical underpinning. Second, publishing papers on teaching and learning is not a promising strategy for an academic career. Third, the digitalization of the learning environment (E-Learning, MOOCs etc.) is of specific importance for changes in teaching in higher education. Together with the changes in the academic environment, fourth, students’ approach towards higher education is changing from a broad concept of political education to acquiring a formal qualification. Not at least, the academic career and environment for the training staff changed also.