RWTH Aachen
University School
Aachen, Germany
The 4. Aachener Gesamtschule was founded in 2011 and is a comprehensive school serving students from grades 5 to 13. It currently educates around 820 students with a teaching staff of approximately 96 teachers.
The school’s pedagogical concept strongly focuses on fostering self-management and self-organised learning through a wide variety of open learning formats. Central elements are so-called Lernbüros (learning offices), Projektzeit (project-based learning) and Werkstätten (workshops), which are complemented by regular guidance and counselling sessions. Heterogeneity, inclusion and diversity are regarded as natural and valuable foundations for the continuous development of teaching and learning in line with 21st-century skills.
Links and more
Contact Person
Prof. Dr. Christian Timo Zenke
Teaching and Research Area
“Innovation and Transfer in Education
Systems”, RWTH Aachen University
Since 2016, the 4. Aachener Gesamtschule has been closely collaborating with the Institute of Educational Science at RWTH Aachen University and has officially held the status of RWTH Aachen’s University School since January 2024. The cooperation currently focuses on school research and teacher training. Joint research projects explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning, including topics such as Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning (See Learning®). In teacher education, student teachers can complete their practical semester at the school, take part in experiential education projects such as “Projekt Herausforderung” (the “Challenge”), and conduct smaller research projects and Master’s theses. In addition, teachers and educational staff regularly contribute to university courses as guest speakers.
