Looking back: International Week June 2026
From 8 to 12 June 2026, the University College of Teacher Education Tyrol (PH Tirol) hosted its International Staff Week under the theme „Sustainability in Education“. The week brought together academics and staff from three continents – Europe, Asia and Africa – for a programme dedicated to sustainable teacher education and intercultural exchange.
Partner institutions from Spain, Portugal, Poland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Turkey represented the European network, while colleagues from Thailand, India and Kazakhstan joined from Asia. South Africa contributed the African perspective. Together, these international guests shared research, teaching practice and ideas across disciplines – and were given the opportunity to present their own lectures, projects and institutional experiences, opening valuable insights into educational systems from different parts of the world.
The week opened on Monday with a guided city tour through Innsbruck, giving our international guests a first impression of the Tyrolean capital. Over the following days, guest lectures addressed topics ranging from AI in education and biodiversity to multilingual learning, sustainable bio-business and project-based learning for responsible consumption.
Hands-on workshops by PH Tirol
Particularly memorable were the practical contributions from PH Tirol itself. Wolfgang Zangerl invited participants to a bee workshop at the campus, where guests visited the campus hives and learned about beekeeping and the importance of bees for biodiversity and sustainable education. Stephan Walch then delighted the group with a special cheese tasting, paired with fresh honey from the campus hives and homemade honey ice cream. Stefanie Albert took participants on a culinary world tour, preparing dumplings from around the globe – from Austrian Schlutzkrapfen to Asian variations. Cooking regional Tyrolean specialities together with Peter Mitterer has long been a beloved highlight of our international weeks, and this year was no exception. The programme also featured a chocolate tasting workshop, and evenings were rounded off with the „Radlkino“, a bicycle-powered cinema.
The academic programme was complemented by visits to a kindergarten, the affiliated primary school (Praxisvolksschule) and the affiliated middle school (Praxismittelschule) of PH Tirol, a Gallery Walk of partner universities, and a dedicated Green Event Day featuring an intercultural brunch and the planting of an international garden with seeds brought from participants‘ home countries.
Voices from our participants
„The programme was thoughtfully designed and provided a perfect balance between academic exchange, professional development, intercultural learning and opportunities for informal networking. The visits to the affiliated educational institutions were particularly valuable – the opportunity to visit the kindergarten and primary school allowed us to better understand the Austrian approach to education and teacher training. One of the greatest strengths of the Staff Week was undoubtedly the international community that came together in Innsbruck. Meeting educators and academics from three continents created a truly unique atmosphere and laid the foundation for valuable international connections and future cooperation.“ (Dr. Barbara Skoczyńska-Prokopowicz, Varsovia University of Business and Applied Sciences, Poland)
The overall programme was designed by the Office for Internationalisation. The programme strand dedicated to Education for Sustainable Development was curated by the Office for Education for Sustainable Development.
The International Staff Week was warmly attended by lecturers, staff and students of PH Tirol, who engaged with our international partners and contributed to a vibrant exchange. We thank all participants for their inspiring contributions and look forward to continuing these partnerships through future Erasmus+ initiatives for both students and academic staff.
The overall programme was designed by the Office for Internationalisation, with Silvia Baldassari, Daniel Riedl and the team of the International Office. The programme strand dedicated to Education for Sustainable Development was curated by Martina Überall, Head of the Office for Education for Sustainable Development. The International Staff Week was warmly attended by lecturers, staff and students of PH Tirol, who engaged with our international partners and contributed to a vibrant exchange. We thank all participants for their inspiring contributions and look forward to continuing these partnerships through future Erasmus+ initiatives for both students and academic staff.