Blog
Reflections from Cologne: A Journey into Diversity and Inclusivity in Modern Education
TEIMO: Teacher Education Across Europe: Innovative Mobility Opportunities
The TEIMO consortium have committed themselves to the service to:
“Standardize the concept of BIPs in order to guarantee the quality of BIPs in general”
Welcome to the TEIMO project blog. In this second blog post, we share insights and reflections from the recent BIP (Blended Intensive Program) held in Cologne, Germany, on 23-27 March 2026. The BIP program is a key part of our TEIMO project, designed to provide immersive training and hands-on experience for students from pre-service teacher education programs in eight project partner countries. This exciting event enabled students to engage deeply with “Insights into Diversity in Education Today”.
Highlights from the Cologne BIP
University of Cologne hosted the 2026 edition of Blended Intensive Program (BIP). This edition was the fourth BIP in this context and success of previous editions was shown in interest of participation. Overall, around 35 students and over 20 staff members participated in the course during the spring. Participants joined from University of Cologne, OsloMet, Izmir University of Economics, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, KU Leuven, Utrecht University and Stellenbosch University.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in a rich programme of workshops, seminars, school visits and campfire discussions, all centered around diversity and inclusivity in education. The sessions created a collaborative space for meaningful dialogue, reflection, and professional exchange.
Before the BIP, students prepared posters related to the theme from the perspective of their home countries. The posters were displayed in Cologne throughout the programme. Below are some examples:
Collaborative Learning Experience
Coaches from the eight partner institutions guided participants through interactive activities and discussions, fostering a supportive and reflective learning environment.
Key Focus Areas
The seminars and workshops explored a range of critical and timely themes, including:
Diversity-sensitive communication and exchange
Teacher education for inclusive practices
Multilingualism in education
Cultural identities in school contexts
Gender sensitivity: challenges and emerging risks
Educational architecture and rehabilitation of school buildings
School Visits & Professional Reflection
Participants had the opportunity to visit K–12 schools, observe real classroom practices, and engage in post-observation discussions and feedback sessions. These experiences provided valuable insights into how diversity and inclusivity are implemented in authentic educational settings.
Here is a picture from one of the school visits:
Cultural Engagement
The programme also included enriching cultural activities. Participants explored Cologne through a guided city tour, including visits to the Cologne City Museum and the NS Documentation Center, deepening their understanding of the historical and cultural context of the host country.
After concluding the intensive week, students had a month to finish their work with essay. Results were given in final online meeting and students provided versatile perspectives about digital education. At this point, after three months of work virtually and physically, the course was finished!
Testimonials from Participant Students and Coaches
We are proud to share some heartfelt reflections from the students and coaches who attended the BIP program:
“During the BIP week, we had the opportunity to try many different teaching methods, which also strongly supported the theme of diversity. One of the most meaningful parts of the week was getting to know both teacher educators and teacher students from different countries. It is a wonderful feeling to listen to teacher students discussions and hear so much wisdom, empathy, and a strong sense of belonging– not just knowledge and skills, but humanity, values, and responsibility. Moments like these make you feel that the future children in schools will be in good hands.”
Kirsi Wallinheimo
Deputy Head of the Department of Education (teaching)
University of Helsinki
“Listening to the participants’ experiences and perspectives helped me reflect more deeply through a cross-cultural lens, connecting insights from different European countries, Finland—where I currently study—and Sri Lanka, where I am rooted as an experienced teacher and counsellor. The BIP was a diverse and inclusive space that fostered a strong sense of belonging, truly reflecting the idea: diversity brings us together, inclusion makes us belong”
Mahesha Krishani – University of Helsinki/ Sri Lanka
“It is great to meet such an enthusiastic group of international students and teachers and talk about such an important issue like diversity and inclusion for a week.
Thank you for this program.
Berend Jansen – The Netherlands
“Participating in the BIP program in Cologne was an overall good experience for me. I am glad that I applied during my master’s degree. It was wonderful to meet colleagues from different countries. I especially enjoyed the workshops on topics that I’m interested in, such as diversity in higher education and multilingualism.
We visited schools with our groups and professors to observe classrooms. During the week, there was also a conference included in the BIP program which provided a valuable opportunity to learn more. In addition to that, I participated in a guided museum tour provided by the program at Cultures of the World Museum which was both informative and enjoyable.
The Educathon was the perfect way to conclude the program. We developed solutions to challenges related to diversity in education. I think all of us did a great job coming up with visionary and doable solutions. Preparing our pitch to present ideas was also a lot of fun! Overall, it was really nice to learn new things and make new friends.”
Nora Gündoğdu, Türkiye
“Participating in the BIP project has been one of the most enriching experiences for me. We worked with people from different cultural and educational backgrounds which helped me broaden my academical and personal perspectives as well as improving my collaboration skills. Throughout the project, I had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about diversity and inclusion, which I have always been interested in.
One of the most valuable elements of the program was the sense of international community that we created altogether. We conducted trips to different schools in Germany, and we got to learn more about different cultures and their educational systems. In light of the things that we shared, we discussed on how we can make the world a more inclusive place. Beyond the academic contributions, the friendships and professional connections are also unforgettable as I have already had a couple of project friends over! Finally, I now feel more confident in multicultural environments thanks to the international collaborations we formed through the course of a week.
All in all, the BIP project was a unique experience that contributed to my motivation as an educator and a learner, and I cannot wait to meet more people to share what I have learnt!”
Mualla Elif Durmaz, Türkiye