Combining engineering and teacher education – ideas and experiences from Chalmers University of Technology

Paper in proceeding, 2021

In response to the lack of STEM teachers in Sweden, Chalmers University of Technology offers a double degree program in engineering and education. This article investigates which ideas behind the program’s design have been of particular value in implementing the program and their added value. The five main ideas are: involve skilled schoolteachers called master teachers in the education, having many entrances to the program but only one exit, using interviews as part of the admission process, using a competency model to ensure coherence in the education, focusing on concrete work skills at the beginning of the education and later move on to theory and further development. We invite other universities to consider double degree programs in engineering and education and be inspired by these five ideas in their implementation.