University Certificate in Practical Mentoring in Early Childhood Education Fields
Trainee early years practitioners acquire extensive theoretical knowledge and skills during their degree and training. It is in practical settings – through placements in early years settings – that they apply these for the first time in their day-to-day work. To successfully navigate the process of transferring theory into practice, they need your support. As competent practical mentors, you view your role as a constructive and participatory approach, and learning as a co-constructive process.
The continuing professional development certificate ‘Practical Mentoring in Early Childhood Education’ equips you with the specialist methodological, communicative and interpersonal skills required for your role. The course is designed so that, through the transfer of knowledge, discussion with other practical mentors and the completion of a practical assignment, you can directly reflect on and put into practice the content covered.
- Application deadline
- 15 May 2026
- Duration of study
- 5 days of face-to-face teaching
- Scope
- 5 credit points
- Conclusion
- University Certificate
- Start of studies
- 12 June 2026
- Language of instruction
- German
Target audience
This programme is aimed at educational professionals working in early years settings who are currently acting as mentors or who wish to gain the necessary qualifications to do so.
Career prospects
This certificate qualifies you to work as a practical mentor in early years education settings.
Entry requirements
The requirements for your participation in the further training programme are
- a completed university degree with an educational focus comprising at least 180 credit points and, as a rule, at least one year’s professional experience in the field of education
or
- at least three years’ state-recognised vocational training in education and at least one year’s professional experience in the field of education.
Application
Please send your application and the required documents to praxismentoring@ph-karlsruhe.de.
Legal basis
Advice on content
Organisation
Karlsruhe University of Education
Building
2
Room
B310
Phone
Availability
By arrangement
Organisation
Karlsruhe University of Education
Building
2
Room
B315
Phone
Availability
Office hours:
Monday, 02:30 pm – 04:00 pm (after registering on StudIP)
Organisational consultancy
Organisation
Karlsruhe University of Education
Building
2
Room
A023
Phone
Learning outcomes and skills
- Understanding the role and responsibilities of a practice mentor;
- Reflection on one’s own role and attitude;
- Basic knowledge of learning from and with adults and applying this to the mentoring process;
- Ability to shape mentoring processes constructively and proactively;
- In-depth knowledge of conversation techniques and their application in conversational situations;
- Reflection on one’s own conversational approach;
- Knowledge of ways to support trainees in reflection processes and the acquisition of skills.
Course structure and dates
The certificate programme consists of five days of face-to-face teaching and a practical assignment. A total of five credit points (CP) are awarded.
The programme comprises block sessions, which take place on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at our university. The practical assignment is completed between these blocks. Once the written report and presentation of the practical assignment have been completed, the university certificate will be awarded.
| Module | Contents |
|---|---|
| 1: Role and responsibilities as a practice mentor |
|
| 2: Communication skills for workplace mentors |
|
Dates
The training course will take place on the following dates, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on each occasion:
- 12 and 13 June 2026 (Block 1),
- 25 and 26 September 2026 (Block 2) and
- 14 November 2026 (Block 3).
Female lecturers
Ulrike Weßbecher studied Educational Sciences at the FernUniversität in Hagen (BA) and at the Karlsruhe University of Education (MA). Her professional experience as a nursery teacher spans the fields of special educational needs and inclusion, as well as early years education and care for children under three. After completing her studies, she worked as a lecturer at the Karlsruhe University of Education on what was then the Childhood Education degree programme. Since 2016, she has been working as a teacher at the Bethlehem College of Social Pedagogy in Karlsruhe. She also works as a freelance trainer for organisations including AIM in Heilbronn.
Ulrike Weßbecher studied Educational Sciences at the FernUniversität in Hagen (BA) and at the Karlsruhe University of Education (MA). Her professional experience as a nursery teacher spans the fields of special educational needs and inclusion, as well as early years education and care for children under three. After completing her studies, she worked as a lecturer at the Karlsruhe University of Education on what was then the Childhood Education degree programme. Since 2016, she has been working as a teacher at the Bethlehem College of Social Pedagogy in Karlsruhe. She also works as a freelance trainer for organisations including AIM in Heilbronn.
Amrei Fuhrmann studied Early Years Education (BA) at the Karlsruhe University of Education and subsequently completed a Master’s degree in Educational Sciences (MA), specialising in early childhood educational processes, at the Heidelberg University of Education. After completing her studies, she entered the profession and has since been working as an early years educator in a nursery. During her studies, she undertook a research semester at the Karlsruhe University of Education, during which she wrote her Master’s thesis on the career paths of early years educators and gained her first experience in designing seminars and teaching.
Amrei Fuhrmann studied Early Years Education (BA) at the Karlsruhe University of Education and subsequently completed a Master’s degree in Educational Sciences (MA), specialising in early childhood educational processes, at the Heidelberg University of Education. After completing her studies, she entered the profession and has since been working as an early years educator in a nursery. During her studies, she undertook a research semester at the Karlsruhe University of Education, during which she wrote her Master’s thesis on the career paths of early years educators and gained her first experience in designing seminars and teaching.
Fees
The total fee is 450 euros. This includes the following:
- Face-to-face seminars,
- access to the specially developed e-learning modules,
- advice and support throughout all stages of the course, as well as
- a recognised certificate (university certificate) upon successful completion of the programme.
Legal basis for fees
Leaflet
Any questions?
Our Centre for Academic Continuing Education is here to advise you on all matters relating to admission, the organisation of your studies, funding and the recognition of prior learning.
Centre of Continuing Education
Organisation
Karlsruhe University of Education
Building
2
Room
A023
Phone
Updated on 14 October 2026 by Central Web Editorial Office