Chemistry degree programmes and university teaching

Political education for (future) teachers - irrelevant or essential? (May 2025)

Teachers encounter fake news, scientific scepticism and misconceptions in the classroom. Tackling these usually requires an interdisciplinary approach - but this seems to be almost non-existent in chemistry teacher training programmes. Why it makes sense to change this. Article by Christian Nadegger in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Access for members in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/politische-bildung-fuer-werdende-lehrkraefte-egal-oder-essenziell-4148101)

MINT skills shortage jeopardises our prosperity (June 2024)

The position paper, jointly published by DECHEMA, GDCh, GBM, VAA and VDI, calls on industry, science and politics to take joint action to combat the shortage of skilled workers in the STEM sector. It was presented on 12 June 2024 during ACHEMA in Frankfurt.

White paper on the situation of experimental chemistry teaching in German schools (February 2024)

In a joint white paper, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the Conference of Chemistry Departments (KFC) express their concern that the importance of experimental teaching in schools is declining. The white paper analyses the shortcomings in schools in Germany and proposes solutions for better support of experimental chemical education in schools.

Position paper of the mathematical and scientific societies on further education and training of teachers (March 2022)

The position paper from the mathematics and science societies in Wissenschaft-verbindet calls on politicians and school authorities to create qualified further training programmes for teachers of mathematics and science subjects and to make it easier for them to participate during regular working hours.

Recommendations of the GDCh Study Commission on the Bachelor's degree in Chemistry at Universities (September 2021)

With this catalogue of topics, the Chemistry Study Commission of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) takes stock of the six-semester Bachelor's degree in Chemistry at universities and points out future perspectives. About the recommendations

Education, research and innovation policy position paper of the chemical organisations (March 2021)

Published by:Bundesarbeitgeberverband Chemie e.V. (BAVC), Deutsche Bunsen-Gesellschaft für physikalische Chemie e.V. (DBG), Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V. (DECHEMA), Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie e.V. (GBM), German Chemical Society e.V. (GDCh), Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau, Chemie, Energie (IG BCE), Verband angestellter Akademiker und leitender Angestellter der chemischen Industrie e.V. (VAA), and Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V. (VCI) To the position paper

Cross-association position paper on the sixth form in the nine-year Gymnasium (April 2019)

The GDCh and six other associations present their demands on teaching in the Gymnasium. To the position paper

Closure conference "Strengthening chemical education in grades 5 and 6" (June 2017)

The results of the closed conference at the Evangelische Akademie Tutzing in September 2016 are are summarised in a brochure.

Recommendations of the GDCh Study Commission on the Bachelor's degree in Chemistry at Universities (March 2015)

The catalogue of topics for the six-semester Bachelor's degree in Chemistry at Universities contains an inventory of the core content of the modern Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, covering around four semesters, as well as optional curriculum components. To the recommendations

Statistical surveys

The GDCh collects extensive annual data on the number of chemistry students in the various study programmes, the number of examinations taken, their assessments and the duration of study. It also regularly collects data on habilitations, habilitation candidates and junior professorships at German universities, as well as the proportion of female C3 and C4 professors. Further information