“Very personal support from the lecturers, open discourse on Waldorf education and artistic possibilities.”

Franziska Hüning, alumna of Childhood Education, reports.

Where am I & what am I doing?

Since June 2017, I have taken on the development work for a small vocational school for social pedagogy/educator training with a focus on Waldorf education as head of the Freie Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik in Mannheim. Our vocational school has only existed since 2015. 

My task is to work on a tailored concept so that the vocational school develops its own profile. On the other hand, public relations is an important area of work, but teaching itself is also one of my key responsibilities.

How did I get here?

Before that, I had led a continuing education seminar run by the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens in Dortmund for three years. Since I had just completed the Master’s degree at Alanus University, I was looking for a field of activity in which I could apply my newly acquired specialist knowledge. I was then asked whether I wanted to take over the management of the vocational school, and I agreed quite spontaneously.

To what extent did my time at Alanus University shape me?

My time at Alanus University was very important to me. I had already had around 13 years of professional experience as a Waldorf kindergarten teacher and had been looking for some time for a place where I could continue my professional education. Then I heard about the opportunity to complete the Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education at Alanus University. Very spontaneously, I went to the interview and immediately felt drawn to the mixture of very personal support from the lecturers, open discourse on the fundamental elements of Waldorf education, and the artistic possibilities that were open to me.