PH Zurich Summer School 2026 : Connecting across borders
The Summer School at Switzerland largest university of teacher education, now in its eighth edition, has become a vibrant meeting point for aspiring educators. The 2026 programme, running from 21 June to 4 July, offers two weeks of shared learning, dialogue and discovery. Participants choose a combination of two weekly courses, with all sessions taught in English.
Four courses, one shared goal: learning across perspectives
In Teaching Tomorrow: AI and the Transformation of Learning, participants explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping education – from experimenting with generative AI tools to developing their own AI-supported teaching scenarios. An “algorithmic walk” through Zurich and a visit to the Innovation Park offer hands-on encounters with AI in society. Education in Times of Conflict examines how schools can respond to discrimination, polarisation and crisis. Drawing on real-world case studies, participants develop strategies to protect children’s rights, foster dialogue and build resilient school communities – a topic that gains depth when discussed among peers from very different political and cultural realities.
In Gamification in Education, students learn to transform classrooms and urban environments into game-based learning experiences, designing their own gamified lessons that promote collaboration and creativity. Performative Teaching and Learning across the Curriculum takes a drama-based approach: rather than teaching acting, the course immerses participants in fictional contexts to develop interdisciplinary skills such as empathy, communication and problem-solving – with a school visit that brings the methods to life with real pupils.
Beyond the classroom
What makes this experience truly distinctive, however, is what happens beyond the classroom. Joint excursions to the Swiss mountains, cultural events and informal gatherings create the kind of connections that last well beyond the programme itself. Participants regularly describe the cross-cultural exchange with peers from vastly different educational contexts as the most transformative part of their experience.
A few places are still available. Applications remain open as long as spots last, so early registration is recommended. Students from European partner universities may be eligible for a BIP/SEMP grant.
Further information
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