As the science of subject-specific teaching and learning, subject-specific education focuses on learning locations inside and outside school. The establishment and development of subject-specific education as an independent academic discipline is therefore a key prerequisite for good teacher training and effective teaching.

swissuniversities works with the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) to establish subject-specific education at universities of teacher education and other teacher training institutions.

As part of these activities, swissuniversities promotes dialogue between the higher education institutions in question and, in particular, coordinates a programme that helps them to develop academic skills in subject-specific education. The programme also enables the further planning and development of the Master’s degrees in subject-specific education, which are offered by cross-higher-education-institution networks. An additional programme provides the framework for the establishment of cooperation-based PhD programmes in the field of subject-specific education.