The main focus of all activities at the Institute for Diversity Studies and International Relations is the development, implementation and evaluation of teaching in initial teacher education and their continuing professional development as well as the quality development at schools in the areas of migration and plurilingualism integrating other fields of diversity. The second focus is on research in the topic.

As a support institute it is also responsible for the strategic management and operational planning of the University College of Teacher Education Styria’s internationalisation. Its services include the consulting, organisation and evaluation of educational mobility for students and university staff, as well as consulting, documentation of and participation in international projects. The establishment of this institute aims at a diversity-oriented opening at all levels. All task fields operate across the University College of Teacher Education Styria.

The main tasks of the institute are:

• Development, implementation and evaluation of teaching in the diversity areas in close cooperation with all the organisational units at the University College of Teacher Education Styria
• Development, implementation and evaluation of the latest diversity-focused concepts in the areas of initial teacher education and continuous professional development
• Development, organisation, implementation and evaluation of (university college) training courses
• Research on the diversity fields of interculturality, migration and plurilingualism
• Conception and implementation of personal development measures in the relevant area of expertise
• Planning and implementation of international educational cooperation projects
• Internationalisation of study programmes
• Advising, organising and evaluating the mobility of students, teachers and administrative staff