Carola Surkamp

Prof. Dr. Carola Surkamp serves as Professor and Chair of Foreign Language Didactics specializing in English at the University of Regensburg's Institute of English and American Studies within the Faculty of Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies since April 2023. Previously, she held W2 and W3 professorships in English Didactics at the University of Göttingen from 2006-2023, where she served as Speaker of the Central Scientific Institution for Teacher Education (ZEWIL) and received the 2014 Teaching Prize for Outstanding Teaching.

Education:

• Studied English, French, and Spanish for high school teaching at Universities of Cologne and Nantes
• Foreign language assistant in France and Scotland
• PhD in English Literary Studies, University of Giessen under Prof. Dr. Ansgar Nünning

Her research centers on foreign language didactics with emphases on literature and film education, drama pedagogy, and cultural/global/digital learning through virtual exchanges. She pioneers teacher professionalization frameworks and sustainable development education, exploring how multilingualism and digital tools transform language instruction. Her work bridges theoretical rigor with classroom applicability across K-12 and higher education contexts.

Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal three converging trajectories: sustainable development education through solarpunk literature and hope-oriented pedagogy; arts integration via drama, film, and music; and critical examinations of democracy education and nonverbal communication. These strands collectively advance her vision of language teaching as a catalyst for global citizenship and ecological awareness, particularly through the Regensburg chair's focus on multilingual sustainability education.

Scientific Awards:

• Teaching Prize for Outstanding Teaching in Subject Didactics (University of Göttingen, 2014)
• digita Educational Media Award 2011 Special Prize for Close-Up: Exploring the Language of Film

Advising and Grants:

• Supervision: Mentored numerous doctoral candidates through LiKuS book series publications and Klett Academy initiatives
• Projects: Founded YLAB humanities student laboratory and GENiUS2 teacher education network; led ZEWIL and Regensburg's new multilingual didactics chair
• Grants: Secured funding for virtual exchange programs, sustainable development curricula, and digital teacher training platforms

Prof. Surkamp directs the Klett Academy for Foreign Language Didactics (English section) and edits Der fremdsprachliche Unterricht Englisch journal. Her YLAB laboratory and GENiUS2 network create vital bridges between university research, teacher training seminars, and schools, while her current Regensburg work establishes frameworks for multilingual sustainability education across English and Romance languages.