Manuscript received March 10, 2026; accepted March 19, 2026; published May 26, 2026

Abstract—Debates surrounding teacher education frequently concentrate on the preparation of educators for the domain of general education. It is evident that the demand for teachers in this area is higher, and there are certain similarities in terms of the challenges involved. However, it must also be emphasized that the strong focus on the professional activities of trainees at vocational schools and the linking of degree programs for future teachers with engineering degree programs pose a particular challenge. This challenge is compounded because a "typical" student in this field differs from "ordinary" students. This paper outlines a typical student profile and analyzes the design of teacher training programs at three universities. The subsequent section of the text undertakes a detailed examination of the potential developments of these programs, encompassing both structural developments and individual courses as illustrative cases. Consequently, recommendations for the design of the programs are formulated, thereby answering the central research question of this paper.