With its project proposal "Universitas@Jena: "Zukunft gemeinsam gestalten" ("Shaping the future together"), the University of Jena secured funding of around six million euros from the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education (Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre). In a competitive selection process, the project of the University of Jena was among only 80 proposals nationwide to be approved as part of the "Lehrarchitektur" (Teaching Architecture) funding programme.

Against the backdrop of global transformation processes such as digitalization and globalization as well as regional challenges such as demographic change, the University wants to break new ground in teaching with the funded project. "This project is visionary," says Prof. Dr Karina Weichold, Vice-President for Learning and Teaching at the University of Jena. The aim is to create innovative structures that enable modern and flexible study programmes, promote interdisciplinarity in teaching and studies and ensure transfer to society.

"This will benefit not only the University as a whole and society, but above all our students, whose future skills will be strengthened and who will be even better prepared for the regional and international labour market," emphasizes Weichold. "We are delighted to be able to shape the teaching of the future together. I want to thank the team at the Academy for Teaching Development (ALe) and everyone involved for their outstanding work on this project proposal."

Three teaching and learning spaces as pillars of a modern teaching architecture

Over the maximum six-year project period, a teaching architecture is to be developed that creates long-term space for innovative teaching and learning. With the "Innovationsatelier Akademische Lehre" (Innovation studio for academic teaching, INNOV-AT), the "Entwicklungslabor Studienangebotsgestaltung" (Development lab for study programme design, STUD-LAB) and the "Transfer- und Transformations-Hub" (Transfer and transformation hub, TRANSFER-HUB), three imaginary spaces will be created in which various initiatives will be tested and established.

For example, the STUD-LAB aims to create more freedom for individual study design by making a Bachelor's degree programme more flexible. At INNOV-AT, one of the plans is to implement a university-wide Inventio week in which students work on practical problems and present the results at a university-wide Futurum Day. Furthermore, the TRANSFER HUB will provide the opportunity to discuss socially relevant topics with students, teaching staff and the public through disciplinary and interdisciplinary teaching input in a new format called Forum Generale.

Multidimensionality as a success factor

The special structure of the project allows eight different initiatives to be realized, which are closely interlinked but can also work independently of each other. "This multidimensionality makes us resilient and flexible – a failure of individual elements does not jeopardize the success of the overall project," declares Dr Katja Hüfner, Managing Director of ALe, who is coordinating the project together with various university partners.

Most of the initiatives will begin their work at the start of the funding phase on 1 October 2025. In organizational terms, the initiatives are either located directly in faculties or in the ALe and other central facilities. Cooperations with non-university partners, e.g. with the city of Jena and JenaVersum, are also planned.