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Photo: UHH/Denstorf

Call for Applications 2025/2026 “Innovative Räume für innovative Lehre”

Good ideas for better teaching and learning spaces wanted and found!

The first application call for the Fund for Innovative Teaching (FIL) with the focus “Innovative Räume für innovative Lehre” (Innovative Spaces for Innovative Teaching) took place through 30 April 2025. The project funding totaling €190,000 is part of the Excellence Strategy's second funding line “Excellence Universities”. A maximum of €35,000 could be requested per application for new teaching and learning spaces. The call required student involvement and implemenation. This call addresses students’ wishes for better teaching and learning environments and meeting places, which they expressed multiple times in the Campus Survey in Summer 2023.

A total of 21 applications from all faculties were submitted. The jury, composed of members of all status groups and faculties, selected the following seven projects for funding after two meetings in May and June:

  • The cargo bike SPARKLE – A portable seminar room for innovative teaching and learning opportunities (MIN; mobile seminar room; contacts: Dr. Katrin Singer, Prof. Dr. Martina Neuburger, Dr. Tobias Schmitt)
  • Redesign of the lobby in the Faculty of Education (EW; VMP 8, lobby; contact person: Christina Schwalbe)
  • Hybrid innovation space for immersive teaching at the University of Hamburg (PB with MIN; pilot in seminars, physical VR learning space at the Informatikum new building planned; contacts: Prof. Dr. Frank Steinicke, Prof. Dr. Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock, Marvin Grabowski, Sebastian Rings)
  • Designing inclusive teaching-learning spaces – flexible, innovative, practice-oriented (EW; VMP8, Room 022 Sed19; contacts: Dr. Katharina Silter, Petra Heuser)
  • A space for creative development in a sustainable environment (BW; VMP5, Seminar Room 3136/3142; contact person: Dr. Anja Günther)
  • A future project for our students: creating new meeting places (MIN; Areas in front of the auditoriums of the Otto-Warburg-Haus at the IPM; contact: Prof. Dr. Julia Kehr)
  • Toni-Cassirer-Salon: creating education in a diverse way (WiSo; VMP5, Room 0031; contacts: Laura Laugwitz, Dr. Heiko Witt, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Fritsche), Room reservation via STiNE

Congratulations on behalf of the selection committee and many thanks to all applicants for your interest and commitment to this call!

A look at the new teaching and learning spaces

Ein Seminarraum mit Tischen und Stühlen.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari, Krueger & Yzer

Inclusive learning space, Faculty of Education, Sedanstr. 19

Different learning settings for kids with different physical needs can be simulated in inclusive teaching spaces.

Studierende am Arbeiten in einem Seminarraum.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari, Krueger & Yzer

Inclusive learning space, Faculty of Education, Sedanstr. 19

Teacher-training students learn how to use seating arrangement to create an inclusive classroom.

Ein Foyer mit Tischen und Stühlen.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari, Krueger & Yzer

Lobby, Faculty of Education at VMP8

Students can now meet up in the Faculty of Education lobby to chat or study together.

Eine Sofalandschaft vor einer Fensterfront.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari, Krueger & Yzer

Toni Cassirer Salon / Room 0031, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at VMP5

There are now more spaces for students to come together on the Main Campus.

Arbeitsmöglichkeit mit zwei gegenüberliegenden Sofabänken und einem Tisch in der Mitte.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari, Krueger & Yzer

Toni Cassirer Salon / Room 0031, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at VMP5

The newly created lounge now includes a section with private study areas for students to prepare for or review classes.

Zwei Studierende sitzen in einem Lernraum und tragen VR-Brillen.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

VR headsets from Faculties of Human Movement, MIN

Hybrid simulations of different settings can lead to new ways of learning.

Ein Lernraum mit mehreren bunten Tischen und Stühlen.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

Creative room, Human Movement Science at VMP5

Flexible furniture makes it easy to change the classroom setting.

Das Lastenrad SPARKLE der Fakultät MIN.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

SPARKLE—MIN Faculty’s cargo bike

The bicycle is a portable classroom that can be taken to wherever a class should take place.

Das Lastenrad SPARKLE der Fakultät MIN.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

SPARKLE—MIN Faculty’s cargo bike

The bike can transport different types of equipment such as a screen for presentations.

Bänke mit Tischen in hellem Raum mit Zimmerpflanzen.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

Lobby of the Otto Warburg House at the IPM (MIN Faculty)

In Klein Flottbek, students can now meet outside the classroom to chat and study.

Detailed Information on the Call for Applications

Application deadlines, maximum funding amount, application form, and the 2025/26 call for applications

Purpose and type of possible funding

The aim of the call is to redesign existing spaces or open indoor and outdoor areas of the University as creative and multifunctional teaching, learning, and meeting places that enable innovative teaching and learning formats that are flexible and participatory.

These rooms, spaces, and places can be actual physical spaces, or virtual or hybrid spaces. Funding is available for redesign projects headed by lecturers from all subjects and faculties who, together with students, are looking for new ways to give modern teaching formats and concepts an innovative, creative framework based on their specific needs. All lecturers are invited to work with students to develop exemplary room concepts that can be department-specific and/or faculty-specific or provide for joint cross-faculty or university-wide use of rooms and spaces.

The funding can be spent, for example, on innovative teaching and learning infrastructure; multifunctional, flexible furniture and room concepts; the latest technical equipment; lighting; and/or acoustic measures and are not intended for the improvement of basic facilities.

Selection criteria

The projects are selected with respect to the specific needs of the respective faculty/department. After a formal review in the Department of Studies and Teaching, a selection committee will assess the applications according to the following criteria:

  1.  Quality, innovation potential, and coherence of the teaching and learning concept, as well as room design.
  2. Feasibility and sustainability of the concept.
  3. Plausibility and appropriateness of the funding requested.
  4. Project scope.

Please note the following formal criteria:

  • maximum funding amount of €35,000
  • applicant is University of Hamburg lecturer (maximum of one application per funding round)
  • student involvement
  • approval from the office of the dean
  • building, room, or space belonging to the University of Hamburg that could potentially be a teaching and learning space
  • purely basic furnishing of rooms (e.g., painting the room, repairs, laying cables) is not eligible for funding

Selection committee

The selection committee includes

  •  the vice president for studies and teaching (VP2)
  • 4 members of the teaching staff (including one from the Hamburg Center for University Teaching and Learning)
  • 4 students
  • the head of Department 3: Studies and Teaching
  • the head of Section 86: Campus Development.

Legal and further information

  • Any funding awarded must be earmarked and spent in accordance with the implementation plan described in the approved application.
  • Funds must be spent by 31 October 2026 at the latest; otherwise, the funds will expire. If the full amount of the funds is likely not to be spent, or the implementation plan will have to be adjusted, this must be reported to Department 3: Studies and Teaching in good time. Possible changes must be discussed with the vice president.
  • There is no legal entitlement to funding.
  • By submitting your application, you agree that the University of Hamburg—here, the Department of Studies and Teaching—may process your data for the duration of funding within the scope of the Excellence Strategy (second funding line) for the following purpose(s): Application and selection decision for the Fund for Innovative Teaching. You understand that you may withdraw your consent at any time with future effect by contacting the Department of Studies and Teaching. Revocation of my consent does not affect any previous processing of data and information. Find additional information about data processing.

Contacts

General questions about the call for applications:

Department 3: Studies and Teaching

Hanna Haubert: fonds-lehre"AT"uni-hamburg.de

Advice on renovation projects:

Department 8: Property Management, Section 85: Construction Project Management

Sylvia Lerche (Questions on feasibility, monument protection, fire protection, etc. and forwarding on the subject of furnishing/equipment): referat85"AT"uni-hamburg.de

Advice on teaching methods

Hamburg Center for University Teaching and Learning (HUL)

Angela Sommer: angela.sommer"AT"uni-hamburg.de

Nadia Blüthmann: nadia.bluethmann"AT"uni-hamburg.de

Contact

Hanna Haubert

Process and Project Management Unit
Department 3: Studies and Teaching

Tel: +49 40 42838-3292
Email: fonds-lehre"AT"uni-hamburg.de

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Funding is provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments.