The call for applications for ‘Teaching and Learning with Society’ for the summer semester 2026 is now open. If you are interested, please apply by 18 January 2026!

The program “Teaching and Learning with Society: transdisciplinary course program” supports teachers across disciplines in shaping academic questions and seminar work in cooperation with society. The aim is to integrate experience and knowledge from society into teaching and university work with students, to learn from various actors in civil society, culture or politics and create an equal exchange.

The office for Knowledge Exchange with Society at the Center for Cultural Techniques supports seminars that work in a transdisciplinary or participatory way and include elements of exchange with society or public engagement. This may include:

• Cooperation with appropriate societal actors / organizations
• Cooperation in the organization or presentation of course content, in the form of co-teaching or using other methods that aim to incorporate expertise from outside academia
• Course design with aspects of community-based research/learning
• Cooperation with societal groups or organizations for the presentation/display of course results
• Courses that combine material practices, object- or body-centered approaches in teaching with external collaborations

Support is provided through:

• Funding of up to 1,000 euros per course for materials, guest lectures or workshops (expenses according to HU regulations); note that this is additional funding for existing or planned courses by HU-teachers, it does not finance an entire semester-long “Lehrauftrag”
• Use of space at the Object Lab on Campus Nord, including flexible room equipment
• Occasional event assistance by arrangement
• Support/advice from HU team Knowledge Exchange with Society (approx. 2h per week)

Eligible for funding are:

• Expenses for BA or MA seminars at HU Berlin in summer semester 2026 (funds remain with the Center for Cultural Techniques and are managed by the team)
• Seminars that take place in the Object Lab on Campus Nord or are held elsewhere but connect in some way to the place or focus of the Centre for Cultural Techniques (ZfK).

To apply:

HU-Teachers and seminar instructors are welcome to contact wissensaustausch.zfk@hu-berlin.de and send the following information until July 30, 2025 to apply for the programme in Summersemester 2026:

1. Short course description
2. Motivation and description of the transdisciplinary/participatory collaboration with external society actors/organizations
3. Brief budget outline with expected or needed expenses
4. Outline of the required course/event/object support

Contact:

Xenia Muth / Leonie Kubigsteltig
HU Office for Knowledge Exchange with Society
Email: wissensaustausch.zfk@hu-berlin.de
Phone: +49(0)30 2093-12892 | -12881