Call for Proposals: Microformats of International Teaching and Learning in EUTOPIA
TUD Dresden University of Technology is a member of the European University Alliance EUTOPIA, an association of ten European universities and six international partner universities. The aim of the alliance is to promote the internationalization of higher education through innovative forms of cooperation in teaching and research, to open up diverse learning and mobility opportunities for students and to jointly develop answers to the challenges of the 21st century.
With this call for proposals, TU Dresden would like to take up these goals, promote cooperation within the EUTOPIA alliance and provide new impetus for international teaching and learning formats.
1. aim of the call for proposals
As part of this internal call for proposals, TUD Dresden University of Technology is promoting innovative "microformats" of international teaching and learning within the EUTOPIA Alliance. The aim is to support low-threshold, creative and inclusive teaching-learning formats that make international cooperation, cultural diversity and student-centeredness visible and tangible in an international context. Ideally, these formats should be able to be integrated into ongoing modules, research projects or seminars and involve little additional effort or open up teaching activities internationally.
2 Object of funding
Funding will be provided for teaching and learning formats that integrate international offerings into teaching at TU Dresden and test cooperation with international partners of the EUTOPIA university alliance. The focus is on innovative, participative and student-centered approaches in international teaching-learning cooperation. Examples of eligible formats and activities:
- Research-based learning and teaching: Involving students in joint research activities, data collection, case studies or international mini-projects, student research stays at one of the EUTOPIA universities.
- Short-term mobility and short international formats: Excursions, seminar (parts), mini-challenges or virtual encounters with international researchers and students (face-to-face, online or hybrid)
- Collaborative teaching, learning and research: Co-teaching with partners from the EUTOPIA alliance, tandem formats, virtual exchange, mentoring or peer formats, joint publication or dissemination activities
- Innovative teaching and research formats: Creative methods and spaces (e.g. gamification, audiovisual teaching, research-oriented learning spaces)
- Diversity, context sensitivity and critical reflection: integration of local and international perspectives, promotion of interculturally sensitive approaches in research and teaching
- Inclusion and accessibility: formats that enable participation in research and teaching regardless of language, mobility, impairment or social situation
3. funding criteria
Funding projects are selected according to the following criteria
- Cooperation with at least one EUTOPIA partner university
- Feasibility and cost appropriateness
- Sustainability and compatibility with existing structures
- Innovative content and relevance for the improvement or intensification of international teaching or research at TU Dresden
- Degree of student involvement and participation
- Inclusion and diversity orientation of the teaching-learning formats
- Contribution to the strategic internationalization of TU Dresden
4. scope of funding and framework conditions
- Funding amount: up to €15,000 per project
- Funding period: May-December 2026
- Intended use: Material and travel expenses, fee and work contracts, SHK/WHK, expenses for events, technical implementation, public relations, etc.
- Integration into existing courses: It should be possible to integrate formats into ongoing teaching and research projects or open up existing courses internationally. A connection to existing AQUA or elective modules is an advantage.
- Visibility and recognition: The projects selected through the call for proposals will be awarded the EUTOPIA label and made visible. Students can optionally receive an EUTOPIA Microcredential for their participation in the project.
5. eligibility to apply
Scientists employed at TU Dresden who teach themselves are eligible to apply. Members who are already part of a Connected Community or other EUTOPIA initiatives can also apply.
6. application procedure
Applications are submitted using a simplified procedure:
- Short application (max. 3 pages) via the online application form
- Project idea and objective
- Details of the EUTOPIA partner university(ies) involved
- Format description (incl. timetable)
- Planned contribution to internationalization, innovation & inclusion
- Funding requirements and budget overview
Application deadline: 30.04.2026
Selection procedure: The selection will be made by a committee of the ZiLL and the EUTOPIA team at TU Dresden. The commitment is expected to be made by 08.05.2026.
7. support and advice
For questions regarding the application, format development and partner acquisition, please contact Kristin Klein and Kerstin Le Merdy.