Call for Application for the Digital Learning and Teaching Fund 2026/2027
Guidelines and Regulations for Funding Projects in the Field of Digital Learning and Teaching at the TUD Dresden University of Technology in 2026/2027
Eligible Projects and Funding Objectives
Funding is provided for the development of (partially) digital learning and teaching scenarios that demonstrate innovative ideas in their respective contexts and are based on a clearly defined challenge. The concepts should be aligned with TU Dresden’s teaching mission statement and sustainability strategy.
A total of 60,000 euros in funding (for personnel and materials) is available for implementation, with the funding period scheduled to run at least until December 31, 2026. In addition, an extension of the project durations until March 31, 2027, or September 30, 2027, is planned.
A total of four projects will each receive 15,000 euros in funding .
Within the framework of the funded projects, at least one of the following OBJECTIVES is to be pursued through the pedagogically justified use of digital media in teaching:
- Promoting the individualization of learning processes and pathways,
- Promoting interaction and participation in teaching,
- Supporting teaching activities by promoting digital competencies,
- Promoting the acquisition of skills in working with AI as well as its use in study and teaching,
- Revamping or expanding existing offerings while taking diversity and accessibility into account,
- Increasing the visibility of TU Dresden nationally and internationally through Open Educational Resources and/or Practices (OER/OEP).
In addition to financial support, ZiLL offers (ongoing) pedagogical consulting and networking opportunities for all faculty members at TU Dresden.
Application Process
Submission of ideas for the lottery
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To apply to the Digital Learning and Teaching Fund, please submit a concept outline using the provided form by July 31, 2026. The application period for the 2026–2027 academic year has ended. |
Ten project ideas will then be selected by lottery from the submissions received. The project leaders will present their proposals to a jury composed of members from various groups at TU Dresden.
The results of the lottery will be announced on August 5, 2026. All individuals who submitted a proposal will be notified via email.
Proposal Pitch
The pitch will be held live during a digital jury session, with fixed time slots assigned. Each time slot includes 15 minutes for the presentation and 10 minutes for discussion and questions from the jury.
The proposal pitch should include the following information:
- Background and objectives of the project,
- Description of the project, including the implementation concept
- Presentation of the pedagogical concept, including needs for adaptation, expansion, and optimization,
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Added value for students and faculty (with strategic reference to the teaching mission statement
of TU Dresden or to the target agreements of the departments or faculties), -
Quality assurance and sustainability concept,
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Transfer potential and scalability,
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timeline and financial projection.
The first three points are of particularly high priority and should be elaborated in detail. For the remaining points, a brief outline summarizing the key aspects concisely is sufficient.
- Consider accessibility aspects as listed in the action plan.
- It is desirable that you make your project results available as OER or OEP if suitable.
- If you are planning developments outside the technically provided infrastructure at TU Dresden, these must be well justified.
Jury Evaluation Criteria
- Coherent and transferable didactic concept
- Sustainability planning and its feasibility
- Added value for students and faculty
- Transfer potential and scalability
- Realistic cost and timeline
The criteria are not weighted during the evaluation and selection process. Rather, they should be understood in context and as a guide. Applications are evaluated holistically, and the inclusion of the substantive selection criteria in the project description depends on the focus of the respective project. Therefore, not all aspects need to be included to the same extent.
Grant Provisions
All TU Dresden lecturers who are officially responsible for teaching a course are eligible to apply. This explicitly includes students who have a teaching role (e.g. tutors). Excluded from this are members of the Faculty of Medicine, whose submissions cannot be considered in the context of the call.
Subject to the provision of funds, the funding period begins on October 1, 2026, and ends on September 30, 2027. Shorter durations with flexible start dates are possible.
Parallel developments to existing central IT infrastructure systems and services offered by TU Dresden are not eligible for funding.
Basic equipment cannot be financed within the scope of this funding; this includes the complete standard equipment for workstations (IT and furniture as well as small devices and cables). The financing of construction measures, repairs and maintenance work is also excluded.
Personnel and material costs may be claimed. The funds may only be used for the purpose specified in the application and during the period requested.
Entertainment expenses and purchases are only permitted in accordance with the guidelines in effect at TU Dresden:
The funds are budgetary funds and must be spent by September 30, 2027. In justified cases, an informal request for the reallocation of funds must be submitted in advance and sent to .
A final report and a table detailing the use of funds must be submitted by November 30, 2027, at the latest, following the completion of the project.
The final report may take various forms, such as a blog post, a transfer guide with lessons learned, a publication of OERs created, or similar. Documentation that is appropriate for the project and has high public impact will be jointly agreed upon during the course of the project.
During the project period, networking meetings are offered in which all project participants can take part.
Each project should take part in at least one networking event and the presentation of the project status there (e.g. specific networking events for funding recipients, E-Teaching Day, Teaching Day, Diversity Days, Lessons Learned Conference, Sustainability Week etc.).
Publication of the experiences and results by those responsible for the project is expressly desired.
Information about the project and parts of the final report will be documented on the TU Dresden website and, if approved, on the pages of the Saxony Education Portal. In the spirit of Open Education/Open Science, the project results should be made available under an open license (e.g. CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY 4.0, CC BY-NC or CC 0). Consultations by the SLUB in cooperation with the ZiLL can be booked at any time via the Wissensbar.
There is no legal entitlement to funding.