Germany continues to invest heavily in future-ready education systems, and in 2026, Friedrich Schiller University Jena is once again at the center of innovation. In cooperation with the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society (TMBWK) and the Stifterverband, the university has officially opened applications for the prestigious Fellowships for Innovations in Digital University Teaching in Thuringia 2026.
These fellowships are designed for academic professionals and lecturers who want to transform higher education through digital teaching, AI-powered learning, simulations, blended learning, and modern examination formats. With generous funding and strong institutional backing, this opportunity aims to accelerate digital transformation across universities in Thuringia and beyond.
A total of up to nine fellowships will be awarded in 2026, offering substantial financial support for innovative teaching projects that reshape the learning experience for future students.
Funding Blueprint: What Selected Fellows Will Receive?
This fellowship is designed to financially empower lecturers and academic innovators to develop and implement cutting-edge digital teaching formats across universities in Thuringia.
Selected fellows will receive:
- Four individual fellowships valued at up to €50,000 each
- Up to five tandem fellowships valued at up to €60,000 each
- Project funding support for developing digital and AI-based teaching formats
- Financial backing for curriculum redesign using digital technologies
- Support for creating blended learning, simulation-based and e-examination systems
- Access to cross-university networking and collaboration opportunities
- Funding duration of 15 months from September 2026 to December 2027
These fellowships not only fund innovation but also support the long-term stabilization and dissemination of digital teaching methods across participating universities.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility Requirements for 2026 Fellowship
This fellowship call is specifically targeted at lecturers and academic professionals committed to improving digital university teaching through innovation and collaboration.
Applicants must:
- Be lecturers working at state-funded universities in the Free State of Thuringia, Germany
- Submit project proposals focused on digital teaching innovation or curriculum redesign
- Propose initiatives such as blended learning, AI-based teaching tools, e-examinations, games, or simulations
- Demonstrate potential for cross-university collaboration and knowledge sharing
- Apply through their respective university management (direct individual applications are not accepted)
Projects should aim to enhance digital teaching quality, encourage collaboration across institutions, and create scalable models for modern academic instruction.
Important Dates You Must Not Miss
The last date to apply for the Fellowships for Innovations in Digital University Teaching in Thuringia 2026 offered in cooperation with Friedrich Schiller University Jena is 7 April 2026.