eTeach free spaces
The "eTeach Freiräume" format offers the opportunity to further develop your own teaching and learning formats. You will receive funding, to further develop your course in terms of methodology and didactics, enrich your teaching materials or introduce digital media. The focus of these further developments is on improving learning success and the acquisition of skills by students as well as better accessibility to the course.
Your contact for this topic
More time for fresh teaching and learning!
The „eTeach Freiräume“ are open to all teachers at Thuringian universities who are responsible for designing the curricula or organizing a course. The aim of the funding is the practice-oriented further development of existing courses with a particular focus on strengthening so-called future skills. Funding is available for the creation of teaching/learning materials, audio/video production for learning and teaching, the creation of course rooms, the introduction of new methods and media and digital tools, as well as teaching-related advice, teaching coaching or shadowing. The funding primarily serves to further develop your teaching.
The processing of your experiences should be suitable for providing other teachers with access: We invite you to present your results in one of our networking and exchange formats. These include, among others Talks@eTeachthe workshop "Im Dialog" or the annual eTeach conference. The funded projects are publicly announced on the eTeach Network Thuringia website and, where appropriate, in other media.
One application can be submitted per person per year. The funding of a maximum of EUR 3,000 can be used to cover the costs of contracts, teaching assignments (including travel and accommodation costs), the procurement of teaching/learning materials or the costs of student assistants.
An expression of interest is required by July 1 at your contact point and the final application by September 1 possible for the following year. Please coordinate the idea of your application with your eTeach contact point before submitting it. In addition to a comprehensible presentation, the basis for this is the Funding guideline specified eligibility criteria. The beneficiaries receive up to A funding decision was received in mid-October. All information on deadlines and the process from application to reporting can be found in the following graphic.
Process timeline eTeach free spaces
Important Documents for Your Application
To submit an application, please use the application form, which you can download here. You must then upload the completed form via the Converia submission tool. Submission is possible from July 1.
Please note that an expression of interest to your eTeach contact point is a prerequisite for an application.
Submission Process
Submissions will be accepted starting July 1 through September 1 via the Converia platform.
To submit your application, please use the application form, which you can download from the Downloads section. You must then upload the completed form using the Converia submission tool.
Please note that an expression of interest to your eTeach contact point is a prerequisite for an application.
Here's how to submit a request through Converia:
- Register with Converia just once.
- Upload your application as a PDF via the portal.
- Once your submission has been successfully processed, you will receive a confirmation.
FAQ on Applying for eTeach Exemptions
Who is eligible to apply?
Faculty members at Thuringian universities—that is, professors and academic staff with teaching responsibilities—are eligible to apply. Staff members without teaching responsibilities, adjunct instructors, and individuals who work directly within the eTeach network are not eligible to apply.
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As a (former) eTeach grantee, can I submit another application?
Yes, even as a (formerr) eTeach grantees*You may submit a new application. Please note, however, that funding is not available to continue projects that have already been completed. The new project must therefore demonstrate a clearly recognizable degree of innovation and meet the current funding criteria.
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Can a rejected application from a previous tender round be resubmitted in the same or a similar form?
Yes, rejected proposals may generally be resubmitted. In doing so, applicants should take into account the feedback from the previous review as well as any necessary adjustments regarding format, content, and/or funding. Please also refer to the current funding guidelines. Of particular importance this year are the contribution to promoting future skills and measures for transferring the results.
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Can I submit an application for multiple funding programs (Freiräume and Cooperative Impulse Projects)?
Yes, applications can generally be submitted under multiple funding programs. However, funding can be awarded to each person under only one funding program.
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Are multiple applications per university permitted?
Yes, multiple applications per institution are permitted. It is expressly recommended that no competitive preselection be conducted within the institution.
Do I need to contact my eTeach liaison before submitting my application?
Yes. We recommend contacting the relevant eTeach contact point well in advance to submit your application. In any case, an informal expression of interest must be submitted there by July 1, 2026.
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What should I pay special attention to when submitting my application?
Evaluation is based on the funding criteria published in the funding guidelines. Of particular importance this year are the contribution to the promotion of future skills and measures to transfer the results.
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How and where are the application documents submitted?
To submit an application, please use the application form available on the eTeach Network Thuringia website. The completed form must then be uploaded via the Converia submission tool by September 1, 26. This requires the applicant to complete a brief registration process in the system.
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In which language should the application be submitted?
Submissions should preferably be in German. Submissions in English are also accepted.
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Do all the questions on the application have to be answered?
Yes, you must answer all the questions in the application, as this is a requirement for meeting the eligibility criteria.
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What documents must be submitted to apply for project funding?
For the eTeach Open Spaces program, only the completed and signed project application form must be submitted.
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Can I apply for material resources for student assistants?
Yes, this is possible. Please justify the need for funding in the application by outlining the main tasks of the student assistant. The tasks must make a clear contribution to the project. Under "Title", state the degree of the student assistant and the planned number of hours, e.g. "BA, 6 x 20h".
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Can special literature be purchased from the material resources or does this have to be done using the basic equipment of my university?
Yes, this is possible. The prerequisite is that the literature is not available elsewhere, e.g. via the university library. Its procurement should represent added value for the project and be conducive to the results.
How are projects selected?
Submitted project proposals are reviewed by an internal award committee. This committee is appointed by the eTeach Strategy Council and consists of three members of the Strategy Council, a representative from the eTeach Coordination Office, and an eTeach contact person. The evaluation is based on a scoring table and the selection criteria transparently published in the funding guidelines. Each member of the award committee submits a funding recommendation, which may be accompanied by notes, recommendations, or conditions. The final decision on whether to fund the projects is then made by the Strategy Council.
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What formal reasons lead to the rejection of an application?
Through the eTeach Freiräume program, the eTeach Network Thuringia aims to support innovative projects in the areas of learning, teaching, and assessment, and to make the application process as straightforward as possible. However, for reasons related to funding and grant award regulations, certain formal requirements must be strictly adhered to:
- Eligibility: Full-time faculty members at Thuringian universities are eligible to apply, in particular professors, academic staff with teaching responsibilities, and instructors for special assignments (LfbA/LbA).
- Reasonable Financial Planning: The material resources must fall within the specified funding framework and be supported by clear and verifiable justification.
- Use of the Application Form: Only the application form provided may be used to submit an application.
- Completeness of the Application: All required information must be provided in full. Please observe the specified character limits. If you have any questions, the eTeach Coordination Team or the contact points will be happy to assist you in advance.
- Submission by the Deadline: The application must be submitted via the Converia submission portal within the published deadline. Applications received after the deadline can only be considered in the next call for proposals.
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When can we expect a decision on funding?
All applicants will be notified by the end of October 2026 at the latest whether their project will receive funding.
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How do I find out if my application will be funded?
Once the evaluation and award process is complete, the decisions regarding funding or rejection will be sent via email to the applicant’s email address provided in the application.
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When is the earliest the funding can begin?
The funding is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027, if possible.
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How long can the funding period covered by the application be?
The funding period is six months for eTeach-Freiräume projects and 12 months for Cooperative Impulse Projects. Funding ends no later than December 31, 2027.
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How are the funds allocated?
The approved funding is made available to the universities in full in advance. Settlement with the eTeach Coordination Office must take place no later than one month after the project’s completion. Proof of the actual expenses incurred must be provided at that time. Any unused or overpaid funding must be repaid to the eTeach Coordination Office.
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What happens if changes arise during the project?
Should any significant changes arise regarding the project plan or the use of the grant funds, these must be coordinated with the eTeach coordination team at an early stage.
What obligations come with receiving funding?
Funded projects commit to actively participating in the eTeach network’s exchange and knowledge transfer initiatives. These include:
- Regular communication with the contact points and the eTeach coordination team: The contact point is kept continuously informed about the project’s status and any changes in the use of in-kind contributions or the actual project start date, and provides advisory support for the project. If necessary, grant recipients may contact the contact point or the eTeach coordination team at any time.
- „Im Dialog“ Workshop (annual, in cooperation with the Stifterverband): This networking workshop is designed to facilitate exchange between grant recipients and interested parties. Participation, as well as the presentation of projects in the form of a poster and a pitch, is mandatory during the grant period.
- eTeach Annual Conference: This annual conference showcases teaching innovations from the funded projects and promotes cross-institutional discourse on digital higher education. Funded participants are encouraged to submit a presentation (at least one poster).
- Project Completion and Documentation of Results: Upon completion of the project, the results must be made available in an appropriate format—as a practical example or a teaching/learning concept—on the eTeach Network’s Good Practice Platform.
The eTeach Coordination team coordinates the various engagements and invites grant recipients to participate in the relevant events.
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How are the project results made visible and accessible across universities? What opportunities for knowledge transfer does the eTeach Network Thuringia offer?
The options for transferring and disseminating project results depend on the objectives and specific characteristics of each project. The eTeach Network Thuringia is open to various forms of results dissemination, provided that they enable sustainable transfer and are practicable for project participants. For this reason, initial considerations regarding the dissemination and reuse of results are requested as early as the application stage.
The eTeach Network Thuringia actively supports the dissemination of project results. In particular, the annual eTeach conference provides a platform for presenting funded projects, exchanging experiences, and creating opportunities for collaboration among faculty members at all Thuringian universities. In addition, workshops can be used to present project results and provide an introduction to their application.
Furthermore, all grant recipients are required to share their experiences and results in an appropriate format—such as a case study or a teaching/learning concept—on the Good Practice Platform to the eTeach network. This can take the form of, for example, a practical example, a teaching/learning concept, a tutorial, a Moodle course room, a collection of materials, or a workshop concept. The goal is to make the results as easily accessible as possible to other instructors and to encourage their reuse.
The processing and dissemination of the project results will be carried out in coordination with the relevant contact points and the eTeach coordination team and should be completed no later than three months after the end of the project.
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Is a final report required for the eTeach open-ended projects?
No, a formal final report is not required. However, once the project is complete, the eTeach coordination team will informally inquire about the project’s progress and the results achieved. Feedback can be provided informally via email or in a brief phone call.
In addition, once the funded projects are completed, they will be evaluated with regard to the process—from the application stage and its funding terms through to the end of the project. The evaluation report will be sent after the project concludes. The results of the evaluation will be used to further develop the eTeach-Freiräume program and to gain insights into the process.
These are our funded projects.
eTeach free spaces 2026
Water & Wastewater Teaching Toolbox - a digital construction kit for international environmental technology teaching
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Paul Engelke
Digitally supported teaching in sensor technology
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Alexander Richter
Digital exercises for stochastics
Applicant: Dipl.-Math. Anja Haußen
AI flashcard box for IT security: promoting independent learning
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Ralf C. Staudemeyer
GELiFEM - Gamified e-learning for finite element methods with quiz
Applicant: Dr.-Ing. Stefan Griebel
eTeach free spaces 2025
Interactive self-learning materials for sustainable, internationally oriented environmental technology teaching - implementation of the flipped classroom approach
Applicant: Dr. Ing. Paul Engelke
Digital inclusion and rehabilitation of people with physical, mental, intellectual and sensory disabilities through gaming approaches
Applicant: Dr. med. Stefan Kunde-Siegel
"Colonial educational institutions" - blended learning units on the topic of German colonialism
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Diana Düring
Interdisciplinary innovation in energy research - further development of a module into a cross-university course
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Ing. Dirk Westermann
Transformation in the physics practical course: Optimal support for data analysis and discussion of results!
Applicant: Dr. Anke Sander
Teaching profession meets Lego. Collaborative digital education projects in elementary school
Applicant: Dr. Dagmar Brand
Development of the online course "Logical argumentation"
Applicant:in: Matthias Rickes
Inverted classroom concept to improve science practicals (InvertedPrakt)
Applicant: Dr. Birgit Hoffmann
Playing Knowledge. An accessible set of cards to play, discuss and pass on.
Applicant: Junior Professor Dr. Ing. Dorothee Rummel
Simulative learning and teaching as an innovative approach in distance learning programs.
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Bärbel Dangel
Short self-study elements in the online social work course to increase learning success
Applicant: Dr. Andrea Kenkmann
Click, Think, Reflect - Interactive design of the Moodle course Diversity and Service Learning
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Cordula Borbe
eTeach free spaces 2024
Creation of two digital self-study units on the topics of participatory research and evaluation methods for interviews.
Applicant: Dr. Andrea Kenkmann
Diversity matters - Conceptualization of an innovative interdisciplinary elective (partial) module on the topic of "anti-discrimination" at the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena
Applicant: Angelika Roschka
Lego Technic in the world of mechanism and gear technology
Applicant: Dr.-Ing. Stefan Griebel
Interactive learning brochure for the course "Positivity in the practical semester and teaching profession".
Applicant: PD Dr. habil. Benjamin Dreer-Göthe
Moocs course on the topic of "AI and e-commerce".
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Dirk Schmalzried
Consolidation of current research results in the teaching of the mechanics of compliant systems.
Applicant: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Lena Zentner
Life cycle analysis as a tool in the design between analytical and generative process
Applicant: Prof. Oliver Sachse
Digital Playbook I Module "Stress management through mindfulness"
Applicant: Dr. Sabine Brunner
Preparation of a curriculum for the peer-supported acquisition of modeling skills for social VR
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Broll
eTeach free spaces 2023
Flipped classroom with the ICF / ICF on demand: Creating videos as teaching and learning material with students for flipped classrooms.
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Andreas Seidel
Seminar with public symposium on "Accessibility of social benefits and social services" as a teaching-learning project in hybrid format.
Advanced professional practice in health care@Thuringia (APP@Thüringen)
E-portfolio as a didactic intervention in practical study phases
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Renate von der Heyden
