The application period for this focus program has already closed.
Are you interested in actively shaping teaching and learning and curious about the future of education? Would you like to further your education, develop new approaches, and experiment collaboratively as part of a team?
In an innovative and dynamic environment, you’ll work as part of a team to develop new approaches to teaching and learning: As a faculty member, student, staff member, or expert at the University of Cologne, you’ll create innovative learning experiences and collaboratively develop skills relevant for the future. Using co-creative methods, working in interdisciplinary teams, and supported by a strong network, you’ll have the opportunity to gain new perspectives and actively shape the teaching and learning of tomorrow.
What is the focus topic “Artificial Intelligence in Education” about?
Engaging with future-relevant topics and developing future-relevant skills are essential for helping to shape the future. Artificial intelligence is one such topic. AI has been omnipresent—at least since the “ChatGPT moment”—changing our daily lives and our world, and will therefore be at the center of the first funded InZuKo focus program.
Specifically, the program focuses on exploring both discipline-specific and interdisciplinary AI competencies from various perspectives—which is why all members of the university are invited to apply and participate. We aim to deliberately consider the broad field of AI in its entirety: In addition to the development and use of AI tools, the role of data, and the handling of AI results, we will naturally also consider social and ethical issues.
A central question in this context is always how we can make these competencies accessible to others. The joint development of a wide variety of innovative learning experiences is therefore at the heart of the focus program.
InZuKo, the “Innovation Platform for Future-Relevant Competencies”, is part of the Teaching and Learning Platform overseen by the Office of the Vice President for Teaching and Student Affairs and is funded as an externally funded project by the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education. The project connects faculty, students, staff, and experts, supporting them in jointly envisioning and shaping the education of tomorrow, as well as developing and building future-relevant competencies. Our goal is to identify future-relevant competencies and use co-creative methods to develop innovative, research-based learning experiences for diverse target groups. In doing so, we aim to bring together stakeholders both within and outside the university and create a framework for agile and forward-looking collaboration. To this end, we offer biannual funded focus programs, each addressing a specific focus topic and the associated future-relevant competencies.
As an innovator in the funded Focus Program (FP), you can work together with others on the FTP team on a project idea related to the focus topic “Artificial Intelligence.” Through exclusive events, the FTP offers you the opportunity to work collaboratively and engage in interdisciplinary exchange with the rest of the FTP team on one or more projects. We at InZuKo offer you individual support, numerous advisory and support formats, as well as access to additional resources. The focus is also on your individual competencie development: Through our accompanying learning opportunities—such as those on learning experience design, futures studies, or research-based teaching and learning—you can further your education while building future-relevant skills.
As a participant in the FP team, you will learn and work together across organizational levels and disciplines over a period of 6–9 months. You will further develop your idea or project over the course of the program, drawing on the numerous advisory and support options offered by InZuKo as well as the expertise of the FP team. You may also work on a joint project with others from the FP team.
By the end of the program, you will have engaged deeply with the focus topic and other future-oriented skills, explored possible futures, and collaboratively developed learning experiences that can then be made available on our platform—ideally as open educational resources.
As part of the FP team, you will work on an idea or a specific project with the support of the InZuKo team. Possible projects include, for example:
- a course
- a professional development or continuing education program
- a curriculum development project
- a seminar paper or thesis.
By the end of the FP, you will have developed a learning experience or a concept based on the project. By “learning experiences,” we mean all processes in which individuals learn and, in doing so, deepen or develop their competencies. As such, they are also aimed at all target groups within the University of Cologne. Possible formats include, for example:
- a course or a self-study course (including continuing education and professional development)
- a concept for teaching innovation
- a handout or teaching and learning materials
How can you participate in the FP?
The FP is carried out by an interdisciplinary, cross-level FP team, typically consisting of 2 Fellows, 2 student Changemakers, and 4 team members. The members of the FP team receive funding for the duration of the FP, with the amount of funding varying by role.
Fellowships are designed for faculty members who explore a new focus area academically and translate it into innovative, research-based learning experiences. As part of the FP, they also conduct academic research on the focus area during the preparatory phase.
Through a Changemaker program, students can gain additional qualifications, actively contribute their perspectives to the FP, and work on their own projects at the same time.
Participating as a team member is a flexible way to gain skills and contribute your expertise to the FP. This opportunity is open to all employees of the University of Cologne.
As an Associate, you can participate in the FP even without funding, which gives you access to advisory and support services, allows you to attend individual events and workshops, and enables you to contribute your expertise.
What opportunities does participating in the FP open up?
We offer personalized support, a wide range of research-based advisory and support services, and access to additional resources. Above all, you’ll have the opportunity to develop transformative ideas and gain valuable competencies as part of an interdisciplinary, cross-functional team. As a participant, you can develop and implement your own project idea through a co-creative and interdisciplinary process. In doing so, you can address future-oriented topics and, for example, develop and implement research-based learning experiences—as well as other innovative projects.
In workshops and other formats, you will build new competencies and expand your knowledge, for example in the areas of learning experience design, futures studies, and research-based teaching and learning. We also integrate learning experience design, futures studies, and foresight methods methodologically into the FP, for example in LXD workshops or future workshops. You will also benefit from our infrastructure, including creative spaces, educational technology, and software licenses. Your work will be made accessible to a broad public through our communication channels and networks. Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a microcredential certifying your participation in the program and the skills you have acquired.
To further support your work within the FP, role-specific support packages are available that can be tailored to your individual needs. This customized support may include, for example, assistance from support staff, external services, fee-based professional development, or coverage of technology, travel, and publication costs. Student changemakers may—provided the requirements are met—be hired as student employees for the duration of the FP and thus receive funding for their participation in the FP.
Schedule of the Focus Program
Throughout the program, there are regular mandatory and optional events and activities—including, for example, kickoff and closing events, workshops, and sessions for the FP team. At the same time, you will also work independently on your projects and continue to develop them. The program can be completed on a part-time basis or alongside your studies, though the time commitment varies depending on the role.
The Fellows, not yet joined by the rest of the FP team, are exploring the topic of “artificial intelligence” together with the InZuKo team. Using foresight methods, among other approaches, they are examining the topic from a scientifically grounded perspective and with a focus on future-oriented skills. The result is a so-called dossier, which serves as a starting point for the FP team.
The FP team conducts research, learns, and works on its projects. This is facilitated through interdisciplinary seminars, workshops, and colloquia. The InZuKo team guides this process and provides guidance and support.
The FP team uses learning experience design to create research-based learning experiences based on its project ideas, or develops its ideas into concepts with the help of the support services offered by the InZuKo platform.
Once the development phase is complete, the guided portion of the program will conclude. The results will be presented at a public closing event (scheduled for September/October 2026). During this period, the learning activities will be carried out, and concepts, materials, etc., will be published.
Who is the program intended for, and how does the application process work?
The program is open to members of the University of Cologne. It offers individual funding.
The application period for this focus program has already closed.
Do you have any questions or would you like to stay up to date on InZuKo?
If you have any questions about the call, please contact us at inzuko-ftp@uni-koeln.de.
You don’t want to participate in the call, but would like to stay informed about InZuKo’s activities? Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on events and calls!
The next FP is expected to launch in October 2026. The call for proposals is expected to be published in May/June 2026.
InZuKo has just launched as an externally funded project and is the first focus program. We view ongoing development as an integral part of the process. For this reason, the first focus program is intentionally designed to serve as a developmental and prototypical model for future focus programs. We therefore welcome the participation of individuals who wish to help shape this development phase with us.