Whether it’s virtual reality emergency training in pediatric medicine, safety briefings to raise awareness of potential dangers in STEM experiments, or chatbots as socially active learning companions — innovative ideas were sought on how to creatively design and further develop digital university teaching. With these fellowships, the Stifterverband [de] and the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg aim to stimulate a lasting interdisciplinary discussion. The state is supporting 19 tandems from universities in Baden-Württemberg that have developed exemplary teaching concepts, support services or dialog formats for digital university teaching. A Tandem Fellowship is endowed with up to 50,000 euros.
The second edition of the fellowship program (bwDigiFellows II) builds on the success of the first round, which concluded with a teaching and learning conference in fall 2023. The participants at the conference spoke out in favor of continuing the project. “What makes our Baden-Württemberg program unique is the tandem funding, which brings together different perspectives within the project. We are enthusiastic about the tandem partnerships, which consist of lecturers from different disciplines and universities, lecturers and staff from different support institutions or lecturers and students. They complement each other with their expertise and impress with their competence," says Baden-Württemberg's Science Minister, Petra Olschowski. "The funded projects offer a high transfer potential and cover highly relevant topics - such as the use of AI/chatbots in university teaching."
"The rapid advancements in digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) demand new skills that have not yet been adequately taught at universities and educational institutions," emphasizes Volker Meyer-Guckel, Secretary General of the Stifterverband. “Through the fellowships, we support committed teachers and their innovative projects so that students can use the necessary skills safely and competently and actively shape the digital transformation. In addition, the Stifterverband is also working with its partners as part of its 'Future Mission Education' initiative to ensure that universities quickly incorporate these new requirements of economic and social change into their teaching and quickly train and educate more people with the necessary skills.”
Out of 50 ideas submitted from all over Baden-Württemberg, a jury recommended 19 tandems for funding. The fellows include Prof. Dirk Pflüger and Prof. Jörg Fehr from the University of Stuttgart as a tandem, as well as Dr. Anke Treutlein from the University of Stuttgart and her tandem partner Philip Kierman from the Hochschule für Polizei in Villingen Schwenningen
Prof. Dirk Pflüger & Prof. Jörg Fehr [de]
University of Stuttgart
Project: Digital micro-modules for course-specific diversification in basic computer science training for engineering sciences (MikroDiv)
Dr. Anke Treutlein & Philip Kiernan [de]
University of Stuttgart/Hochschule für Polizei Villingen-Schwenningen
Project: Let's Talk! AI-supported communication training for conversational skills at school and police English
The 19 fellowships offer individual, personalized funding that provides the fellows with the freedom and resources they need to carry out their digital teaching and support projects. In addition to financial support, they are given the opportunity to network and exchange ideas.
The funded tandems are invited to participate in fellow meetings and a teaching and learning conference. The funding period of the fellowships funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg is determined individually according to the work plan of the project and ends no later than November 30, 2025.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND THE FELLOWS 2024 [de]