Role and Aims of the bologna.lab
The bologna.lab is a cross-faculty teaching and learning laboratory of HU and reports directly to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. It strives to promote self-guided, independent learning formats which create scope for individual development and contribute to the implementation of needs-oriented academic curricula.
The bologna.lab as an experimental laboratory offers both students and teaching staff a range of opportunities to get involved. Firstly, students and teaching staff are invited to get actively involved in the projects, developing and testing innovative teaching and learning formats. Secondly, the bologna.lab offers advice and support in implementing the tested formats and applying them in adapted forms to other courses, institutes and faculties. The bologna.lab team welcomes initiatives, suggestions and ideas from all members of the university.
The bologna.lab focuses on:
Student-Centred and Research-Based Learning
The bologna.lab offers workshops on a variety of teaching and learning formats which provide students with early opportunities for independent research from the undergraduate level onwards. The programmes concentrate on exploring opportunities for independent, research-based study for different groups and at different stages in their degree programme.
Humboldt Award for Excellence in Teaching
The bologna.lab has redesigned the Humboldt Award for Excellence in Teaching and supports the Vice President for Academic Affairs in the organisation of the process from the call for nominations through to the awards procedure.
Digital and Hybrid Teaching
The bologna.lab offers support, consultation and workshops on digital and hybrid teaching and learning. The focus is on the didactical implementation and, true to student-centred learning, the activation of the students.
International and Intercultural learning
The Circle U. project at bologna.lab coordinates Circle U’s Work package 5 „Socially-engaged education and research“ with the aim of developing three knowledge hubs on democracy, global health and climate. In cooperation with Academic chairs, students and associated partners the aim is to develop the climate hub and organize events and projects to strentghen the knowledge hubs.
With the projects of the bologna.lab, the HU aims to make a university-wide impact and to contribute to the quality development of university teaching. Two goals in particular are crucial: honing the profile of good teaching, and reinforcing its importance at the university.
Since the beginning of 2012, the bologna.lab has been supported by funding from the Quality Pact for Teaching of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the ‘Transitions’ (FKZ: 01PL11030) proposal. The second funding phase ended in December 2020.