News Review

Once a semester you have the opportunity to learn new things about the use of digital media in teaching at the cosy LLT breakfast of the OU Educational Technology (LLT). Afterwards, you will be able to exchange ideas with colleagues and members of the LLT team in an informal atmosphere. The main topic this time is the app Studo, which students use to organise their studies and exchange information about courses.

• When: 11 January 2023, 8 - 9 am
• Where: Seminar room M36EG002, Münzgrabenstraße 36, ground floor
• Registration: telucationnoSpam@tugraz.at

Prize for Excellence in Teaching: Award winners 2021/22

On November 15, the ceremonial awarding of the three prizes for the academic year 2021/22 took place. This year, they were awarded to five TU Graz lecturers.

Christina Graf (Inverse Problems in Biomedical Engineering): The "Joint Online Course" was held together with Kerstin Hammernik (TU Munich). A total of 81 students from 13 different universities took part.
Franz Tschuchnigg, Andreas-Nizar Granitzer (Computational Geotechnics): Innovative spirit and enthusiasm were described as outstanding by the students.
Martin Schultze, Roland Lammegger (Experimental Physics 1 & 2): Linkage with current topics and interactive involvement of students in demonstration experiments are particularly positively highlighted elements.

More about the award winners
Submissions 2022/23

Open Call: Joint Online Courses

TU Graz is once again providing funding to promote joint international teaching. We are looking for teaching concepts that support intercultural learning by interconnecting students from different universities and use innovative digital technologies. Submitted courses can be existing ones as well as newly created ones.

• Funding: 3 x 15.000 €
• Deadline: January 31, 2022
• Target group: Junior lecturers (i.e. university assistants, and assistant professors). A professor/senior lecturer can act as coach in the project team.

Contact:

Barbara Böttger, International Office - Welcome Center
barbara.boettgernoSpam@tugraz.at

Further information: Intranet TU4U

“Didaktik-Werkstatt” 2023: Visualise, communicate, motivate

The “Didaktik-Werkstatt” (didactics workshops) of the “Steirische Hochschulkonferenz” goes into the next round between February and June 2023. As teaching staff, you can receive comprehensive continuing education in five half-day workshops (all offered in German):

• Blended learning
• Create good exam papers with little effort
• Student Engagement
• Visualisation in teaching
• Speaking and voice

The programme is available for teaching staff of all Styrian higher education institutions, is free of charge and participants can receive a certificate for completion. You can find more information on this on the Website of Science Space Styria (in German).

Registration (11 November - 12 December 2022): via online form

“In love with Teaching”: Call for submissions

Does positive feedback from students make your "heart beat faster"? Do you put a lot of "heart and soul" into your teaching? Is forming good teaching-learning "relationships" important to you and do you want to pass on the "love” of the taught subject or maybe even "light a fire"?

We give a stage to being "in love with teaching" and good teaching practice at TU Graz in the context of an interactive teaching conference. Take the opportunity to present examples from your teaching practice and to exchange ideas with colleagues!

• Call for submissions (Deadline): 12 December 2022
• Event: 14 February 2023 (Valentine’s Day), 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Aula (auditorium) of TU Graz

Detailed info and submissions: TU4U

SOS: Jumpstarting studies

In order to give first-year students at TU Graz a "101 of university", a new online course was created in cooperation with students, lecturers, internal/external experts and HTU Graz. The MOOC "Self-Organised Studying" supports a successful start to studies and is also relevant for students in higher semesters.

Six modules provide insight into the rights and duties of students, "Dos and Don'ts" in studying, time management and much more. If desired, individual modules can be completed instead of the entire MOOC, depending on the area of interest. The course is free available on iMooX, also with English subtitles for the videos.

Teaching and Learning News: Winter semester 2022/23

In the Teaching and Learning News of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs you can find all kinds of relevant information for the start of the winter semester 2022/23.

Information for teaching staff (available on the TU4U intranet): changes in study law, events, continuing education/support offers, information on the mandatory evaluation of all courses, etc.

Information for students (available on the TU4U intranet): changes in study law, 2-factor authentication (2FA), u:book promotion for inexpensive hardware, support services and service points, etc.

Mentoring programme for pupils: VWA/diploma thesis support

The mentoring programme, which has been running successfully at the University of Graz since 2015, will be held together with TU Graz for the first time this year. It involves students supporting pupils in writing their pre-scientific work (“VWA”) or diploma thesis.

While mentees receive current research insights, research tips and the opportunity to get to know the campus for the first time, mentors profit from participating in further education and the mentoring itself by acquiring skills that benefit them in writing academic works during their studies. In addition, students receive three ECTS/semester for the freely selectable courses.

Application now possible: All details on the schedule and requirements (note: programme is offered in German)

First Competitive Call for Teaching Infrastructure

With this call we would like to strengthen teaching by funding resources or costs that are needed for teaching. Preference is given to funding resources that are used by several institutes. Funding will be provided for 80 % of the costs of newly acquired infrastructure or comparable resources, with a self-financing share of 20 % of the costs.

• Deadline for submissions: 19 September 2022

You can find all information and the submission form at tugraz.at/go/infrastructure-funding.

Workshop: From slides to OER

With the "ConvOERter", a new tool is currently being developed that easily converts presentation slides into open educational resources (OER). At the end of July, there will be two workshops for all those interested in gaining an insight into the topic of OER and the ConvOERter.

Workshop 1 (for OER beginners)

What are OER? How do I turn my set of slides into OER? What is the ConvOERter? Lubna Ali, PhD student at RWTH Aachen University, introduces beginners to the topic.

• When: Monday, 2022-07-25, 9-12 a.m.
• Where: Webex

Workshop 2 (on the ConvOERter)

Lubna Ali will introduce the CovOERter, which can be tried out during the workshop.

• When: Thursday, 2022-07-28, 10-11.30 a.m.
• Where: Webex

Registration for the workshops: tcnoSpam@tugraz.at

First-year students survey 2022

Currently, all Bachelor students who have enrolled in a degree programme at TU Graz for the first time in the winter semester 2021/22 or in the summer semester 2022 are being surveyed about their motives for studying, their study situation and much more. The participation of many first-year students is intended to reflect the situation of this group on the spot and enables us to further develop the university where there is a need.

In order to increase the response rate, it is kindly requested that the survey be mentioned in courses or at other events. A free-to-use slide on this is available on the Intranet TU4U. You can also find the collected results of the previous surveys (2020: First-year students survey, 2021: Student survey) under this link.

• Link to survey: go.tugraz.at/fys-en

Open call: Project fund for teaching

You currently have the opportunity to support projects for the optimisation and further development of your courses via the "Project Fund for teaching". The open call is not subject to any thematic restrictions, the requirement is the implementation of the project in one or more courses from the academic year 2022/23 onwards.

• Funding: 50,000 € (max. 5,000 € per submission)
• Information on the call on the Intranet TU4U
• Submissions: via LimeSurvey form or PDF to vr-lehrenoSpam@tugraz.at
• Deadline: 22 June 2022

If you have any questions, please contact vr-lehrenoSpam@tugraz.at.

Joint Online Courses: Call open until July 10!

Are you interested in developing an online or hybrid class with a colleague from a partner university? Then you will be happy to learn that TU Graz is launching a 2^nd call for joint online courses to foster teaching cooperation with international partner universities.

We are looking for high-quality teaching concepts promoting intercultural learning by connecting students from different universities. Innovative digital technologies should be used for this purpose.

• Funding: 3 x 15.000 €
• Deadline: 10 July 2022
• Target group: Junior lecturers (i.e. university assistants, and assistant professors). A professor/senior lecturer can act as coach in the project team.

Contact:

Barbara Boettger,
International Office - Welcome Center

Further information: Intranet TU4U

Removal of all COVID measures

As of 25 April, all remaining safety measures (minimum distances, FFP2 mask requirement, proof of being vaccinated/ recovered/ tested) were removed. This means that there are no longer any special regulations for teaching and examinations.

At the same time, all student areas (studios, drawing studios, learning centres, etc.) were reopened under the usual regulations, lifting capacity restrictions and limited opening hours.

However, the wearing of FFP2 masks at low distances is still recommended, as is maintaining or obtaining full immunisation by vaccination in view of the coming autumn.

LLT Breakfast: Student feedback in TeachCenter

At the cozy LLT breakfast of the OU Educational Technology (LLT), you will have the opportunity to learn new things about the use of digital media in teaching. Afterwards, you will be able to exchange ideas with colleagues and members of the LLT team in an informal atmosphere. The main topic this time is how to collect student feedback using the TeachCenter.

• When: 31 May 2022, 8 - 9 am
• Where: Seminar room M36EG002 (Münzgrabenstraße 36, ground floor)
• Registration: telucationnoSpam@tugraz.at

Mind the Gap: Award for Gender and Diversity

TU Graz promotes discussion of topics related to human factors in technology and natural sciences. Five cash prizes of €750 - €1,500 are offered annually for different formats:

• theses and publications
• external trainings, workshops, meetings, conferences
• teaching content and/or methods
• non-scientific projects to promote diversity in research and teaching

The target group is students and staff, as individuals or in teams. Submissions are not subject to any thematic restrictions. Judging criteria are the innovative content, the degree of in-depth analysis and the extent to which diversity aspects are integrated.

• Submission deadline: 18 September 2022
• Further details in the Intranet TU4U

Events on teaching in summer semester

In the current summer semester, there are several exchange opportunities at TU Graz on teaching-related topics.

20-22 April: European First Year Experience Conference
Topic: Exchange on support services for first-year students
Participation in individual sessions: free of charge for TU Graz members (registration: efyenoSpam@tugraz.at)

5 April & 19 May: “Lecturers for Lecturers”
Topic on 5.4. (2 pm–3 pm): Methods of hybrid teaching and Gender Taskforce
Topic on 19.5. (1 pm–2 pm): Laboratory practices
Registration and further information: www.tugraz.at/go/tisch

31 May (8-9 a.m.): LLT Breakfast
Topic: Collecting student feedback with the TeachCenter
Registration: elearningnoSpam@tugraz.at

23 June (10:30 am-12:30 pm): Lunch & Teaching
Topic: Exchange on Unite!
Registration: gerlinde.mueller-reinischnoSpam@tugraz.at

Webinar: Online exams in STEM subjects with “Gradescope”

Michael Lang (Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems) gives in a webinar insight about the conversion of his face-to-face exams to an online format with the service "Gradescope", which was done in cooperation with the OU Educational Technology. Gradescope is specifically designed for STEM subjects and aims to facilitate the online administration and marking of exams.

• When: 6 April 2022, 11:30 a.m.
• Where: online as a webinar
• To the registration

COVID-19: Current regulations for academic affairs

From 1 March, traffic light colour yellow is in place at TU. For the start of the summer semester, the following rules apply for academic affairs:

• 50 % occupancy of rooms (1 metre distance)
• Removal of FFP2 masks only at the seat and if the 1-metre safety distance can be maintained
• Obligatory wearing of FFP2 masks on public spaces
• Teaching primarily on-site
• Participation in courses/ exams: only with valid 2.5-G proof
• Library, learning areas, IT learning centres, drawing studios and other studios are open

General regulations and accepted 2.5-G proofs can be found as usual at www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus.

Student Survey 2021: All partial reports online

Almost 1400 students took part in the first TU Graz-internal survey of all students on study conditions & Co. 2021. Five partial reports have been published in stages since September 2021:

• Feedback on the survey and sociodemographic details about participants
• The way to TU Graz (including study motives and information offers)
• COVID-19 and digital teaching
• Study situation and satisfaction aspects
• Inclusive culture at TU Graz (including sense of belonging and experiences of discrimination)

The existing partial reports on the student survey 2021 (StuSu 21) will finally be combined into one overall report and can be accessed on the Intranet TU4U: https://tu4u.tugraz.at/go/StuSu

Invitation: EFYE conference at TU Graz

The "European First Year Experience" conference, which has been held annually since 2006, will take place at TU Graz in 2022 and thus for the first time in Austria. It invites the exchange of ideas and experiences on support services for first-year students. Concepts for establishing contact with prospective students, tried-and-tested offers of orientation support in the first year of study and the promotion of such processes by didactically trained teachers will be discussed.

Hard facts:

• When: 20 - 22 April 2022
• Where: TU Graz (Old Campus)
• Registration open until 25 March
• All info on the website

Further education: „Using and creating OER”

Between March and April 2022, staff of all Austrian higher education institutions can participate in a free OER (Open Educational Resources) continuing education course. The basis is the MOOC "Using and creating OER" on iMooX.at with a start date of 3 March, which is accompanied by three online meetings.

In addition to a general overview of the topic of OER, those interested learn how they can independently create such free teaching and learning materials and, if necessary, use them for their teaching. Participation overview:

• Total workload: 25 hours
• Places available: 25
• Registration deadline: 14 February
• Language: German

Further information and registration: Centre for digital teaching and learning (University of Graz)

COVID-19: Current regulations for academic affairs

TU Graz changed to the traffic light status red on 10 January. We plan to change to Orange on 1 March, until then, the following rules are in place:

• 25 % occupancy of rooms (2 metre distance)
• Removal of FFP2 masks only at the seat and if the 2-metre safety distance can be maintained
• Teaching now only in defined exceptional cases on site
• Participation in courses: only with a currently valid, negative PCR test
• Participation in examinations: 2.5 G rule
• Selected learning areas, IT learning centres, drawing studios and other studios are open
• Library is open under certain conditions

General regulations can be found as usual at www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus.

Teaching staff survey about eCampus

Do you already know the eCampus, a use case platform of diverse applications of technology-supported teaching methods? It is a project of the Science Space Styria (“Steirische Hochschulkonferenz”) exclusively for the Styrian education area and is hosted at TU Graz.

Even if you do not yet know eCampus "from the inside", we encourage and ask you to participate in the survey on this and similar platforms. In any case, you will contribute to the optimisation and further development of this service.

• The Survey (in German, duration approx. 10 minutes)

The survey is conducted and evaluated by the CAMPUS 02, University of Applied Sciences. If you have any questions, please contact patrick.schweighofernoSpam@campus02.at.

Open Call: Joint Online Courses

Are you interested in developing an online class with a colleague from a partner university? Then you will be happy to learn that TU Graz is launching a 2nd call for joint online courses to foster teaching cooperation with international partner universities.

We are looking for high-quality teaching concepts promoting intercultural learning by connecting students from different universities. Innovative digital technologies should be used for this purpose.

• Funding: 3 x 15.000 €
• Deadline: April 15, 2022
• Target group: Junior lecturers (i.e. university assistants, and assistant professors). A professor/senior lecturer can act as coach in the project team.

Contact:

Barbara Böttger, International Office - Welcome Center
barbara.boettgernoSpam@tugraz.at

Further information: Intranet TU4U

Student Survey 2021: Final report

After the publication of all 5 sub-reports on the Student Survey 2021, an overall report (in German) was finalised, which has recently been made available on the Intranet TU4U.

It is a supplement to the sub-reports and provides in-depth analyses. The recommendations for action, which are based on the almost 1,400 student responses and are intended to initiate necessary further developments at TU Graz, are essential. The recommendations have been structured according to the five major topics surveyed (socio-demographic composition, motives for studying/ information/ orientation, study situation, COVID-19, inclusive culture).

Outlook: The first-year students survey 2022 ended in July. Publication of the results is planned for the winter semester 2022/23.

Ars docendi 2021

The Austrian State Prize for University Teaching has been awarded once a year since 2013. The award ceremony in September 2021 was a very special one: Paul Baumgartner (Institute for Fundamentals and Theory in Electrical Engineering) was the first ever lecturer at a technical university to be awarded the Ars docendi.

The prize was awarded for the course "Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering", which is taught by Paul Baumgartner and 19 student assistants. He had already received the TU Graz “Prize for Excellence in Teaching” for this course in 2020. In a recent AirCampus interview, Baumgartner explains why the award is a nice appreciation, but why he and his team still primarily focus on the exchange with students: Teaching with passion (in German)

LLT Breakfast on 15 December

During the cosy LLT breakfast of the OU Educational Technology (LLT) you will have the opportunity to receive news about the use of digital media in teaching and to exchange ideas with colleagues and the LLT team afterwards in a relaxed atmosphere. The main topic will be the relaunch of the TELucation website.

• When: Wednesday, 15 December 2021, 8 - 9 a.m.
• Topic: Relaunch of the TELucation website
• Registration: elearningnoSpam@tugraz.at
• Virtual space: Gather.Town (you receive the link after registration)

The LLT team is looking forward to welcome you at a virtual coffee or tea!

Project fund for teaching 2021: The winners

For the second time after 2020, the "Project Fund for Teaching" was awarded this year. After the focus on "Blended learning" in the previous year, a broader topic area was chosen in 2021 with "Digital teaching". The endowment was again 50,000 € and was fully exhausted by the eleven selected grants.

The submissions were once again extraordinarily diverse. The funded projects include, among others, the further development of an independently developed, interactive learning platform, the introduction of a podcast series to provide media support for lectures, and the purchase of electronic boards so that laboratory measurements can be carried out virtually in individual cases.

• Overview about the winners (2020, 2021; in German)
• Next tender: Spring 2022
• Details in the Intranet TU4U

“Didaktik-Werkstatt” 2022: Registration now possible

The “Didaktik-Werkstatt” (didactics workshops) of the “Steirische Hochschulkonferenz” goes into the next round between February and July 2022. As teaching staff, you can receive comprehensive continuing education in five half-day workshops:

• Diversity in teaching: Designing and using teaching/learning materials in a diversity-sensitive way
• Assessing and managing student workload when planning courses
• Creating documents that are beneficial to learning
• Student activation in face-to-face and online phases
• Speaking and voice in presence and online

The programme is free of charge and participants have the opportunity to receive a certificate for completion. You can find more information on this on the Website of Science Space Styria (in German).

Registration: via online form until 13 December 2021

eCampus: Webinar series from 29 November

A new webinar series starts on 29 November at the eCampus of the Styrian universities. Four different aspects form the basis for teaching staff to exchange experiences and discuss:

• 11-29 (4:30 pm): Assessment and feedback
• 12-7 (4:30 pm): Digital accessibility
• 1-18 (4:30 pm): E-moderation
• 2-8 (4:30 pm): Creating teaching videos and screencasts and enriching them with interactive elements

At all events, speakers will provide practical examples and intuitive impulses that you can use for your own teaching. No registration is necessary for the events, you can find access links and passwords under the eCampus announcements (“Ankündigungen”).

COVID-19: Current regulations for academic affairs

As of 22 November, TU Graz changed to the traffic light status orange. The following regulations apply to teaching until further notice:

• 50% occupancy of the rooms (as before)
• Removal of the FFP2 mask only at the seat and if the 2-metre safety distance can be maintained
• Mandatory seat registration of all attendees via https://checkin.tugraz.at
• Keeping attendance lists incl. students' e-mail addresses if TU Graz check-in is not available
• Learning centres, library, (drawing) studios etc. remain open under certain conditions

You can find general regulations as usual at www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus.

Exchange: Lecturers for lecturers

During the event, colleagues will offer insight into their own personal world of teaching, share best practices, and talk openly about individual lessons learned.

This time the event is dedicated to the “Learning Goal Widget”. It offers students an uncomplicated overview of the learning goals of a course and can be used to record their own learning progress. Since the winter semester 2021/22, all lecturers at TU Graz can use the widget in the TeachCenter to visually display the learning goals of their course.

• Topic: Learning Goal Widget
• Lecturers: Florian Mittermayr, Katharina Maitz
• When: 19 November 2021, 1-2 pm
• Where: online (Webex), registered participants will receive the entry link
• Registration: www.tugraz.at/go/tisch

Nomination: Prize for Excellence in Teaching

For the academic year 2021/22, the "Prize for Excellence in Teaching" will again be tendered. We want to highlight and appreciate outstanding achievements in the field of teaching!

Up to three lecturers who shine with special commitment, an excellent didactic concept and, above all, a lot of motivation in teaching will be awarded. TU Graz as a whole is particularly concerned to strengthen teaching and to bring our excellent lecturers before the curtain. Therefore, as a teacher or student, take advantage of the opportunity to nominate.

You can find the selection criteria, framework conditions and the current schedule in the Intranet TU4U.

Follow us on Social Media!

Do you already know Study at TU Graz? In addition to our Facebook site, you can now also find us on Instagram. With information about studying at TU Graz, the channels are aimed specifically at current and prospective students. But there are also exciting facts and fun facts about studying at TU Graz for anyone else who is interested.

Teaching and Learning News for teaching staff and students

Just in time for the start of the semester, the "Teaching and Learning News" provides you with all kinds of relevant news and support for your everyday life at the university.

Topics of the newsletter for teachers (among others): News on study law, information on "TU Graz greenlight", service offers for teachers, events

Topics of the newsletter for students (among others): "TU Graz greenlight", counselling services, Study at TU Graz @ Instagram, results of the student survey 2021

Safe semester with „3-G“ checks

Teaching at TU Graz in the winter semester continues to be subject to different COVID-19 regulations depending on the traffic light status, especially regarding safety distances in the lecture hall. Specially produced explanatory videos provide information:

3-G checks are required for on-site events at every traffic light colour. The checks are to be carried out independently by teachers or supervisors before entering the venue of the course/examination; alternatively, random checks in the lecture hall are possible. In the case of large lecture halls, security guards will also support the checks during all courses and examinations in the first two weeks of October.

Overview and details of 3-G checks in teaching

Faster 3-G checks with TU Graz greenlight

To speed up the 3-G checks, the web application "TU Graz greenlight" was developed. It is available on any mobile device with a web browser. The application allows students to validate their 3-G proof before the entrance check and thus create an entrance ticket for access to TU Graz premises.

To do this, students scan their 3-G proof with the application. If the 3-G proof is valid according to the current regulations, an entrance ticket is issued, which can be shown on the mobile device at the entrance control. Advantage: The admission ticket contains the photo and name of the student, which eliminates the need for an ID check.

Fact Sheet for Verifiers (Intranet TU4U, currently only in German)

New academic year, new study programmes: “CSS” and “DE”

The new academic year marks the official start of two new study programmes at TU Graz: the Master's programme "Computational Social Systems" (CSS, cooperation with University of Graz) and the Bachelor's programme "Digital Engineering" (DE).

Both studies are interdisciplinary. While students in Digital Engineering receive a comprehensive education in the fields of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science, in Computational Social Systems they can deepen their knowledge in the fields of economics, sociology, psychology, law and computer science, depending on their previous education.

Graduates contribute to technology development in mobility and energy supply (DE) or research socio-technical systems and their effects (CSS).

Virtual Teaching and Online Examinations

The senate of Graz University of Technology agreed the amendments to the part on Legal Regulations for Academic Affairs of the TU Graz statute on a proposal by the rectorate. It will come into force on 1 October 2021.

A new section "IV. Virtual Teaching and Online Examinations" has been added:

§ 28a. Support for virtual teaching and online examinations
§ 28b. Virtual teaching
§ 28c. Online examinations
§ 28d. Oral online examinations
§ 28e. Written online examinations

In the course of this, the old guideline on virtual teaching at TU Graz was repealed due to the new framework conditions. The COVID-19-Supplement to the Statute Part Legal Regulations for Academic Affairs will automatically expire on 30 September 2021.

New lecture hall occupancies and on-site attendances in winter semester 2021/22

By the beginning of September, the occupancy plans of all 38 lecture halls at TU Graz had been updated. Whereas the maximum occupancy rate used to be approx. 20-30% per room, a traffic light-dependent seat allocation now applies:

• Traffic light colour green or yellow: every second seat usable (green and blue marked seats).
• Traffic light colour orange or red: reduced occupancy (only seats marked green can be used).

For seminar rooms, laboratories, etc., no central labelling has been carried out; the regulations apply accordingly. If the infection situation is positive, a utilisation of the rooms of about 50% is thus possible again.

In principle, courses and examinations that are not already held virtually should again primarily take place in presence. Detailed information and the revised Corona traffic light guidelines can be found on the Intranet TU4U.

Vaccination campaign by Styrian universities

Since May 2021, on-site events at TU Graz can only be attended upon presentation of a “3-G” certificate (vaccinated, recovered or tested). This requirement will be maintained in the coming winter semester. To make it easier to provide the proof, employees and students will be supported with an own "Fast Lane" for vaccinations with the single-use vaccine from Johnson&Johnson from 6 September to 11 October 2021 at Messe Graz (Fairgrounds).

Registration is possible via the online platform (go to Voranmeldung: “Hier anmelden”), choose "Impfaktion der Steirischen Hochschulen" in the form. The offer applies to all citizenships, no Austrian national insurance number is required, only a main or secondary residence in Styria. All details can be found at https://impfen.tugraz.at.

New Plagiarism part of the TU Graz Statute

The senate of TU Graz agreed the part on Plagiarism of the TU Graz statute (in German) on a proposal by the rectorate. It will come into force on 1 October 2021. The Plagiarism part of the statute - in execution of § 19 para. 2a Universities Act - only regulates the aspect of study law, i.e. scientific work in studies and student support, and otherwise refers to the existing Guidelines on Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice at TU Graz.

Best practice of TU Graz: Exam Feedback

In addition to the course evaluation, Sigrid Weller (Institute of Business Economics and Industrial Sociology) has found a solution to enable customised feedback on exams.

After the exam, participants receive a feedbackr link, which they can use to indicate, for example, the appropriateness of the learning materials or the preparation time used. By evaluating the answers and adapting the course, significantly more students were able to complete the course positively in the following semester.

This came to the attention of the British organisation Advance Higher Education, which is dedicated to progress in higher education. The contribution is currently the only best practice from Central Europe to be included on a new interactive map.

Mind the Gap: Award for Gender and Diversity

TU Graz promotes discussion of topics related to human factors in technology and natural sciences and helps to raise their visibility. Five cash prizes of €750 - €1,500 are offered annually for different formats:

• theses and publications
• conference contributions
• teaching content and/or methods
• non-scientific projects to promote diversity in research and teaching.

The target group is students and staff, as individuals or in teams (max. 5 people). Submissions are not subject to any thematic restrictions. Judging criteria are the innovative content, the degree of in-depth analysis and the extent to which diversity aspects are integrated.

Submission deadline: 28 September 2021

Further details in the Intranet TU4U

COVID-19: Traffic light colour yellow at TU Graz from 1 July

As of 1 July, TU Graz changes to traffic light colour yellow. From then on, courses and decentrally organised examinations can again be held in presence with maximum COVID occupation rates and without additional approvals. Central on-site examinations will take place as planned. Further regulations:

• “3-G” checks (tested, recovered, vaccinated) at all on-site events
• FFP2 masks on public areas inside TU Graz buildings, everybode can take it off during courses and exams
• Library, learning and reading rooms, selected IT learning centres as well as Zeichensäle (drawing studios) and other studios: open under conditions
• Further buildings open from 19 July, with 3-G checks from 16 August

General rules: www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus

Teaching and exam rules: Intranet TU4U

Teaching and examinations in winter semester 2021/22

Due to the uncertain situation regarding the COVID-19 developments next autumn, some regulations remain in force at TU Graz. These include in particular the maintenance of minimum distances, the wearing of masks where necessary and “3-G” controls (tested, vaccinated, recovered).

• Room occupancy: no full room occupancy due to maintenance of minimum distances.
• Teaching and examinations on-site as far as possible
• Central examination calendar to be continued
• Detailed regulations during the winter semester may vary, depending on the infection situation (Corona traffic light)

You can find further information on the Intranet TU4U. The page serves as a central access point for all details on teaching and exams in COVID-19 times and is constantly updated.

LLT breakfast on 23 June

During the cosy LLT breakfast of the OU Educational Technology (LLT) you will have the opportunity to receive news about the use of digital media in teaching and to exchange ideas with colleagues and the LLT team afterwards in a relaxed atmosphere. The main topic will be the new eCampus of the Science Space Styria.

• When: Wednesday, 23 June 2021, 8 - 9 a.m.
• Topic: eCampus - Application scenarios in teaching
• Registration: elearningnoSpam@tugraz.at
• Virtual space: Gather.Town (you receive the link after registration)

The LLT team is looking forward to welcome you at a virtual coffee or tea!

eCampus: New eService for teachers and information event

For two years, TU Graz, FH CAMPUS 02 and University of Graz worked on an eService for all teachers in the Science Space Styria. The result, the eCampus, was published at the end of May.

Teachers in the Styrian Higher Education Area thus have the opportunity to explore technology-supported methods and scenarios for teaching, independent of time and place. Six categories contain the most important topics for teaching:

• Managing courses
• Creating teaching and learning materials
• Conducting face-to-face teaching
• Conducting online teaching
• Performance assessment and feedback
• Technology enhanced teaching concepts

Interested persons will receive all further information at an online information event on 10 June (5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.). Registration

• Go to eCampus (Website in German)

Student survey of TU Graz 2021

After the 2020 First Year Students survey (see report in German), the comprehensive survey of all TU Graz students is currently taking place. In addition to general investigations on the study situation, the focus in 2021 lies on COVID-19 and digital teaching and its effects on the study progress as well as on the Inclusive culture at TU Graz. The participation of a large number of students is intended to reflect the student situation on the spot and enables us to further develop the university where there is a need.

In order to increase the response rate, it is kindly requested that the survey be mentioned in courses. Resources for this are available on request (lsenoSpam@tugraz.at).

• Link to survey (available in German and English): https://go.tugraz.at/StuSu

Lunch & Teaching on 14 June: Teaching and Learning Sites in Transition

The past online semesters have shown the increasing link between virtual and physical learning and teaching conditions. Newly planned buildings offer a big potential for implementing such teaching and learning spaces.

This topic will be addressed in the next Lunch & Teaching. First, Prof. Katja Ninnemann from HTW Berlin will provide insights into existing research findings on the design practices. Afterwards at the World Café, there will be space for an exchange of insights and ideas at the four virtual topic tables.

Details about the event:

• Topic: Teaching and Learning Sites in Transition
• When: Monday, 14 June 2021, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• Where: online (meeting link will be sent to registered participants)
• Registration and further information

Digital TU Graz Marketplace on 14 July

The second Online Marketplace Barcamp once again offers teachers, administrative staff and students at TU Graz the opportunity to exchange ideas about digitalisation in teaching, administration and research. The funded teams of the past TEL, TEA and RDM tenders will be there to provide insight into the progress of their projects. The virtual platform Gather.Town will also provide sufficient space for exchange and interaction.

Details about the event:

• When: Wednesday, 14 July 2021, 3 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• Where: online (link will be sent to registered participants)
• Registration until 9 July via tel.marketplacenoSpam@tugraz.at

You find the timetable for the event and narrower details in the Intranet TU4U (in German).

Lunch & Lehre, 14 June: Teaching and learning sites in transition

This time, the dialog format Lunch & Lehre will focus on new challenges for teaching and learning sites, which are (or must be) transformed by the increasing linking of physical and virtual space. Prof. Dr. Ninnemann (HTW Berlin) will first provide an insight into existing research findings on design practices and discuss necessary strategies for action. The following World Café will invite discussion on the following topics: Digital teaching, teaching and learning islands at TU Graz, Room bookings for students – a pilot project of library and archive, Learning sites in the context of the social campus.

• When: Monday, 14 June 2021, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
• Where: online, registered participants will receive the entry link
• Registration: www.tugraz.at/go/lunch-und-lehre

 Further information on Lunch & Lehre dialog format can be found in the Intranet TU4U.

The path to a patent: Interactive learning videos for students

Today's students are often already working on tomorrow's ideas. This can result in projects that are so innovative that they open up completely new approaches. Some of these ideas eventually make it to the stage of a patent.

However, the way there is not always easy for students who have had no previous experience with the patent system. The Austrian Patent Office has therefore created interactive learning videos that interested students can click through and thus playfully follow the path from the idea to the patent.

• Go to the interactive learning videos (in German)

New Podcast: Teaching – learning – listening

In the podcast Teaching – Learning – Listening, conversations with people working in teaching at TU Graz are intended to provide a look behind the scenes and show how diverse and exciting the activities in teaching are. Representatives of different faculties and departments report on their motivation and also on the challenges that go hand in hand with their responsible tasks concerning the education and training of our students.

The format: Two new episodes are published each month. Interviewees include teaching award winners, senior lecturers, teaching experts, deans of studies and faculty representatives for internationalisation or virtual teaching. Michael Fuchs, 2020 winner of the special prize for digital teaching, will start the series.

• The podcast (in German)

Joint Online Course together with TU Darmstadt

The course “Mathematics (Electromagnetics and Differential Forms)” is offered for the first time in the current summer semester. A special feature of the event is that it is organised jointly by TU Graz and TU Darmstadt. Students from both universities can participate online, with students from the partner university gaining all access to the TU Graz platforms (e.g. TUGRAZonline, TeachCenter and Webex).

The venture represents a prototype for the successful intensification of contacts with partner universities. It thus serves as a successful example for the future “Joint Online Courses” (Intranet TU4U), in which such courses with strategic partners are pushed.

(H)TU Sustainability Day: Sustainability Lecture on 19 May

The climate crisis as a massive social, legal and political task is omnipresent today and has reached the centre of social discourse at least since the emergence of the Fridays for Future movement. This year's Sustainability Lecture as part of the (H)TU Sustainability Day will focus on the obstacles that need to be overcome on the way to the climate neutrality aimed for by the federal government by 2040 and where the impulses for a climate-friendly future are coming from. After the lecture by Eva Schulev-Steindl (head of the research center for climate protection law ClimLaw: Graz), all participants are invited to a discussion.

• Sustainability Lecture 2021 (in German): Legal challenges on the way to climate neutrality
• When: 19 May 2021, 4.00 - 6.00 p.m.
• Where: TUbe

COVID-19: Teaching and examination update

After more than four months in red, TU Graz is planning to return to the orange traffic light status as of May 17. Teaching and exams are still to be held mainly digitally, but for quality assurance reasons or for checking learning goals, this can again take place in presence with up to 15 people per room.

New: Participation in on-site courses from 17 May onwards is only possible with proof of a negative test or of having overcome an infection or neutralising antibodies (applies to lecturers/ staff and students).

In addition, the new division of the current academic year has been decided, which shortens the lecture-free period to 18 July to 12 September 2021.

New: Contact persons for children, youths & Guided Start

With the aim of bundling and accelerating the diverse activities of TU Graz for the next generation of students in a structured way, facilitating the exchange of experiences and increasing the efficiency of the implementation of these activities, there have recently been established contact persons for the area of Children, Youths & Guided Start for each faculty or field of study.

If you have suggestions for optimising current activities such as summer internships or school tours at TU Graz, or if you would like to contribute new ideas, you can now contact the contact person in your faculty or the coordinating BGF at jugendnoSpam@tugraz.at as usual.

Further information on the contact persons can be found in TU4U under activities for children and young people (in German).

Results of the First Year Students survey 2020

From May to June 2020, TU Graz conducted its initial First Year Students survey. The target group was all bachelor students who enrolled in a degree programme at TU Graz for the first time in the academic year 2019/20. The survey is part of a regular series that was launched in 2020: Every year between May and June, students have the opportunity to share their study-related expectations and experiences in various topics.

Why do students choose TU Graz? What expectations do first year students have – and are they fulfilled in the first semesters? The complete report is available on the intranet TU4U (in German).

A comprehensive survey of all students will follow in May/June 2021.

Summer Universities of OeAD: Green.Building.Solutions and AEMS

Discussions about climate change have long since found their way into the most diverse areas of life, including the field of construction. At the Summer University Green.Building.Solutions (GBS), everything’s about the topic sustainable construction of the future. At the same time, the Summer University Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems (AEMS) takes place, which treats alternative approaches to our current growth-based and unstable financial system.

Facts and discounts

• GBS: 17 July to 8 August 2021 (online)
• AEMS: 19 July - 6 August 2021 (online)
• Deadline for scholarships for a reduced participation fee: 1 May 2021
• At GBS, one scholarship is exclusively reserved for a TU Graz student

COVID-19: Current information on teaching and exams

The traffic light of TU Graz, meanwhile red since 28 December 2020, remains in this status at least up to and including 11 April. This means the current regulations remain in force:

• Mandatory wearing of FFP2 masks when entering TU buildings, a safety distance of 2 metres must be kept
• Drawing studios, other studios, IT learning centres and learning areas remain closed
• Party traffic by appointment only
• Teaching and exams on-site with a maximum of 10 students per room
• Exception: Centrally organised on-site exams (maximum COVID occupancy of approximately 25 % of the total available seats)

General regulations: www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus

Regulations for teaching and exams: Intranet TU4U

Information about the summer semester 2021 for teaching staff

As usual, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Stefan Vorbach, once again informs you with the “Teaching and Learning News” about the latest and upcoming developments in the field of teaching:

• Service information
• Study law and organization
• Events
• Follow-up

Are you looking for up-to-date information on teaching and examinations in times of COVID-19? In TU4U you will find all the details collected and constantly updated on an overview page.

Information about the summer semester 2021 for students

At the start of the summer semester, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Stefan Vorbach, once again informs with the "Teaching and Learning News" on a wide range of news and offers for students in the field of teaching:

• Key competencies
• Study law and organization
• Service information
• Events
• Results of the initial First Year Students survey 2020

You can find the long version of the news in TU4U. All current COVID-19 information on teaching and exams can be found as usual in the Intranet and are collected on the central overview page.

New: Faculty Representatives for virtual teaching

Since December 2020, there has been a Faculty Representative for Virtual Teaching (German abbreviation: FBVL) for each faculty at TU Graz. On the one hand, the FBVL are the spokespersons for the topic of virtual teaching within the faculty and, on the other hand, the contact point between the OU Educational Technology (LLT) and the faculties. Furthermore, the FBVL support the OU LLT in the further development of virtual teaching at TU Graz. Training tasks as well as technical support (e.g. for the TU Graz TeachCenter) remain with the OU LLT.

How do you find out who is FBVL of your faculty? You can find this information in TU4U at https://tu4u.tugraz.at/go/fbvl. In addition, these persons receive the function "Virtual Teaching Officer" in TUGRAZonline.

First call: Joint Online Courses

The future of education and international collaborations calls for digitalisation! A variety of innovative formats for teaching and learning will be necessary to tackle the challenges. TU Graz is ready to meet these challenges by promoting such formats in cooperation with (strategic) partners. This important step on the path to internationalisation is being promoted with the "Joint Online Courses" call for proposals:

• 3x 15.000 Euro for the development of new online courses
• Application deadline: 15 April 2021

Target group

Young TU Graz lecturers (i.e. university assistants, and assistant professors) who are interested in cooperating with an international partner to develop a joint online course for students at both universities. A professor/senior lecturer can act as coach in the project team.

COVID-19: Current information about teaching and exams

Since 28 December, the traffic light status at TU Graz has been red. This will remain in effect up to and including 28 February. Until then, teaching and exams will only take place on-site in absolutely exceptional cases, there must be a safety distance of two metres to all sides and FFP2 masks are required. Further regulations:

• Drawing studios, other studios, IT learning centres and learning areas remain closed
• Party traffic by appointment only
• On-site exams planned from 8 February can take place

General regulations in force (e.g. for party traffic): www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus

Regulations for teaching and examinations: Intranet TU4U

TELucation website now also available in English

The term TELucation is a neologism composed of the words TEL (technology enhanced learning) and education. One result of this approach is the TELucation folder, which supports teachers by addressing topics related to technology-enhanced teaching and learning.

The website telucation.tugraz.at is the digital version of the analog folder and an OER project of TU Graz. As of February 2021, all contributions to the TELucation folder are also available online in an English version so that our international teachers and students can also benefit from them.

New articles are published at events of the OU Educational Technology or the Vice Rectorate for Academic Affairs and will also be added to the website on an ongoing basis - so keep checking the page!

New MOOC: Digital competences for first year students

With the freely accessible online course "Digital Competences for first year Students" (in German), students and all other interested parties gain insight into the digital competence model in six units. The modules include dealing with information and data, creating digital content or problem solving in digital spheres.

In addition to the MOOC, students of TU Graz have the opportunity to participate in the online course of the same name (course number: 706.084) and receive 1.5 ECTS points for it.

The MOOC can be accessed via the recently redesigned iMooX page.

MOOCs for researchers: Secure publishing and research

Two new MOOCs are currently available for researchers at www.iMooX.at to support them in their everyday work:

Legally Secure Publishing

This course provides an initial overview of the legal challenges involved in academic publishing and how best to deal with them. In addition to copyright and contractual issues, interested parties will gain insight into how research results can be successfully patented.

Legally secure research

Scientific research also brings with it legal challenges, for example in data protection when dealing with personal data or in ethical questions when dealing with test subjects. The MOOC offers an overview of the challenges and practical instructions for action.

Teacher’s discussion group on 24 February: Interaction in online teaching

At the this time’s virtual Teacher’s discussion group (LEHR-Stammtisch) Michael Fuchs, winner of the prize for excellent in digital-supported teaching in the academic year 2019/2020, will give an insight into his teaching and also share his experiences on the topic of the discussion group "Interaction in online teaching". This will be followed by an expert input from Christiane Brockmann from the Center for Educational Development and Technology of the TU Darmstadt

• When: Wednesday, February 24th 2021, 2 - 4 pm
• Where: Webex - the meeting link will be sent to the registered participants before the event
• Registration: www.tugraz.at/go/tisch

You can find information about the format of the Teacher’s discussion group on the Intranet TU4U.

Regulations for the summer semester 2021

Like the winter semester 2020/21, the coming summer semester is also to be organised under the premise of "digital first". Teaching and examinations will continue in accordance with the respective regulations of the TU Graz-internal Corona traffic light and are primarily to be held digitally; unrestricted university business will not be possible until further notice. Courses are therefore always to be planned in such a way that an alternative mode of teaching instead of on-site units is possible.

Deadlines

• 22 January: Requests for additional student assistant hours (Faculty Dean of Studies)
• 31 January: Requests for large, centrally organised on-site exams
• 15 February: Requests for live streaming/ recording

You can find all regulations in place in the intranet TU4U, where they are continously updated.

OER policy of TU Graz

Since the end of November 2020, the Open Educational Resources Policy has been in force at TU Graz. The policy is intended to help embed Open Educational Resources to an even greater extent at the university. The aim is to make high quality teaching and learning materials freely accessible and free of charge to a wide range of people. At the same time, the focus is on the legal framework in order to comply with copyright regulations.

OER ultimately promote inclusion, the open exchange between universities, society and companies as well as quality assurance in teaching; the policy also fits directly into the strategic goal of the digitalisation of teaching.

• The detailed policy (in German)

New Contact Tracing system “TU Graz Check-in!”

Since 7 December 2020, "TU Graz Check-in!", a QR Code-based contact tracing system, has been active, which can be used by teachers and students voluntarily. In a first step, the large examination lecture halls P1, P2, B, G, H, i7, i11, i12, i13 are equipped with this system, followed by further lecture halls and seminar rooms successively.

Lecture halls with fixed chairs can be registered directly at the seat, lecture halls without fixed chairs can be registered at the entrance using a QR code. The registration is carried out using a smartphone or tablet. Alternatively, locations can also be checked in manually. If a COVID 19 case occurs, all registered participants will be informed anonymously by the registration office.

The System: https://checkin.tugraz.at/en/

FAQs (Website)

fnma Talk: Collaboration in virtual spaces (in German)

The association Forum Neue Medien in der Lehre Austria (fnma, forum for new media in teaching Austria) invites you to a fnma Talk on 15 December. This practice-oriented series of events is intended to make current topics related to blended learning and digitalisation in teaching visible. After a 15-minute input presentation, participants have 45 minutes to exchange ideas in a discussion group.

• When: Tuesday, 15 December 2020, 11 a.m.
• Where: YouTube stream

You can find further information about the fnma Talks and the upcoming event on the fnma Website.

LLT Breakfast

During the cosy LLT breakfast of the OU Educational Technology (LLT) you will have the opportunity to receive news about the use of digital media in teaching and to exchange ideas with colleagues and the LLT team afterwards in a relaxed atmosphere. The main topic will be about the design and structuring of TeachCenter courses this time.

• When: Thursday, 10 December 2020, 8-9 a.m.
• Topic: Tips and tricks for designing and structuring one’s own TeachCenter course
• Registration: elearningnoSpam@tugraz.at
• Virtual space: will be announced at registration

The LLT team is looking forward to welcome you at a virtual coffee or tea!

COVID-19: Current information about teaching and exams

Since 3 November, teaching and examination activities are only allowed to a limited extent in presence at TU Graz:

• Courses: Only those parts, for which students have to use local infrastructure (e.g. laboratory materials), are allowed to take place on-site.
• On-site examinations are only permitted if there is no digital alternative. In addition, special safety and hygiene regulations for decentrally organised on-site examinations must be followed.
• Drawing studios, learning centres, libraries: Special opening hours and occupancy rates apply.

General safety and hygiene measures according to TU Graz traffic light: www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus

As usual, you will receive further updates by e-mail!

Key Competencies Certificate: New offer for students

Since the current winter semester, students at TU Graz can acquire a certificate for key competencies. This gives students the opportunity to combine the wide range of elective subjects in the field of languages and key competencies. A total of four tracks of basic and advanced modules with 16 ECTS points per module can be completed:

• Entrepreneurial acting and thinking
• Science, Technology and Society
• Gender and Diversity Management
• Languages

At the end you can get a certificate that can be used for your CV. All details can be found in the intranet TU4U.

Review: “Project fund for teaching” 2020

In summer 2020, the "Project Fund for Teaching" was announced for the first time. With the introduction of the fund at TU Graz, an incentive was created to set new accents in one' s own teaching with purpose-bound investments. In addition, it became apparent in spring 2020 that the COVID-related changeover to virtual teaching units would require a much higher resource requirement. The aim was to provide financial support for selected course concepts.

Details on the previous call for proposals and in particular on the 13 winners of the first call for proposals can be found in the intranet TU4U.

Stay up to date: The next call for proposals is scheduled for spring 2021!

Current: The TELucation website

Are you already familiar with the new TELucation website of TU Graz? "TEL" stands for Technology Enhanced Learning, i.e. all teaching and learning formats that are supported and expanded in a technologically meaningful way.

The TELucation website is the digital version of the TELucation folder, which is available at selected events at TU Graz. The collected knowledge about technology-supported teaching is stored there. The articles contain practical tips and tricks on Big Blue Button, testing with the TeachCenter and much more.

This way to the website: https://telucation.tugraz.at/

Information about the winter semester 2020/21 for teaching staff

Right on time for the start of the new semester the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Stefan Vorbach, informs you about relevant news out of the field of teaching:

• Excellent teaching
• Service information
• Study law and organization
• Events
• Follow-up: 2nd “Long Night against Procrastination”

You can find the “Teaching and Learning News” in the intranet TU4U as well as all valid information about teaching and exam operations in winter semester.

Information about the winter semester 2020/21 for students

With the start of the winter semester, Stefan Vorbach, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, simultaneously informs about a wide range of news and offers for students in the field of teaching:

• Excellent teaching & Key Competences
• Study law and organization
• Service information
• Events
• Follow-up: 2nd “Long Night against Procrastination”

Among other things, you will receive information about the new certificate for key competencies, the extension of the graduation scholarship, the new offer of psychosocial counselling at TU Graz or also about graduation advice. The "Teaching and Learning News" can be found in TU4U and in your e-mail inbox. Further information on teaching and examinations in the current winter semester is also available in TU4U.

REMUS scholarships for female students of Mechanical Engineering

Together with TU Graz, REMUS again awards five stipends to talented and motivated female students in the field of Mechanical Engineering (two Bachelor’s Stipends, three Master’s Stipends). The stipends are granted for a timespan up to two years.

Benefits:

• 4000 € per year for Bachelor students
• 8000 € per year for Master students
• Paid internship at REMUS

Deadline for submission: 31 October 2020. For conditions of participation and requirements see http://www.tugraz.at/go/stipends-remus.

COVID-19: Current information about teaching and exams

The page in TU4U with all information about teaching and examinations in the current winter semester has been updated. Teachers can now find, among other things, introductory slides for courses with the most important information for students as well as a compact overview of the effects of the individual traffic light colors on teaching.

Also relevant:

• Traffic light status of TU Graz
• Information: Central Reporting Office and Contact Tracing (TU4U, in German)
• Employees: Reporting COVID-19 suspected cases or cases of illness (PDF)
• Students: Reporting COVID-19 suspected cases or cases of illness (PDF)

COVID-19: Information about academic affairs in winter semester 20/21

Common hygiene and distance regulations remain in place in the coming semester. In teaching, this has a particular effect on the available room capacities. In on-site courses with many participants, usually only a small number of students can be present. Support has been prepared for this:

• Planning attendances in winter semester (in German)

In addition, TU Graz reacts to changing traffic light colours of the nationwide Corona traffic lights. Some regulations, such as the maximum occupancy rate of lecture halls, seminar rooms and laboratories, must be observed at all times for green, yellow and orange. Details of the different operating modes can be found in TU4U (in German), the traffic light status for TU Graz, which is updated weekly, can be found at www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus.

“LEHR-Stammtisch” and Workshop: Institutional support for teaching excellence

In cooperation with OeAd and uniko workshops on learning and teaching at Austrian universities will be held at three universities in 2020. At TU Graz, the focus will lie on institutional support and incentive systems for teaching excellence on 23 September.

Highlights of the day include a lecture by Lewis Purser of the Irish University Association and breakout sessions on the topics:

• Feedback instruments (University of Graz)
• From emergency remote teaching to creative and accessible education (Advance HE, UK)
• Incentives in teaching (TU Graz)

Following that, the teachers’ discussion group (LEHR-Stammtisch) takes place.

Programme of 23 September:
Workshop: 10 am – 2 pm
Teachers’ discussion group: 2 pm – 4 pm

Details and registration: Registration website

Reading rooms are reopened again

All reading rooms, the foyer and group rooms are open again since August 31: Working and learning areas on all floors of the main library open from 9 am to 3 pm, the foyer from 8 am to 8 pm.

You can use the group rooms of the main and the subject library Inffeld by prior reservation. Up to four people are allowed per room at the same time. Go to the circulation desk or contact the respective library branch by phone or email for your reservation.

To ensure that all working and learning areas of the library remain open, please continue to follow distance and hygiene regulations. Disinfectants are available in every reading room, so you are able to disinfect your work space on your own. In addition to that, you have to fill the attendance list on-site with your arrival and departure time.

Call: Submission for Eramus+ KA2 Strategic Partnerships

You can submit applications for Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships to the EU until 10-29. Funding is available for projects that help equip education systems to meet the challenges posed by the shift to online and distance learning.

Topic: "Digital education" (as a reaction to the COVID-19 situation) and how this can be implemented pedagogically at university

Maximum grant amount: € 300.000 for projects with a duration of 24 months

Project duration: 12 - 24 months

Deadline for submission: 29 October 2020, 12.00

For narrower information please contact Mag. Kordula Fabiani of International Office – Welcome Center (+43 316 873 6415, kordula.fabianinoSpam@tugraz.at).

COVID-19: Information  about teaching operations

Summer semester 2020

Teaching and examination operations remain primarily digital. Further easing of the restrictions:

• From 31 August: Oral on-site courses up to approx. 30 participants are possible again after approval; all buildings are open again (incl. drawing studios, learning and reading areas); excursions (also within the framework of courses) are possible again
• From 31 August: Higher capacities in lecture halls, see TU Graz cloud or TUGRAZonline
• Details in the intranet TU4U

Winter semester 2020/21

• Digital first at courses and exams: limited spatial resources remain upright
• Hygiene rules and safety distances remain upright
• Details in the intranet TU4U

Information and advice: www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus

Support offers for teaching

The Teaching Academy and the Didactics Steering Group will increase their offerings over the summer months to support teachers with regard to the general conditions of online teaching, the conception and implementation of hybrid formats and the special situation of students who cannot be present. You can find all dates and contacts at the exchange platform “Virtual teaching in times of Corona”.

There will be furthermore a training for those student assistants who will support TU Graz teaching staff in the implementation of virtual teaching (for example: creation, implementation and processing of virtual exams). The first training will l take place on 17 September 2020, please report your needs at vr-lehrenoSpam@tugraz.at.

Virtual opening of the Teaching Academy

Beginning with the present summer semester, the Teaching Academy provides all in-house training in the field of teaching. The comprehensive didactic qualification programme offers a variety of specialisation opportunities.

The festive and official opening was planned for the end of April, which had to be cancelled due the Corona pandemic. Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Stefan Vorbach, and head of the Teaching Academy, Verena Schwägerl-Melchior, now address all interested parties in a video message to give the opening a festive frame. You can find the video and all information about the Teaching Academy in the intranet TU4U.

LLT breakfast

At the cosy LLT breakfast of the service unit Educational Technology (LLT) you will have the opportunity to learn new things about the use of digital media in teaching and then to exchange ideas with colleagues and the LLT team in a relaxed atmosphere. We are very pleased to welcome you again face-to-face at this event.

Hard facts:

When: Tuesday, 14 July 2020, 8 am - 9 am

Where: Mia & Mason Rooftop, Stremayrgasse 16, 5th floor

Topic: TU Graz TUbe

Registration: elearningnoSpam@tugraz.at

Note: The number of participants is limited to 20 persons!

Do not miss: A new version of the TELucation folder is available on-site!

Two free places for the training programme eDidactics

Due to Covid-19, it was necessary to switch teaching to online formats very quickly this semester. It is important for TU Graz to continue to offer teachers qualification measures in the use of digital technologies. For the programme eDidactics of the Styrian University Conference (Steirische Hochschulkonferenz), two free places will again be made available. Interested lecturers at TU Graz are asked to apply to vr-lehrenoSpam@tugraz.at by July 15th with a short letter of motivation.

The programme offers a choice between different modules, which can also be attended independently of each other:

• Learning Management Systems
• Media didactics
• E-Moderation and communication
• Cooperation and collaboration
• Multimedia production
• Assessment of performance
• Legal issues
• Accessibility and inclusion

On July 1, 2020, the ad hoc conference will take place again from 4 pm to 7 pm. The next Barcamp focuses on the description and discussion of the marketplace calls. As an innovation, the TEL Marketplace for researchers and lecturers will be expanded to include a Call for Excellence MOOCs, and the Technology-Enhanced Administration (TEA) Marketplace for Students will be launched. The TEA Marketplace will promote innovation in ​​administration in the form of Open Source Projects. In addition, the exchange between pilot teams, lecturers and students is encouraged again

The upcoming TEL Marketplace Barcamp will also present itself in a hybrid manner, namely offline & online. Please register, while announcing if you intend to participate offline or online: marketplace.lltnoSpam@tugraz.at.

TU Graz Library reopens on June 2, 2020

Welcome back at TU Graz Library and Archives! All branches are open since June 2, 2020 with slightly altered opening hours.

Feel free to use the open shelves again, including the reserved books collection at the main library. The learning and reading areas and computers, however, cannot be used until further notice.

The journals department and the inter-library loan service at Technikerstraße 4 are also reopening on June 2. The scan service for journal articles is still available and free of charge. Scanners and copiers are available at all of our branch libraries.

For reservations and orders from the closed stacks please use your personal account at the TU Graz LibrarySearch or ask our staff on site.

Please follow the rules for hygiene and maintain a safe distance to other patrons during your library visit.

New opening hours

Main library | Mon – Fri, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Subject libraries NAWI and Inffeld | Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Now available: virtual textbook collections

All textbook collections are now accessible via TU Graz LibrarySearch under the category "Collections". Lecturers can add both print media and e-books to these collections. Thus, students get online access to the most important books of their courses.

All e-books can be read and downloaded within the virtual textbook collections at TU Graz LibrarySearch. Additionally, you can search for collections using the search bar and the “Collection” facet. Please select this facet on the left side of the website after you have entered your search term.

Lecturers who want to provide their students with a textbook collection via TU Graz LibrarySearch send their requests to service.bibliotheknoSpam@tugraz.at. Links to individual textbook collections remain unchanged and can therefore be forwarded to students for easy access.

Please find all virtual textbook collections here.

Information of TU Graz about COVID-19

As of 10 March 2020, the Federal Government issued new measures for the handling of COVID-19. These measures also affect the regular operation of TU Graz.

On-site courses and events

No form of on-site courses takes place at TU Graz between 11 March and 19 April 2020. This applies to every course type regardless of the number of participants, Life Long Learning offers are affected as well. All public events (graduation ceremonies, conferences, lectures etc.) are cancelled for this time span.

FAQs, current information about the streaming of courses, examinations and closed sites of TU Graz: www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus.

Information and advice

In case of symptoms: call 1450

Infoline: 0800 555 621

Questions about TU Graz: aktuell-und-offiziellnoSpam@tugraz.at

Questions regarding study law: studynoSpam@tugraz.at

Long night of procrastination online

Following the success of the first Long Night of Procrastination (LNAA) at TU Graz, there will be a repeat in 2020. We invite all students who have already ignored their upcoming (final) papers for far too long to let the night turn into day together. The Long Night is available to all those who are looking for motivation and who want to use a work-intensive night to take decisive steps forward. This time, the LNAA will be held as an online format. Provision is made for:

• a common virtual space
• a little snack - let us surprise you
• individual writing and research consultation
• breakout sessions for writing, rework, research and against procrastination

The event:

• When: 9 June 2020, start at 17:30 (Open End)
• Where: somewhere in virtual space (detailed information after registration)
• Registration: www.tugraz.at/go/lnaa

5 x 1.000 euros for gender and diversity

Mind the Gap – that’s the motto of the price for gender and diversity. By this, TU Graz supports argumets related to the human factor in engineering and science. Overall, five prices with a total value of 5.000 euros are awarded!

Target group: Students and employees, as individuals or in a team (max. 5 persons).The focus lies on

• Academic theses (bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral theses) and publications
• Teaching activities
• Participation in completed or ongoing continuing education activities, workshops, conference contributions
• non-academic projects to promote diversity in research and teaching.

There are no thematic restrictions. Evaluation criteria are the degree of engagement and integration of diversity aspects (such as gender, age, culture, language, experience, physical abilities, etc.).

Application period: 8 March – 30 September 2020, submit to akgnoSpam@tugraz.at

Information of TU Graz about COVID-19

Teaching and examinations will continue to be conducted on the basis of virtual teaching. Only in agreement with the Rectorate will it be possible to offer on-site teaching and on-site examinations - if necessary including the summer months. All this will of course continue to be carried out in accordance with strict rules of conduct and distance. For all other courses and examinations, we request that these be conducted in virtual form.

The Rectorate's ordinance on special regulations due to COVID-19 within the Legal Regulations for Academic Affairs came in force on 7.5.2020. It determines special regulations regarding the StEOP, interruption of studies, courses and examinations.

FAQs, current information on streaming courses, the teaching and examination system of TU Graz: www.tugraz.at/go/coronavirus.

Information and advice

In case of symptoms: call 1450

Infoline: 0800 555 621

Questions about TU Graz: aktuell-und-offiziellnoSpam@tugraz.at

Questions regarding study law: studynoSpam@tugraz.at

Teach, Present, Publish: English for Academic Purposes

Next summer there will again be the opportunity to participate in the further education program Teach, Present, Publish. Within three weeks, teachers have the possibility to improve their English skills at a scientific level. Teachers of Montclair State University give lessons in three modules:

1. Academic English Writing Skills in the Natural and Applied Sciences
2. Essential Spoken English for Instructors
3. Methodology of Teaching in English

Basic data on the course:

• When: July 6 - 23 2020, every Monday to Thursday
• Duration: approx. 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
• Fees: none for teachers of TU Graz

Deadline for applications is 3 April 2020.

Staff mobility offers for academic personnel

TU Graz offers a wide range of mobility opportunities for academic staff. Seize the chance to spend time abroad for teaching, further education and research. You have the possibility to complete mobility programmes at higher education institutions/ partner institutions/ organisations that fit your teaching, further education or research purposes. All necessary information can be found in the intranet TU4U.

TUbe: Updates und neues Design

TUbe, das Videoportal der TU Graz, bietet Aufzeichnungen von Lehrveranstaltungen, Events (z. B. Prof. Pottlachers jährliche Weihnachtsvorlesung) und Livestreams. Die Plattform wurde vor Kurzem rundum erneuert und erstrahlt nun in einem neuen, frischen Design.

Zum Videoportal TUbe

PossibiliME: Guide to studies

The Circle of Excellence Graz’ class project 2019 comprised a topic of significant relevance: Students of TU Graz and University of Graz answered questions why they chose their studies and what fascinates them specifically about them – in front of a camera. The resulting videos state the project PossibiliME, where prospective students receive an insight in what to expect of each study programme in a few minutes.

The videos were introduced to the public at a festive closing event on 20 November in the auditorium of TU Graz and can now be found on YouTube.

For further information about the Circle of Excellence write to infonoSpam@coe-graz.at or visit the website.

Green Tech Jam & Green Tech Summer

The Green Tech Cluster invites students to collaboratively design green technologies for a sustainable future. The Green Tech Jam 2020 (6 to 7 March) as well as the Green Tech Summer offer opportunities for that.

Green Tech Jam

At this interdisciplinary Hackathon, participants develop creative, new Green Tech solutions. In a 10 minute-pitch, they introduce them to a jury, afterwards 5000 Euro are awarded to the best ideas.

• 6 to 7 March 2020, Inffeldgasse 13, 8010 Graz

Green Tech Summer

The aim is to develop green business ideas into start-ups over the summer. Interested persons are able to participate individually or as teams and receive 4000 to 6000 Euro.

• Application deadline: 9 March 2020
• Details and registration via geinedernoSpam@greentech.at

Learning Chinese at the Confucius Institute

The Confucius Institute of the University of Graz offers this semester once again Chinese language courses for employees and students of TU Graz. The registration is possible since the end of January and until 27 February.

Semester courses in Chinese

• Registration for employees via E-Mail to konfuziusnoSpam@uni-graz.at
• Registration for students (as co-registered “Mitbeleger” at University of Graz) via UNIGRAZonline

Evening courses in Chinese

• Registration via the Website

Here you can find all further information about the language courses. The institute additionally hosts regular Tandem Evenings with varying mottos, where German and Chinese native speakers come together to learn each language of another.

Summer University: Green.Building.Solutions

Discussions about climate change have long since found their way into the most diverse areas of life, including the field of construction. At the Summer University Green.Building.Solutions (GBS), everything’s about the topic sustainable construction of the future. Already for the 10th time ideas of the sectors of architecture and civil engineering come together at this event.

Students of TU Graz have furthermore the option to participate through a scholarship at a significantly decreased price at the GBS.

Basic facts:

• GBS: 18 July to 9 August 2020, Vienna
• Deadline for scholarship submissions: 31 March
• General registration deadline: 30 June

Here you can find all further information about the registration.

Lecture: Climate crisis and change of consciousness

In perspective of the Sustainability4U lecture series Climate crisis and change of consciousness, Prof. Armin Grunwald from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) gives a lecture at TU Graz on 4 March (in German). He treats the question why despite proceeding changes in consciousness in technics and politics no improvements related to environmental problems become obvious and how a response to that question can contribute to a turnaround.

• When: 4 March 2020, 6 p.m.
• Where: Aula (auditorium) of TU Graz, Rechbauerstraße 12, first floor

New Life Long Learning-TeachCenter

The new Life Long Learning-TeachCenter was activated with 31 January 2020. It serves as learning platform for university continuing education. Participants and lecturers in postgraduate further education, extra-occupational further education or university certificate programmes for further education at TU Graz profit especially of the easy user registration as well as of the opportunity of location-independent communication with other participants and/ or lecturers of the courses.

The new TeachCenter

Teachers’ discussion group on 26 February

The Teachers' discussion group as a proven exchange format for methods and didactics in teaching will be continued in the new Rectorate period. In February, the discussion group will be hosted at Campus Inffeldgasse.

Prof. Heidrun Gruber-Wölfler, who was awarded the Prize for Excellence in Teaching 2016, will provide a personal insight into her teaching during the Teachers for teachers input. The expert input, and thus the main topic, will be provided by Dr. Nicole Föger (Austrian Agency for Research Integrity) under the motto Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Control and Prevention.

Teachers’ discussion group:

• When: 26 February 2020, 2 pm - 4 pm
• Where: HS i8, Inffeldgasse 13, ground floor

Limited number of participants! Registration at www.tugraz.at/go/anmeldung-lehr-stammtisch/.

Comprehensive course evaluation

Also this winter semester all courses will be evaluated at TU Graz. The measure, which covers the past summer semester and the current winter semester, serves the purpose of quality assurance.

As soon as the courses are entered for evaluation in TUGRAZonline, lecturers will receive a corresponding E-Mail message from the system. The procedure of the evaluation is the same as usual. For example, lecturers are still able to state own questions. Students are asked for participation!

Information about the process of evaluation can be found on the intranet TU4U.

Diversity in teaching and research

Diversity at tertiary education institutions is omnipresent, no matter whether one relates to the increasing heterogeneity of the students’ population or gender and diversity aspects in research projects. By that, new challenges for researchers and teachers emerge. Two public accessible TeachCenter courses treat that topic (in German):

• Diversity in research
• Diversity in teaching

While the former shows how diversity aspects can be integrated for research projects, the latter contains concrete suggestions on how diversity of students can enrich personal teaching. Finally, checklists can be used to easily determine which aspects can be further developed in one's own teaching or research.

Call for tenders: State Award Digitalisation

The State Award Digitalisation 2020 by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs, which is being awarded for the second time this year, honours outstanding digital products, solutions and processes. An independent jury of experts awards the State Prize to innovative productions in three categories:

• Digital products and solutions
• Digital transformation
• Social responsibility projects

The prize is considered the highest award in this field, which acknowledges the productions and makes them visible. In addition, it demonstrates the innovative potential of the digital sector and presents Austria as a location for digitization, innovation and technology.

• Submission deadline: 27 January 2020, noon (12 am)

Further information can be found on the FFG website.

„Didaktik-Werkstatt“ 2020: Programme and registration

The registration period for the Didaktik-Werkstatt (didactic workshops series) 2020 of Steirische Hochschulkonferenz is open since 26 November. Teachers of all nine Styrian higher education institutions are invited to participate at the workshops. The topic this year – shaping the interaction between teachers and students professionally – comprises five main points:

• Conflict talks within the area of teaching
• Lessons with high numbers of students
• Interactive teaching sequences
• Students’ feedback
• Handling of heterogeneous student groups

Details about the workshops, which are taking place between January and June 2020, can be found on the Website of Science Space Styria (in German). Registration is possible for single courses or for all together (limited number of participants).

Awarding of certificates in higher education didactics

Each year participants of the Didaktik-Werkstatt and eDidactics (both are didactical workshop series) by the Steirische Hochschulkonferenz have the chance to receive certificates in the area of this continuing education programmes. 2019, about 70 graduates of the programmes were awarded at the event analog? digital? interaktiv!.

The festive award ceremony took place at 25 November in the auditorium (Aula) of the Medical University Graz.

Nominations: Price for excellence in teaching

Every two years outstanding teaching at TU Graz is honoured with the Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Up to three teachers who are able to convey the enthusiasm for their subject to an outstanding degree to their students by excellent pedagogic-didactic concepts are awarded. Especially young teachers (below 35 years old and not appointed) are called to participate, besides that digital support in teaching is awarded for the first time in 2020.

• Submissions: until 15 December for the winter semester
• Nominations via lehrpreisnoSpam@tugraz.at
• Award ceremony: Autumn 2020

Further information and previous prize winners can be found on the website of the Prize for Excellence in Teaching.

Barcamp: TEL Marketplace

The first TEL Marketplace-Barcamp of TU Graz is dedicated to the topic of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL). In the academic year 2019/20, six pilot groups at TU Graz are supported in implementing innovative TEL concepts in the daily teaching practice and in developing them together with students – starting from educational videos and playful quiz elements to virtual laboratories. At the Barcamp TU Graz members are able to exchange with the pilot groups and students about technology enhanced learning.

Further details about the event and the next date can be found on the intranet TU4U (in German), or contact Sebastian Dennerlein (sdennerleinnoSpam@know-center.at).

LLT Breakfast

The LLT Breakfast, which was newly introduced in 2018 by the organisational unit Educational Technology (LLT), will be hosted again during this academic year. During a cosy breakfast you will have the opportunity to receive news about the use of digital media in teaching and to exchange ideas with colleagues and the LLT team afterwards in a relaxed atmosphere. Facts about the event:

• Topic: Online grading with tablets
• When: Wednesday, 11 December 2019, 8 am to 9 am
• Where: Educational Technology, Münzgrabenstraße 36, 1st floor, 8010 Graz

Due to organisational reasons, please register at elearningnoSpam@tugraz.at. Don’t miss it: A new edition of the TELucation folder will be available there!

Information about the winter semester 19/20 for teaching staff

By the start of the new winter semester, the term of office of the new Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Stefan Vorbach, also began. He would like to inform you about the large number of news out of the field of teaching and learning:

• Study law and organisation
• Excellent teaching
• Service information
• Persons and portraits: Stefan Vorbach, Verena Schwägerl-Melchior (new expert in university didactics)
• Events
• Recap and reports
• IT updates

Details and further information can be found in the intranet TU4U.

Information about the winter semester 19/20 for students

By the start of the new winter semester there’s also a wide range of news out of the field of teaching and learning at TU Graz. Besides the date announcement of the first Student’s workshop with the new Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Stefan Vorbach, you find information about following areas:

• Study law and organisation
• Excellent teaching/ Key competencies
• Service information: Booklet Studying at TU Graz
• Events
• Recap and reports
• IT updates: feedbackr & TUGRAZonline 3.0

Details concerning each area can be found in the intranet TU4U.

Get together: Children and youth activities at TU Graz

For the first time, teachers and administrative personnel have the chance to network with colleagues who are already actively involved in children and youth activities at TU Graz or who want to get involved prospectively.

After Rector Kainz opens the event, results of a 2018 conducted TU-wide survey about the current situation as well as the demand concerning those activities will be presented. Following that, the focus lies on the information exchange at a buffet between interested participants and those responsible for each area (guided tours, internships, workshops etc.) at the Office for Gender Equality and Equal Opportunity.

• When: 27 November 2019, 11 am to 1 pm
• Location: SR AE02 (STEG006), Steyrergasse 30, ground floor, 8010 Graz
• Registration via jugendnoSpam@tugraz.at until 21 November

Mobility programmes for students: Deadlines and Information Booths

Collecting experience abroad, get to know new cultures, broadening one’s horizon: Mobility programmes of TU Graz offer a range of possibilities. The application period for ISEP is already running, further submissions are possible for the following programmes within the next weeks:

Outside of Europe

• ISEP: until 5 November 2019
• OverSEAs: 4 November to 2 December 2019
• Erasmus+ ICM: 4 November to 2 December 2019

Within Europe

• Erasmus+ student mobility: starting mid-December to 16 January 2020

Details about stays abroad (summer schools, internships, research abroad) can be found on the Website  Study abroad or at the Pop-Up Information Booths for mobility programmes on 16 October (Old Campus, Rechbauerstraße 12), 17 October (Inffeldgasse 25D) and on 23 October (New Campus, Kopernikusgasse 24).

Save the date: “analog? digital? interaktiv!”

Within the framework of the Steirische Hochschulkonferenz, an event takes place to review and look forward to the further education programmes of Didaktik-Werkstatt and eDidactics:

• 25 November 2019, Medical University of Graz
• 5 p.m.: Certificate ceremony for alumni of both programmes
• Beginning 6 p.m.: official start of the event, including a keynote

Alumni of the programmes as well as persons interested in the programmes are warmly invited to a get together afterwards.

A detailed overview about the programme and information about the registration follows within the next weeks. Save the date!

Stipends of Excellence for Female Students in Mechanical Engineering

Together with TU Graz, the REMUS-SEBRING Group awards five stipends to talented and motivated female students in the field of Mechanical Engineering (3 bachelor’s Stipends, 2 master’s stipends). The stipends are granted for a timespan up to two years.

Benefits:

• Monthly grant for bachelor students: 500 Euro
• Monthly grant for master students: 900 Euro
• Additionally paid internship at the REMUS-SEBRING Group

Deadline for submission: 31 October 2019.

Requirements, conditions of participation and all further information can be found at www.tugraz.at/go/stipends-remus-sebring.

Review on the Students’ Discussion Group

The Students’ Discussion Group has been taking place regularly since winter semester 2016. In a casual atmosphere, the team of the Vice rectorate for Academic Affairs gets in contact with students directly to discuss topics concerning learning and teaching. The last Discussion Group on 28 May focused in the central part of the discussion on the topic of actively taking examinations and which measures could lead to an increase of positively taken exams.

The output of the Discussion Group, a review on the years 2016 to 2019 and further information can be found on the intranet TU4U.

Welcome Days

On Thursday 26^th and Friday 27^th of September 2019 at TU Graz, the Welcome Days will take place. First-year students can gather vital information that helps them successfully kick off their studies at the TU Graz and sneak a peek into the working world of engineers at the same time. In addition to receiving a welcome from the rector and other representatives of the university, students get information about:

• Academic affairs at TU Graz
• studying abroad,
• library and IT services
• TU Graz platforms: TUGRAZonline, TU4U and TeachCenter
• financial support possibilities such as scholarships and grants
• and many more…

For international degree seeking students, the International Welcome Days are taking place at the same time in English. 

TU Graz organizes the Welcome Days in cooperation with alumniTUGraz 1887.

5.000 Euro prizes for gender and diversity

From 8 March to 30 September it is possible to apply for the Prize for Gender and Diversity in Engineering and Science. Five prizes with a total value of 5.000 Euro will be awarded. In this way, TU Graz supports studies of topics related to gender and diversity in engineering and science and helps to raise their visibility. Students, teachers and researchers can apply for one of the five prizes. The following submissions will be considered:

• Theses
• Scientific publications
• Contents of taught courses
• Participation in completed or ongoing continuing education activities, workshops, conference contributions

The entries are evaluated in terms of the quality with which they discuss, consider and/or integrate gender and diversity aspects.

Application period: 8 March until 30 September to akgnoSpam@tugraz.at
Application form and further information: on the intranet TU4U (in German)

Teachers’ discussion group on 17 September 2017

On 17 September the event LEHR-Stammtisch (Teachers’ discussion group) is going to take place at Campus Inffeldgasse. Lothar Fickert from the Institute of Electrical Power Systems will give insights into his teaching with a special focus on the method Flipped Classroom. This will also be the main topic of the session. To provide deeper insights into this method we have invited Stefan Schmid, an Austrian expert on flipped classroom.

Teachers' discussion group (LEHR-Stammtisch)

• When: Tuesday, 17 September 2019, 2 to 4 pm
• Where: lecture hall i14 (room number: HSK1008), Inffeldgasse 18, 1. KG, 8010 Graz

Limited number of participants. Please register at tugraz.at/go/anmeldung-lehr-stammtisch.

Information about the Teachers' discussion group is available on the Intranet TU4U.

The event will be held in German.

CYBATHLON BCI Series 2019: Brain-computer interface (BCI) race for the first time in Austria!

TU Graz’s brain-computer interface working group is one of Europe’s leading research groups in the field of computer-assisted interpretation of brain waves and their translation into electrical impulses for prostheses, robotic prosthetic arms and speech output programs.

Spectators will experience the fascinating power of thought-controlled systems on 17 September, as teams from all over the world go head to head in the CYBATHLON BCI Series 2019 at TU Graz. Pilots who are paralysed from the neck down control avatars using brain-computer interfaces in a specially developed computer game. Tickets for race day are now available.

CYBATHLON information and tickets

Workshop: Deeper Learning in Higher Education

Together with the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe, University of Leoben hosts a workshop on Deeper Learning at TU Graz. This form of knowledge transfer focuses the interactivity between teachers and learners and the joint development of facts, to eventually make learners more secure in mediated contents.

The two-day further education targets teachers and scientific staff of Austrian Higher Education institutions with an emphasis on technical subjects as well as teachers of engineering-focused secondary schools. Information: contact anja.meiernoSpam@unileoben.ac.at.

When: 26 to 27 September 2019
Where: TU Graz, SR AT01104, Rechbauerstraße 12, first floor, 8010 Graz

Registrations at anja.meiernoSpam@unileoben.ac.at possible until 6 September.

New: Academic Affairs news overview as RSS Feed

The news overview for academic affairs is now available as RSS Feed. By that, it’s possible for you to subscribe to news updates out of this field: As soon as a new article appears in the overview, you are informed in real-time about that. Various news sites can also be subscribed to via such a feed.

The only thing needed for this is a free available feed reader. Those readers are available for one’s preferred browser as add-on. Afterwards you just need to read the link (https://rss.tugraz.at/lehre.xml) into the RSS Feed.

Results of the senatorial elections

On 26 June, the senatorial elections took place. Employees of TU Graz were called up to elect 13 representatives of the university professors, 6 representatives of the associate professors and 1 representative of the administrative personnel.

• Election results: Representatives of university professors
• Election results: Representatives of associate professors
• Election results: Representatives of administrative personnel

The term of office for the new constituted Senate starts by 1 October 2019 and runs until 30 September 2022.

NEW: Booklet Studying at TU Graz

To enable an optimal start of studies, a new booklet for first year students was developed. The brochure contains information and useful tips related to various relevant topics:

• From school to university
• Where to get information and advice
• Checklist for getting started
• Courses
• Examinations
• Work environment at university
• Students’ rights and obligations
• Practical tips on student life

Starting with the enrolment phase in July, the booklet will be handed out to all first-year-students. You can download the booklet as PDF version.

First awarding of OER certificates

Under the leadership of the Panel of New Media in the Field of Teaching Austria (Website in German), a concept for OER certification at Austrian higher education institutions was developed. TU Graz contributed significantly to the development of this concept and targets the provision and distribution of Open Educational Resources (OER).

On 6 June, the first three teachers of TU Graz, Christian Höller (Institute of Production Engineering), Roman Maier (Institute for Urban Water Management and Landscape Water Engineering) and Michael Spörk (Institute of Technical Informatics) were awarded with OER certificates in the presence of Rector Kainz. This enables an important contribution to the free access of educational resources as well as to the digitalisation of TU Graz.

Review on the Sustainability Lecture

Within the framework of the (H)TU Sustainability Day (Nachhaltigkeitstag) on 5 June, the Sustainability Lecture, held by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Verena Winiwarter (BOKU Vienna), took place. She dedicated her informative lecture especially to the topic of man-made old burden (e.g. radioactive waste) and which challenges this poses for the topic of sustainability.

HS i9 was filled to the last place and the audience was able to listen to an exciting panel discussion with the lecturer, Rector Kainz, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Heck as well as representatives of the Sustainability Advisory Board and HTU afterwards.

Impressions of the event can be found on the Facebook page Study at TU Graz.

NEW: Booklet Studying at TU Graz

To enable an optimal start of studies, a new booklet for first year students was developed. The brochure contains information and useful tips related to various relevant topics:

• From school to university
• Where to get information and advice
• Checklist for getting started
• Courses
• Examinations
• Work environment at university
• Students’ rights and obligations
• Practical tips on student life

Starting with the enrolment phase in July, the booklet will be handed out to all first-year-students. You can download the booklet as PDF version.

Student Social Survey

The Student Social Survey 2019 started in the middle of May, organised by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS). The Survey is conducted regularly since the 1970s (latest: 2015) and comprises topics such as access to higher education, motivation to study, income and housing situation. This year, the focus lies on study conditions and the ability to study different courses of studies. Results will be published during spring 2020.

Conducted data delivers important insights about studying and living conditions of students in Austria. The more persons participate, the better it is possible to draw a consistent picture of the students’ situation.

Students are hence kindly invited to participate! Please check your inbox for an E-mail with a link to participate, which has been sent to you in the middle of May.

TU Graz Sustainability Week: 3 to 7 June 2019

Austria stands up for the Agenda 2030 – the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). TU Graz takes responsibility and strengthens awareness for SDGs in the Sustainability Week. The highlights of the TU Graz Sustainability Week:

• (H)TU Nachhaltigkeitstag (Day of Sustainability) on 5 June 2019, 2 pm, Campus Inffeldgasse
• Sustainability Lecture and panel discussion on 5 June 2019, 12 am to 2 pm, auditorium i9 with Univ.-Prof. Ing. Dr. Verena Winiwarter (BOKU)
• In the TU Graz Sustainability Week, all our lecturers are asked to refer to the 17 SDGs within their lectures.

These activities shall strengthen the awareness at TU Graz for the goals of the Agenda 2030 and support the goal to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.

Student’s discussion group on 28 May

The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Detlef Heck, and his team regularly host the Student's discussion group. Besides the discussion of current students’ needs, the upcoming discussion group will inform about measures that have been initiated due to past discussion groups. The central part of the discussion will focus on the topic of actively taking exams and which measures could lead to an increase of positively taken exams.

• When: Tuesday, 28 May, 1 pm to 3 pm
• Where: Campus Inffeldgasse, VIP-room Mensa, Inffeldgasse 10, first floor, 8010 Graz

NOTE: Due to organisational reasons (Finger food buffet!), please register here for the event: Registration
Limited number of participants.

New: Long Night against Procrastination

Actively against procasteritis – that’s the motto of the first „Long Night against Procrastination” at TU Graz. No matter if final papers or other deadlines: The Long Night is available to everyone who searches for collective motivation and wants to use a working-intensive night to finally record significant progression. You don’t need to bring anything other than your unfinished paper and a bit of starting motivation. It will be taken care of

• Working places and electricity connections
• Food and drinks
• Individual writing consultation
• A printing station
• Breakout sessions that fit the topic

The event:

• When: 4 June 2019, starting 5.30 pm (Open end)
• Where: Lecture hall II (HS II), Rechbauerstraße 12, basement, 8010 Graz

Details and registration
NOTE: Limited number of participants!

Collecting practical experience at KELAG

You are searching for exciting practical experiences during your studies? The KELAG company offers internship semesters in a wide range of different areas, beginning with July 2019:

• Data analysis for Energy Services
• Digital HR
• E-Business
• E-Mobility Solutions
• Informational management in the field of telecommunication
• Competence centre E-Mobility
• Marketing & Sales in the field of telecommunication
• Organisation, processes and integration
• Product development
• Product management E+ products
• Programming of roboters in the area of Humanising Technologies
• Sales management

Applications have to be submitted explicitly via the online form. Deadline: 24 April 2019.

Falling Walls Lab: Qualifier Event

At the Falling Walls Lab, 14 outstanding young talents from a wide variety of disciplines have been selected to give a 3-minute speed performance of their ideas and projects in front of a top-class jury, headed by former Rector Hans Sünkel. The winners will qualify for the Falling Walls Conference in Berlin on 8 November 2019.

Don’t miss it: The Falling Walls Lab Austria is staged for the first time in Styria, by the hosts TU Graz and Science Park Graz.

Falling Walls Lab – Qualifier Event Austria 2019 for Future Breakthroughs in Science and Society
When: Tuesday, 9 April 2019, 6 pm
Where: TU Graz, Laboratory for Innovation, Inffeldgasse 11, 8010 Graz

Universities and Sustainable Development Goals

Universities count as centres of innovation and play a significant role at the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This motivation signalises the base of the project UniNEtZ (Universities and sustainable development goals). 18 institutions work comprehensively together in contributing to a sustainable development of Austria.

Through an intense discourse with SDGs, principles of sustainability are embedded in research and the field of teaching. The establishment of a Sustainability Committee (Nachhaltigkeitsbeirat) as central contact for sustainability agendas at TU Graz serves as strategic base for the implementation of according measures (e.g. Sustainability Day at TU Graz on 5 June 2019 – Save the date!).

Contact for further questions: alexander.passernoSpam@tugraz.at

Information about the summer semester 2019 for teaching staff

Summer semester 2019 starts next week. Vice rector Detlef Heck would like to draw your attention on some news and events in the field of teaching:

• Comprehensive evaluation of all courses
• Correction period and Exams
• Actively Taking Examinations
• Start of the course administration
• TEL Marketplace
• In-house training in the field of teaching
• Self-evaluation Lehre 2020
• LLT Breakfast

Summarised information and further links to the topics listed can be found here in English and German.

Course administration: adaption of the process

Together with the dean’s offices and the Service Department IT Services (ZID), the Vice Rectorate for Academic Affairs edited the process of course administration:

• Dates, responsibilities and task descriptions of the course administration can now be found on the Intranet TU4U (formerly: TUGRAZonline)
• Update of the form for assignment and appointment of Lecturers in the TUGRAZonline-Application Course administration (to be applied for extern teaching assignments, for intern ones an E-Mail is sufficient)
• Simplification of the notification about the scheduling / holding of courses: The forms for reporting available via TUGRAZonline are not obligatory.

Further information can be found on the Intranet TU4U.

Contact for questions: Christoph De Marinis (c.demarinisnoSpam@tugraz.at, +43 316 873 8551)

Teachers’ discussion group on 12 February 2019

On 12 February the event LEHR-Stammtisch (Teachers' discussion group) is going to take place at the Institute of Fundamentals and Theory in Electrical Engineering. Christian Magele, who was awarded the Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2011, will talk about his experience using a notebook instead of the classical blackboard and the advantages for both teacher and students.

The main topic of the discussion group will be Usage of tablets in lectures as a support tool. The instructional design consulting team (Educational Technology) will give practical advice for how to use this technology within lectures as well as its benefits.

Teachers’ discussion group (LEHR-Stammtisch)
When: Tuesday, 12 February 2019, 2 to 4 pm
Where: lecture hall i14 (room number: HSK1008), Inffeldgasse 18, 1. KG, 8010 Graz
Topics: Usage of tablets in lectures as a support tool.

The event will be held in German. Limited number of participants. Please register at www.tugraz.at/go/anmeldung-lehr-stammtisch

Output and presentations of previous Teachers’ discussion groups on the Intranet TU4U.

Didactic workshop series “Didaktik-Werkstatt” (in German)

The series of didactic workshops presented by the Steirische Hochschulkonferenz will start again in January and go until June 2019. Participants can complete workshops in the following areas:

• Oral exams
• Written exams
• Multiple-Choice-exams
• Feedback
• Consultancy
• Alternative exam forms
• Supervision and Grading of papers

The programme is aimed at all teachers working in higher education in Styria and can be completed with a certificate (specific requirements).

• Registration for workshops starts December 4, 2018. Please note that there are a limited number of participants!

More information about the programme, registration and the certificate can be found on the Science Space Styria website (in German).

Workshop: Conflict Management (in German)

Have you ever been confronted with group dynamic-related challenges or conflict situations in your classes? Interested teachers are invited to a two-day workshop, where they will develop strategies for the constructive handling of conflicts in teaching under the supervision of an experienced expert.

• Event: “Über den konstruktiven Umgang mit Konflikten in der Lehre“ (About the constructive handling of conflicts in the field of teaching), supervisor: Dipl.-Math. Wolf Hertlein
• When: Wednesday, January 30, and Thursday, January 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day
• Where: FH Joanneum, Eggenberger Allee 11, 8010 Graz, ground floor, seminar room 014

Registration is open until January 25. Details about the workshop and registration can be found (in German) at FH JOANNEUM.

TEL Marketplace – show and tell

Within the strategic project “Digital TU Graz”, a first measurement will be implemented in the field of teaching to introduce research results and findings of Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) to the practical area of higher education. To grant innovation transfer, strengthen the exchange between researchers and teachers and to increase teaching quality, a “TEL Marketplace” is organised in March 2019 in the Grand Hall of TU Graz. The Marketplace shall provide the opportunity to form teams and create projects which afterwards are realised within the daily teaching practice.

Apply now under elearningnoSpam@tugraz.at with specific TEL concepts or prototypes until January 21^st 2019 with a one-sided abstract to receive an exhibition stand at the Marketplace.

More details can be found under tugraz.at/go/digitalisierung.

LLT Breakfast on 12 December 2019

On 12 December, the new dialogue format "LLT Breakfast" will take place for the first time. During a small breakfast of the organizational unit Educational Technology, you will have the opportunity to learn new things about the use of digital media in teaching and then to exchange ideas with colleagues and the LLT team in a relaxed atmosphere. Our topic this time is interactive videos.

LLT Breakfast
When: Wednesday, 12 December 2018, 08:00 to 09:00 o'clock
Where: Office of the organizational unit Educational Technology, Münzgrabenstraße 36/I, 8010 Graz
Topic: Interactive Videos

Please register at elearningnoSpam@tugraz.at.

Prize for Excellence in Teaching: Prizewinners

On November 15^th, once again the “Prize for Excellence in Teaching at TU Graz” was awarded. The prize honours those teachers of TU Graz who impress through excellent didactic concepts, outstanding dedication and equivalent motivation in the field of teaching. This time five prizewinners were awarded during a ceremony in the Great Hall:

• Category “Prize for Excellence in Teaching”: Werner Lienhart
• Category “Young Teachers”: Carlo Alberto Boano, Daniel Gruss and Patrick Wurm
• alumniTUGraz 1887 special prize: Gernot Pottlacher (Christmas lecture)

More detailed information about the prizewinners, the prize itself and the multilevel selection procedure can be found in a current news article of TU Graz.

Studo App: Campus licences for TU Graz

The successful story of the Studo App started at TU Graz and as of winter semester 2018/19, a stronger cooperation between TU Graz and Studo begins. That is, campus-wide licences for the full version will be available from December on!

The app facilitates the personal organisation of students’ daily life and offers a wide range of useful features: synchronised calendar (incl. timetable for university), access on curricula, search of rooms, access on your University-Mail-account and many more.

With the full version the students receive an extended calendar preview, advertising banners are removed and colour settings can be made. In addition technical improvements were made, that will make the app even more efficient, battery-saving and faster in the future.

The app was developed by TU Graz-students who founded their software development startup during the course Gründungsgarage.

Website of Studo (in German)

End of the additional period

The additional period ends by 30 November. This date marks the latest point of time for exceptional cases of admission for the winter semester 2018/19 at TU Graz. Moreover,

• the Austrian Students’ Union fee and possible tuition fees have to be paid within this period to grant the continuation of your studies.
• the application for an interruption of studies in exceptional cases has to be handed in until this date.

More detailed information:

• Exceptional cases in the additional period
• Interruption of studies (Intranet TU4U)

Website of the Registration Office

Review on the Students‘ Discussion Group

The Student’s Discussion Group has been taking place regularly since winter semester 2016. In a casual atmosphere, the team of the Vice rectorate for Academic Affairs gets in contact with students directly to discuss topics concerining learning and teaching. The last Discussion Group on 29 October focused on the question: What information do first-year students need to successfully start their studies at TU Graz?

The Vice rectorate for Academic Affairs, in cooperation with the Student’s Union of TU Graz, is currently working on a reference book for new students. The focus on the needs of students should provide an additional source of information to develop a well-rounded brochure.

Information about and outputs of the past Discussion Groups can be found on the Intranet TU4U.

Exclusive MATLAB sessions by a Math-Works-Expert at TU Graz

On 16 October, 2018 teaching staff and students of TU Graz have the opportunity to participate in expert sessions on MATLAB provided by Loren Shure from MathWorks, USA.

Demystifying deep learning: A practical approach in MATLAB

• When: Tuesday, 16 October 2018, 10 to 12 am
• Where: Lecture Room i2 (HFEG038J), Inffeldgasse 12, ground floor

Advanced Programming Techniques in MATLAB

• When: Tuesday, 16 October 2018, 2 to 4 pm
• Where: Lecture Room L (NA01010), Lessingstraße 25, 1^st floor

For detailed insight into the session and the presenter Loren Shure please see: info MATLAB sessions

PLEASE NOTE: Due to organisational reasons, please register for each session: register for MATLAB. The number of participants is limited.

Route 63: A link between computer science and economy

With the cooperation Route 63 the TU Graz and the University of Graz further intensify their successful collaboration. Beginning with summer semester 2019, the universities open their range of studies in the fields economy, sociology, psychology and computer science to prepare students for the labour market.

While students of University of Graz get the option to acquire Know-How in computer science (such as programming simple web-based and non-web-based applications), students of TU Graz receive the possibility to adopt useful knowledge for establishing businesses or marketing software. The Faculty of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering provides information for TU students about specific contents, learning goals and possible courses.

Information about the winter semester 2018/19 for teaching staff

Winter semester 18/19 starts next week. Vice rector Detlef Heck would like to draw your attention on some news, dates and events in the field of teaching:

• Various changes to the statute chapter on Legal Regulations for Academic Affairs
• Award ceremony of the Prize for Excellence in Teaching
• In-house training in the field of teaching
• eEducation Breakfast
• Study@TU Graz (Facebook)

Summarised information and further links to the topics listed can be found here in English and German.

Information about the winter semester 2018/19 for students

Winter semester 18/19 starts next week. Vice rector Detlef Heck would like to draw your attention on some news, dates and events in the field of teaching:

• Various changes to the statute chapter on Legal Regulations for Academic Affairs
• News about scholarships and tuition fee
• Event: Student’s discussion group
• Learning language courses and key competencies
• Confucius Institute
• Study@TU Graz (Facebook)

Summarised information and further links to the topics listed can be found here in English and German.

Degree completion scholarship for working students

From the winter semester 2018/19 on, employed or self-employed students are required to pay tuition fee to Austrian universities. To promote and support their graduation, Graz University of Technology awards a graduation scholarship to working students as soon as they are obliged to pay tuition fee.

Further informationen: lsenoSpam@tugraz.at

5.000 Euro prizes for gender and diversity

From8  March to 30 September it is possible to apply for the Prize for Gender and Diversity in Engineering and Science. Five prizes with a total value of 5.000 Euro will be awarded. In this way, Graz University of Technology supports studies of topics related to gender and diversity in engineering and science and helps to raise their visibility.

Students, teachers and researchers can apply for one of the five prizes. The following submissions will be considered:

• Theses
• Scientific publications
• Contents of taught courses
• Participation in completed or ongoing continuing education activities, workshops, conference contributions

The entries are evaluated in terms of the quality with which they discuss, consider and/or integrate gender and diversity aspects.

• Application period: 8 March until 30 September to akgnoSpam@tugraz.at
• Application form and further information in the intranet TU4U (in German)

Statute chapter “Legal Regulations for Academic Affairs”: various changes

On 1 October 2018 various changes of the statute chapter Legal Regulations for Academic Affairs will come into force. On the one hand, some references to the Universities Act had to be corrected due to the amendment of 2017, and on the other hand, a number of paragraphs were changed in content. For instance:

• new terms such as module instead of subject,
• new regulation for the repetition of partial course requirements in courses with continual assessment,
• new regulation if the examiner fails to meet the deadline for the assessment,
• new regulation for oral exams via video telephony and much more.

Further information:

• Statute chapter Legal Regulations for Academic Affairs (in German)
• Summary of the changes (in German)

No “bypassing” of examinations at TU Graz

As of now, “bypassing” examinations at TU Graz will be stopped. This was decided at the meeting of the Dean of Studies on June 21, 2018 and announced as an instruction by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs. “Bypassing” examinations means taking an examination at another Austrian university in order to deliberately avoid an equivalent examination at the home university. From winter semester 2018/19 on, applications for recognition of examinations will be handled in accordance with the instruction of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs.

The following document explains details on the future handling of applications for recognition of examinations: Stop of bypassing examinations and instruction for handling applications for recognition of examinations (in German)

The instruction is based on the Austrian Universities Act (UG):

• § 63 Abs. 9 UG in the version of BGBI. I Nr. 8/2018
• § 78 Abs. 2 UG in the version of BGBI. I Nr. 129/2017

STEM-MOOC “Mechanik” starts on 4 August

On 4 August, the free STEM course “Mechanics” starts on iMooX.at. The free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is specially designed for pupils and first-year students to prepare for a course of study at a technical University in Austria.

With the start of the course, new content will be released every week. All learning material will remain online after the end of the course.

The STEM-MOOCs are provided by TU Austria (TU Vienna, TU Graz and Montanuniversität Leoben) and are open to the public on iMooX.at. All courses are held in German.

Further information: iMoox.at

International visit to TU Graz

On June 6 and 7, four international experts for innovation and entrepreneurship visited TU Graz, together with representatives of the OECD, the European Commission and the Austrian Federal Ministry BMBWF. The reason for the visit was HEInnovate (Higher Education Innovate), an initiative of the European Commission and the OECD, where, in collaboration with the BMBWF, a country report for Austria is created.

Within the scope of HEInnovate the innovation and entrepreneurship potential of the TU Graz was assessed, best-practice initiatives were presented and a lively international exchange was thereby strengthened.

The experts were presented with numerous projects, grants, institutes, cooperations and organisations at TU Graz. After their visit at TU Graz, the peers visit ten other higher education institutions in Austria, and across Europe.

Schedule of the visit

Month of free education on 16 May

May is the month of free education – a series of events organised by the Austrian National Union of Students. On May 16th the Vice Rectorate of Academic Affairs informs everyone interested about “Guided Start” at TU Graz:

• STEM-MOOCs
• Self Assessment (soon available)

Study at TU Graz: Service for students on Facebook

Since March the Facebook page Study at TU Graz is online and posts important service content for students at TU Graz: dates and deadlines, organisational or administrative information, sometimes a cute cat, information on scholarships, language courses, study law, and much more.

The site is maintained by the Registration Office, Educational Technology and the Vice Rectorate of Academic Affairs –Higher education development. We would greatly appreciate a like!

Prize for Excellence in Teaching

The Prize for Excellence in Teaching will be awarded once again this year. It is awarded to a maximum of three teachers who demonstrate an outstanding level of commitment, an excellent didactic concept and above all who succeed in motivating their students. In addition, the prize is also awarded to a maximum of three teachers in the category young teachers (in German: junge Lehrende). The nomination for a course of the summer semester 2018 is open until 15 May.

You can find out more about the Prize and previous winners on our site Prize for Excellence in Teaching.

Detailed information about the nomination and selection process in the intranet TU4U (for employees and students of TU Graz)

STEM-MOOC Mathematik has started

Since 5 March, the STEM-course Mathematics is online on iMooX.at.

The free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is specially designed for pupils and first-year students to prepare for a course of study at TU Graz. With the start of the course, new content will be released every week. All learning material will remain online after the end of the course. The following courses will be available:

• Mathematik: started on 5 March 2018
• Programmieren mit Processing: starts on 9 April 2018
• Grundbegriffe der Mechanik für technische Anwendungen: starts on 4 August 2018

The STEM-MOOCs are provided by TU Austria (TU Vienna, TU Graz and Montanuniversität Leoben) and are open to the public on iMooX.at.

All courses are held in German.

feedbackr Campus licence at TU Graz

From summer semester 2018 on, all TU Graz staff members can use the app feedbackr with a campus-wide license. The app is a tool for the promotion of mass interaction in University lectures and was developed by TU Graz alumni Karin Pichler and Christian Haintz.

feedbackr is a versatile tool for university teaching. The app can be used in order to obtain feedback, to activate collaboration in large courses, to review topics at the end of a class and much more.

More detailed information on use cases of feedbackr in university teaching can be found in this feedbackr blogpost or in this PDF (in German).

For more information on how to use the app, please contact Educational Technology: tcnoSpam@tugraz.at

feedbackr Website

Teachers’ discussion group on 27 February

On 27 February the event LEHR-Stammtisch (Teachers’ discussion group) is going to take place again. This time, the focus will be on the app feedbackr. Dipl.-Ing.Karin Pichler and Dipl.-Ing. Christian Haintz, founders of feedbackr, are going to present the app and its implementation in lectures.
Furthermore, Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Dorn from the Institute of Theoretical and Computational Physics is going to talk about his teaching, his experiences with online tools (e.g. feedbackr), and about challenges in teaching.

• When? 27 February 2018, 2 to 4 pm
• Where? Seminarraum Festkörperphysik (PH01150), Petersgasse 16, 1st floor
• Topics:  mass interaction; feedbackr – for more interaction during your lecture

Please register at vr-lehrenoSpam@tugraz.at 

More information on the website of the Teacher’s discussion group

Output and presentations of previous Teachers’ discussion groups on the Intranet TU4U

Students‘ discussion group on 13 November 2017

• When: 13 November 2017
• Where: HS II, Rechbauerstraße 12, 1st basement level

Guided start at Lunch & Lehre (Lunch & Teaching) on 21 November (held in German)

• When: 21 November 2017, 11 am to 1 pm
• Where: Auditorium (Aula) of TU Graz

MOOC for Austrian Copyright Law (in German)

In Cooperation with lawyer Mag. Michael Lanzinger, TU Graz offers a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) about Austrian Copyright Law on iMooX. The course starts on 20 November 2017 and provides participants with and overview of relevant legal material.

Aside from the legal basis there are also going to be discussed real-world examples and aspects of Austrian copyright law. Since legislation cannot keep up with the newest technological innovations, there remain some grey areas of the law. Furthermore, legal aspects of e-learning and the private use of social media will be discussed. The course will be held in German.

To log in, click on the button on the top right and select TU Graz at Login with eduID. Then log in with your TU Graz account.

New amendment of the University Act on 1 October 2017

• Repetition of a successfully passed examination within 12 months (up until now 6 months) of the date the exam was originally taken, but not later than the end of the respective stage of the study programme or the programme as a whole.
• Academic leave of absence:  If you apply for an academic leave, the leave will be active for all of your registered study programmes. If your study programme is a cooperation between multiple universities (Electrical Engineering and Audio Engineering, NAWI Graz, Teacher Training Programme), the leave applies to all study programmes at all institutions. The leave of absence shall be applied for by the beginning of the respective semester, in case of unforeseen circumstances at the latest by the end of the extension period of the respective semester.
• Endangerment of people: Furthermore, students can be expelled upon endangering members of the university in course of their study programme.

In-House-Training: Teaching at TU Graz

• Date: 8 November 2017, all-day event
• Topics: introduction to legal frameworks in teaching, implementation of digital technologies in teaching
• Sign up until 23 October in TUGRAZonline under In-House-Training
• The event will be held in German.

Conference report of the conference about teaching, learning and researching in a foreign language

• Legal and practical aspects of teaching, learning and researching in a foreign language in the higher education sector
• Institutional strategic goals concerning the implementation of foreign languages
• Consequences in the day to day life of students
• Language competencies of outgoing and incoming students
• Teacher training programmes in foreign languages

Funding for masters’ thesis and dissertations

iMooX Relaunch and new courses on 6 September 2017

• Gratis Online Lernen (Learning Online for Free, taught in German)
• Safer Internet (taught in German)
• Learning To Code – Programmieren mit PocketCode (Learning to Code – Programming with PocketCode, taught in German)

Event: Strategic Communication and Public Relations

• Introduction to strategic communication – Basics, role in the technical industry and impact
• Insights from Austrian Airlines – how a technology-oriented company positions itself in their communication strategy

• Dr. Ingrid Vogl (managing director of the scientific senate of Public Relations Verband Austria)
• Mag. Peter N. Their (Senior Director Corporate Communications, Austrian Airlines)

Scholarship for Gender and Diversity

New English master’s degree programmes at TU Graz

Checklist Gender and Diversity