What is needed for the excellent university of the future? As part of the Excellence Strategy, from 18 June to 1 August 2025, the Participation FORUM invited all university members to think together and discuss new ideas for the development of the university. Students, researchers and staff shared over 130 ideas digitally in a university-wide padlet surveyExternal link and on site at the "Building our University of Excellence" action day. Both formats provided valuable input and drew a broad spectrum of voices from the university community - from concrete ideas for the improvement of everyday life on campus to long-term considerations about research, teaching and dialogue with society. There was a clear thematic focus in the subject areas of community/collaboration (25 per cent), social dialogue (20 per cent), sustainability (16 per cent), appreciation/health (15 per cent) and continuing education (10 per cent). Impulses for ongoing digitalisation, internationalisation and equality complete the overall picture. The results from the participation of the university community are systematically incorporated into the University of Excellence application process. The joint discussions thus make a central contribution to the strategic orientation of the (full) proposal.

From the coloured stone to the big picture: excellence as a joint task

The interactive participation FORUM "Building our University of Excellence" on 3 July in the foyer of the lecture hall building focused on creative visions and tangible improvements. In over 60 models, participants presented ideas for a healthy and sustainable working environment - from green spaces, new seating areas, bicycle parking spaces and modern learning spaces to family-friendly tenders. In addition to an infrastructure that promotes community, interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue with the city and society are particularly important to many of those involved. The commitment of many researchers, new formats such as the OpenFORUM and strong networks such as JenaVersumExternal link are already successfully realising these impulses and will be further expanded.