The Kontor&Stift shop is currently slumbering like Sleeping Beauty, the Tonraum is producing regular live streams and the Maschinenraum is overhauling decommissioned laptops. How are Weimar’s student initiatives reacting to the current situation? By inventing new formats, of course! Or, in some cases, waiting until they can finally resume operations.

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar began its digital semester on 4 May, and after many weeks of intensive preparation, modules and projects are available for digital remote study in all of our study programmes. The semester has become a testbed, with the university testing new digital formats for the very first time. However, in addition to the classes themselves, studying and student life also includes aspects like a well-stocked library, modern computers and printers, and the opportunity to learn languages or take part in university sports. How will the summer semester affect this part of the student experience?

In the media industry, »remote work« is a popular, much researched phenomenon. Scientists are interested in different aspects of this new way of working: how do media change our living and working environments? What are the consequences for companies when digital nomads are largely able to work anytime and anywhere thanks to modern technology?

Preparations for a rather extraordinary summer semester 2020 are currently under way in the Faculty of Art and Design. It is particularly difficult to imagine how artistic and creative project-based courses with a practical emphasis can be run under the current conditions. So how are the academic staff and workshop employees preparing to teach without face-to-face sessions?

First, the good news: »Almost all teaching content from the Faculty of Civil Engineering can be converted into digital offerings«, reported Prof. Conrad Völker, Dean of Studies. In record time, the teaching staff has begun developing a wide range of e-learning formats in order to make the 2020 summer semester as attractive as possible. These have already been tested within the framework of the advanced degree programmes "elBau" and "nuBau".

»The main focus of architectural studies is the research-based design and project study, in which actual design tasks and experiments make up the elementary basis« – the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism promotes the architectural studies at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. But how to begin and provide such teaching without accessing libraries or workshops, or without conducting personal consultations, team meetings or excursions?

»Digital teaching« has long been practised at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. However, until now, digital tools have mainly been integrated into classroom teaching and used as a supplement. Digital teaching is currently being implemented throughout the country in the shortest possible time since it is currently not to rely on our traditional teaching and learning methods. Within a few weeks, the usual and planned teaching content must be digitally prepared, adapted, and new solutions must be found.

Current issues: Thuringia, Germany, Europe and the entire world are experiencing a situation the like of which has never been seen before, as a result of the spread of the coronavirus. The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting restrictions on travel and contact have majorly impacted higher education – whether teaching and studies, research, or university operations as a whole. All university members (students, teachers and members of staff) have been subject to significant restrictions and extra burdens as a result of this unforeseeable development.

The summer semester was actually scheduled to have started early in April. Instead of groups of students enjoying their first coffee together in the sun in the Bauhaus.Atelier, the view at the moment is a single, seemingly lost pigeon pacing back and forth in the courtyard of the University Library. A deserted campus instead of a summer semester packed with events and projects? Not at all! The university and its faculties are working hard to get the semester ready, mostly from their home offices. The semester will definitely take place – but under very special conditions.

All upcoming university events cancelled / TMWWDG meeting planned for 30 March to decide how things will move forward

The beginning of the semester at Thuringia’s universities has been postponed to 4 May 2020 as a preliminary measure. This decision was made at a meeting of the State President Conference at Thuringia’s Ministry of Science. This represents a university response to the continuing spread of the coronavirus. In addition, all university events such as concerts, lecture series and presentations will be cancelled. Each university will make its own decisions regarding whether to close its libraries. Furthermore, universities will consider how far they can make use of online and e-learning services in the interim.

As part of her Bauhaus Visiting Professorship in the winter semester 2019/20, Prof. Dr. Judith Simon held a workshop for students and teachers in the University Library lounge on Thursday, 30 January 2020. The workshop format allowed interested students and staff to exchange with Dr. Simon on digital normativity in a more intimate setting.

Bereits zum vierten Male bieten Studierende der Fakultät und Gestaltung einen Einblick hinter die Türen der Ateliers und Werkstätten an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Über 40 individuelle oder kollektive Projekte beleben unterschiedlichste Standorte Weimars und zeigen künstlerische, gestalterische sowie performative Diskurse, die im Laufe des Wintersemester in der Lehre und Forschung an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar gemeinsam entwickelt wurden.

Bereits zum vierten Male bieten Studierende der Fakultät und Gestaltung einen Einblick hinter die Türen der Ateliers und Werkstätten an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Über 40 individuelle oder kollektive Projekte beleben unterschiedlichste Standorte Weimars und zeigen künstlerische, gestalterische sowie performative Diskurse, die im Laufe des Wintersemester in der Lehre und Forschung an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar gemeinsam entwickelt wurden.

On Thursday, 24 October 2019, freshman students from the Bachelor's programmes in Architecture, Urban Studies and Media Culture showed the results of their introductory course at ten different locations in Weimar.

Gemeinsam mit der Fachhochschule Erfurt veranstaltet die Bauhaus-Universität Weimar im Wintersemester 2019/20 eine internationale Vortragsreihe zum Thema nachhaltige Mobilität im urbanen Raum. Zum Auftakt am 21. Oktober referiert die Weimarer Junior-Professorin Dr. Julia Bee zur »Medialität des Radfahrens«. Alle Interessierten sind herzlich eingeladen!

Studierende der Freien Kunst nehmen an der diesjährigen GLOBART Academy in Klosterneuburg teil. Vom 17. bis 19. Oktober verwandelt sich das Museum in einen künstlerisch-philosophischen LebensRaum. Die Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer transformieren das leere Museum in ein soziales Labor zum gemeinsamen Denken, Verweilen und Experimentieren.

Junior.-Prof. Dr. Florian Echtler beteiligt sich am Projekt »VIGITIA« zur Konzeption und Entwurf von intelligenten Tischoberflächen. Die Forschung in Kooperation mit der Universität Regensburg wird vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung mit einer Summe von etwa einer Million Euro gefördert. Ziel ist es, Tischoberflächen mithilfe spezieller Technologie in interaktive Arbeitsflächen zu verwandeln, die analoge wie auch digitale Gegenstände integriert.