EDUC Town Hall
Open Dialogue, Organisational Development and Networking
On 9 December 2025, the EDUC team invited all members of the University of Potsdam to the first town hall meeting. In inspiring opening speeches, President Prof. Oliver Günther, Vice-President for Teaching and Student Affairs Dr Britta van Kempen, and Head of the President’s Office Dr Claudia Scharioth emphasised the strategic importance of EDUC for the University of Potsdam. EDUC Alliance Manager Katharina Kloss and EDUC Project Manager Dr Markus Fischer outlined the origins and current developments of the initiative and introduced the interactive workshops. They expressed their sincere thanks for the valuable contribution made by many colleagues at the University of Potsdam to the initiative’s success to date and urged everyone to continue to play an active part in shaping and embracing EDUC.
Workshop topics at Town Hall 2025
1. EDUC in 2035: Wishes, Visions and Ideas For The Future
Participants imagined the year 2035 and wrote postcards to the University of Potsdam community of 2025, setting out their wishes and ideas for the EDUC Alliance. This led to a lively exchange of views, for example on the seamless integration of the EDUC Virtual Campus into the local systems of all partner universities, on ownership and community building – with EDUC as a natural part of everyday university life – and on alliance-wide student clubs beyond the scope of formal courses.
2. EDUC Reflections 2019–2025: Lessons Learnt
The focus was on successes, challenges and learning experiences since 2019. Alongside highlights such as the launch of the Virtual Campus and transnational projects carried out despite the pandemic, participants reflected on hurdles such as bureaucratic EU processes and integration adjustments. Topics such as open communication, flexible adaptation to EU processes and the building of strong partnerships provided motivation for forward-looking steps.
3. EDUC and its Services For Students
Students discussed EDUC’s services and shared their experiences in a ‘Mini World Café’ format. The presentation by the EDUC Student Board highlighted opportunities for student involvement in student representation and thematic think tanks. Suggestions and ideas for future integration were put forward – such as greater visibility of the services on offer, easier access to mobility programmes, greater integration into everyday university life, and expanded language and networking opportunities.
4. Getting to Know EDUC Better: Informal Discussions in the Foyer
Informal discussions in the foyer helped participants to familiarise themselves with EDUC’s activities and the people involved. Participants networked informally, asked questions and shared their impressions. This spontaneously strengthened the EDUC community at the University of Potsdam.
