Vocational School Digi Teams

The funding program Vocational School Digi-Teams strengthens digital competencies in vocational education in Hamburg by annually providing five teams with grants of €50,000 each until 2027. Engineering educators at universities collaborate with practitioners from vocational schools and training companies to develop innovative teaching and learning modules that didactically integrate digital media in a meaningful way. The goal is the curriculum-anchored training of prospective vocational school teachers in the professional use of digital tools. Over a period of 15 months per project, practice-oriented, digitally supported learning environments are created, which are integrated into the mandatory curriculum of the respective teacher training programs. Network meetings promote interdisciplinary exchange and allow for the presentation of transfer concepts.

Eligible for funding are universities in cooperation with vocational schools or training companies, which secure curricular integration through a declaration of commitment from the program director. Applications are to be submitted by April 15, 2026, in a standardized procedure: a project proposal of up to ten pages outlines development goals, cooperation, and sustainability strategies. Evaluation criteria include the contribution to the advancement of digital teaching, a convincing sustainability concept, and high transfer potential. Project-related personnel and material costs (teaching materials, programming and printing expenses, travel costs) are funded, but not overhead costs. The Vocational School Digi-Teams create a growing network that provides innovative digital teaching and learning modules as Open Educational Resources and transfers them into all relevant teacher training programs.