More intensive and simpler cooperation in teaching and studies – this is made possible by the “Framework Agreement for Teaching” of the Berlin University Alliance (BUA), which was signed in July by the president as well as the chief executive officer, of the partner institutions. Among other things, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin are thus creating simplified structures for new study programs.

For example, the Excellence Alliance would like to expand the range of courses offered in Berlin with so-called BUA joint degree study programs, which, for example, focus on interdisciplinarity and the principle of research-based learning. At the same time, BUA joint degree students benefit from enrollment at all participating institutions, allowing them to take full advantage of their offers as part of the joint degree study program. For students who are regularly enrolled at one of the partner institutions, the framework agreement additionally establishes an expanded secondary audience that provides them with easier access to the courses offered by the other partner institutions as determined by the BUA.

“In the Berlin University Alliance, the topic of Teaching and Learning is an important concern for us. The Framework Agreement for Teaching is an inspiring example of the cross-institutional cooperation we are striving for in our vision of an integrated teaching and research environment in Berlin,” says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. Sabine Kunst, spokesperson of the Berlin University Alliance and president of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

BUA's partner institutions already cooperate with each other in various constellations for study programs. Close integration with BUA research allows these to be classified as new BUA joint degree study programs. A first example of this is the joint master's degree program in bioinformatics at Freie Universität Berlin and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. It has already successfully passed the accreditation process and now forms the first BUA joint degree study program.

Since the launch of the excellence alliance, the steering committee of the cross-cutting theme Teaching and Learning has worked continuously to get the joint framework agreement off the ground in consultation with the committees and management of the partner institutions. In addition to the BUA joint degree study programs and the extended secondary audience, the student research project-focused Student Research Opportunities Program^x (StuROP^x), the Certificate Programs and the E-Assessment Alliance are among the programs established within the cross-cutting theme.

“The Framework Agreement for Teaching significantly strengthens institutional cooperation between the four partner institutions in teaching and learning. I am very pleased about this new level of cooperation that we are achieving,” says Prof. Dr. Eva Inés Obergfell, vice president for teaching and learning at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and spokesperson for the Teaching and Learning Steering Committee.

Information on BUA joint degree study programs including links to the M.Sc. Bioinformatics can be found on the Teaching and Learning websites for teachers and for students.

Press photographs

• Board of Directors of the Berlin University Alliance
  (From left to right) Prof. Dr. Günter M. Ziegler, president of Freie Universität Berlin, Prof. Dr. Heyo K. Kroemer, chief executive officer of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. Sabine Kunst, president of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and spokesperson for the Berlin University Alliance, und Prof. Dr. Christian Thomsen, president of Technische Universität Berlin, sign the Framework Agreement for Teaching.
  Image Credit: Berlin University Alliance
• Signing of the Berlin University Alliance Framework Agreement for Teaching
  Image Credit: Berlin University Alliance

The photographs are available for media representatives to download. They are free of charge if used in the context of the press release and the source is indicated.

The Berlin University Alliance

The Berlin University Alliance is a consortium consisting of three major Berlin universities – Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin – and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, established to shape research and education in Berlin. The four partners joined forces to further develop Berlin as a research hub with international drawing power. Together the partners explore major societal challenges, increase public outreach, promote the training of junior researchers, address issues of quality and standards in research, and share resources in the areas of research infrastructure, teaching, diversity, equal opportunities, and internationalization. The Berlin University Alliance is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the state of Berlin under the Excellence Strategy of the Federal Government and the Länder.

Joint press release from Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin along with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Press contact
Hans-Christoph Keller, acting press spokesperson for the Berlin University Alliance and press spokesperson for Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Email: medien@berlin-university-alliance.de