Shaping Jena's future together

How can universities and local authorities in Germany work together to tackle pressing social challenges such as climate change, skills shortages and social integration? This is the question behind the "Transformationslabor Hochschule" funding program initiated by the Stifterverband. With their project "MitmachFORUM Jena - New Public Health", Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the city of Jena are among the eight selected collaborations from all over Germany.

The new projects of the "Transformationslabor Hochschule" funding program have now been launched with a two-day kick-off event in Berlin. Its aim is to strengthen universities and local authorities in Germany as active and competent shapers of regional transformation processes.

In a one-year process, innovative approaches for shaping cooperation and participatory formats are now being tested, which will provide impetus for the future. The Jena project, which is managed in tandem by the university and the city, focuses on the topic of "New Public Health". Once completed, the FORUM, the future communication and meeting center of the University of Jena, will serve as a place to establish this long-term collaboration.

Dr. Dana Strauß, initiator of the project and Head of Network and Cooperation Management at the University of Jena, emphasizes that the transformation lab offers a unique opportunity to further develop Jena as a model region for social innovation: "The project not only strengthens the connection between science and society, but also creates a platform on which the university and the city can develop new solutions for the challenges of the future together with the citizens."

The Vice President for University Community and Engagement at the University of Jena, Prof. Dr. Bärbel Kracke, emphasizes the concrete impact on the quality of life of local people: "The Transformation Lab enables us to intensify cooperation between science and society and to develop models that directly contribute to improving the quality of life of citizens in the long term."

For Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Lord Mayor of the City of Jena, cooperation between the city and the university is essential: "With this project, we are creating a model project for innovative approaches that will have an impact beyond the university campus and into the city, decisively strengthening Jena's future viability."

A particular focus of the project is on health promotion and the development of new approaches in the field of "New Public Health". Kathleen Lützkendorf, Head of Social Affairs, Health, Immigration and Climate of the City of Jena, explains: "Our aim is to develop cooperative models that deepen the health dialog with citizens and develop sustainable strategies for the region." Dr. Franziska Alff, Head of the Health Promotion Department of the City of Jena, adds: "We are developing health strategies that combine scientific findings with the local community in order to sustainably improve the health of the population and promote a broad dialog on health issues in our city."

The University Transformation Lab is funded by the Stifterverband with financial support of 25,000 euros as well as a comprehensive training and coaching program that helps the teams to further develop and implement their innovative ideas. Digital workshops and networking meetings provide a platform for exchange and promote collaboration between the partners from the city and the university.