The University of Münster has received the inaugural Award for Excellence in Teacher Education. Its concept, “Situated Learning, Professional Practice – A Scalable Model for Excellence in Teacher Education,” prevailed in the final round against four universities and a higher-education consortium, from a field of around 30 institutions that submitted proposals. The jury was particularly impressed by how firmly teacher education is embedded in the University of Münster’s strategy and by the concept’s strong practical relevance. The €100,000 award will directly support teacher education in Münster. The Future Lab coordinated and supported the university’s application process from the outset.
How do structural power dynamics shape university life – and what role does “whiteness” play as a form of social privilege? These are the questions at the heart of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Critical Whiteness: Reflecting on Power and Taking Action in the University Context”, which brings together 24 participants from Ulysseus partner universities from 24 to 28 November.
At the 17th Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, leading figures from science, politics, business, and the media met with international early-career researchers to discuss visionary ideas and global challenges. Members of the University of Münster were among the participants, strengthening international networks and bringing new impulses for research and innovation back to Münster. A special highlight was the presentation by the winner of the first Falling Walls Lab Münster on the Summit’s global stage.
How can universities strengthen democratic education amid social polarization and growing skepticism towards science? This question will be front and center at a nationwide expert conference hosted by the University of Münster on 13 March 2026, organised together with German U15 and the Foundation for Innovation in University Teaching (Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre).
With its proposal “Situated learning, professional action—A scalable model for excellent teacher education,” the University of Münster is one of six finalists for the Excellence in Teacher Education Award. The €100,000 prize is being presented for the first time this year by Stifterverband and the TÜV SÜD Foundation as part of the Zukunftsmission Bildung (“Future Mission: Education”) program.
Visionary ideas, strong voices, and an inspiring venue – the first-ever Falling Walls Lab at the University of Münster was a resounding success. At its core: bold, forward-looking projects by early career researchers aiming to answer one big question in just three minutes: “Which are the next walls to fall?”
The EU Mentoring Network offers structured, high-level support for outstanding researchers at career stages R2 and R3 who are planning to apply for ERC Starting or Consolidator Grants in 2026.
Which are the next walls to fall? Under this motto, the University of Münster will host its very first Falling Walls Lab on 11 September 2025 – an international pitch competition for students, doctoral candidates, and early-career researchers with visionary ideas. At the FIEGE X-Dock in the heart of Münster, young scientists and innovators will have just three minutes to present their projects to a panel of experts and an interested public audience.
How do structural power dynamics shape everyday life at universities – and what role does “whiteness” play as a system of privilege? These questions are at the heart of the first Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) hosted by the University of Münster as part of the European University Alliance Ulysseus. Titled "Critical Whiteness: Reflecting on Power and Taking Action in the University Context," the programme invites participants to engage with anti-racist perspectives through a combination of theoretical input and practical training.
The Rectorate of the University of Münster has approved the joint research initiative “Animal Personality Meets Personality Psychology” for funding within the University’s strategic Topical Programmes line. The project is led by Prof. Dr. Mitja Back (Faculty of Psychology, FB 07) and Prof. Dr. Melanie Dammhahn (Faculty of Biology, FB 13).
The project aims to establish a novel interdisciplinary research bridge between animal personality research and psychological personality science. Although both fields have developed in parallel—conceptually and methodologically—there has been little systematic exchange between them. This initiative addresses precisely that gap, creating a research forum that fosters dialogue between biology, psychology, and related disciplines.
With today’s fourth and final session, the University of Münster has successfully concluded its SWOT workshop series as part of its Excellence Strategy process. Over the course of several months, representatives from the Rectorate, central administration, research community, and the University’s Research Advisory Board – in part supported by external expert perspectives – worked together in a structured, data-informed, and participatory process to identify and analyse the University’s key Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
As of April 2025, the EU Mentoring Network at the University of Münster has been relocated to the Zukunftslabor. Originally launched in 2023 at the Europa Center, the program has since successfully supported two cohorts of outstanding mentees. With the move, the network returns to its conceptual roots, as it was initially developed at the Zukunftslabor. |
Sustainability ranks among the most pressing challenges of our time – scientifically, socially, and politically. Through its Emerging Field “Exploring and Shaping Sustainability”, the University of Münster brings together interdisciplinary expertise to collaboratively develop sustainable solutions.
Podcast: Rector Wessels and Vice-Rector Stoll on the University of Münster’s Excellence Strategy
In the second episode of the podcast “Nachgefragt – Neues aus dem Rektorat” (“In Conversation – News from the Rectorate”), Rector Prof. Dr. Johannes Wessels and Vice-Rector for Research Prof. Dr. Monika Stoll discuss the University of Münster’s approach to Germany’s Excellence Strategy.
In conversation with host Lena Zils, they provide insights into the current state of strategic developments and explain how the University is positioning itself in the competition for Clusters of Excellence. A special focus is placed on perspectives for outstanding early-career researchers – both within existing support structures and in light of new initiatives on the horizon.
On February 6 and 7, 2025, the two Clusters of Excellence at the University of Münster – Mathematics Münster and Religion and Politics – reached another key milestone in the ongoing Excellence Strategy: the evaluation meetings in Bonn as part of the Clusters of Excellence funding line.
