Transfer is relevant to all areas of academia. As such, transfer must not only be considered in the context of research and its outputs, but also included in teaching to prepare the university-trained workforce for their future work in academia and industry. From 6 to 8 October 2020, more than 2500 participants from academia, politics, and the civil society discussed the future of higher education and learning as part of the University Future Festival, held in cooperation with the Donor’s Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany (Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft), the CHE Centre for University Development (CHE Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung), and the German Rectors’ Conference (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz, HRK).
Thies Johannsen gave a talk on digital teaching, which resonated well with participants, and which was featured in a podcast. In the podcast “Studium im Shutdown”, Thies explained how classroom approaches to teaching and learning can be transferred to online seminars, and shed light on the opportunities and challenges that come with this transition.