PIONEER Festival 2026
Have you heard of the PIONEER Alliance? During the PIONEER Festival, you’ll have the chance to get to know the PIONEER partner universities better, discover opportunities to get actively involved, and exchange ideas!
The PIONEER Festival takes place annually at TH Köln and offers a varied programme for students, lecturers, researchers and staff.
This year, the festival will take place from 2 to 5 November 2026.
Through a range of events, we will be informing you about the diverse activities of our European university alliance, which has something for every member of the TH Köln community – students, lecturers, researchers and staff.
Our PIONEER Information Fair on 3 November 2026 will provide an opportunity for face-to-face contact and discussion with colleagues from the nine PIONEER partner universities.
The virtual events invite you to discover innovative approaches to collaboration in teaching and research and offer an insight into the mobility opportunities available through our PIONEER partners.
We look forward to seeing you there!
PROGRAMME
Monday, 2 November 2026
11:30-14:00 | PIONEER Roadshow – PIONEER on site | Campus Südstadt, Claudiusstraße
PIONEER on site – What opportunities are available? How does a period abroad work? What does PIONEER have to offer?
Would you like to find out what opportunities PIONEER offers in the areas of mobility, teaching or research? Then do pop by our information stand. We look forward to speaking to you!
When?
2 November 2026, 11:30-14:00
Who?
Students, researchers, teachers and staff
12:00-13:30 | New missions for higher education institutions: Which ones – and whose? A discussion in the context of PIONEER | online
Universities have long been faced with expectations that go beyond their two traditional core missions of research and teaching. Since the late 20th century, the concept of the ‘Third Mission’ has seen knowledge transfer, innovation, cooperation with business and society, and the employability of graduates increasingly incorporated into the remit of higher education institutions. More recently, there has been talk of a ‘Fourth Mission’: Higher education institutions are expected to contribute actively to tackling societal challenges – such as sustainability, social responsibility and social innovation. With its focus on SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities – the PIONEER project can also be understood in this context.
This presentation will discuss current research that examines indications of the emergence of a further, potential ‘Fifth Mission’: the orientation of higher education institutions towards security, defence and societal resilience. A qualitative case study at a university within the PIONEER network shows how such a new mission orientation does not remain confined to strategic mission statements, but is translated into organisational programmes, collaborations and decision-making structures – and thus begins to transform research and teaching itself.
The case study does not serve as a model for the future, but as a starting point for a more fundamental question: how are societal and political expectations changing the remit of universities – and how do universities themselves intend to address such demands for transformation?
This also turns our attention to PIONEER. The alliance calls on us to pursue transformation towards a sustainable and socially responsible university. But transformation should not merely mean implementing goals that have already been formulated. A university must also be a place where such goals can be subject to scholarly reflection, debated openly and shaped by its members.
That is why we would like to discuss together what changes we consider desirable at our own university, what initiatives are already emerging, and how PIONEER can support such ‘bottom-up’ transformation processes.
The event is therefore intended as an invitation to experience PIONEER not only as a project, but also as a space for academic reflection, open discussion and participatory university development.
Led by: Prof. Dr. Franz Krönig & Svea Möbs, M.A.
When?
2 November 2026, 12:00-13:30
Where?
Online via Zoom
Access Code: 1
Who?
Students, researchers, teachers and staff
14:00-15:30 | The value of international ecosystems for securing external funding | online
Would you like to expand international university collaborations and get to know new partners within the PIONEER Alliance?
This event provides an overview of the participating universities, external partners and thematic areas for exchange and collaboration. We will also present formats, workshops and seminars designed to facilitate professional networking, and use the discussion to gather specific needs and ideas.
Led by: Prof. Dr. Eike Permin & Lina Castillo, M.Sc.
When?
2 November 2026, 14:00-15:30 Uhr
Where?
Online via Zoom
Meeting-ID: 62246346784
Access Code: PIONEER
Who?
Researchers, teachers and staff
Tuesday, 3 November 2026
12:00-14:00 | PIONEER Information Fair | Campus Südstadt, Ubierring 48
Go abroad with PIONEER - Meet our PIONEER partner universities on Campus Südstadt:
- Avans University of Applied Sciences (NL)
- Bern University of Applied Sciences (CH)
- Iscte University Institute of Lisbon (PT)
- Iuav Universitá di Venezia (IT)
- Laurea University of Applied Sciences (FI)
- Tomas Bata University (CZ)
- Université Gustave Eiffel (FR)
- University of Huelva (ES)
- University of Žilina (SK)
Find out more about the opportunities the PIONEER Alliance has to offer through face-to-face discussions. At our information stands, you’ll have the chance to speak to representatives from our PIONEER partner universities and learn more about each institution through direct conversation. Come along and discover your opportunities with PIONEER!
When?
3 November 2026, 12:00-14:00
Where?
Campus Südstadt, Ubierring 48, entrance hall
Who?
Students, researchers, teachers and staff
Please note:
Photographs and videos will be taken during this event. These recordings will be made by an external photographer and employees of the department of International Affairs, who will be identifiable by their name tags and/or cameras. The photo and video material will be published on the university's websites and social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn).
Your participation in the event constitutes your consent to the use of the material. However, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. To do so, please send an email to pioneer-alliance@th-koeln.de .
Wednesday, 4 November 2026
10:00-11:00 | EU Research Collaboration: Services offered by the PIONEER Alliance and the Department of Research and Knowledge Transfer at TH Köln | online
Would you like to network in order to take part in EU calls for proposals or collaborate with European partners on research projects?
How do researchers find the right partners for international collaborations? This is precisely where the PIONEER Alliance’s Research Matchmaking Tool (RMM Tool) comes in. It helps you establish targeted contacts with researchers working on similar or complementary research topics — particularly those relating to UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities.
In this webinar, you will get to know the RMM Tool and learn how it can facilitate the creation of new international research networks. You will also gain insights into how PIONEER can help you access relevant European funding opportunities and calls for proposals. The Office for Research and Knowledge Transfer will also provide information on its services for early-career researchers and researchers at TH Köln - University of Applied Sciences.
Led by: Dr. Himanshu Himanshu, Ulrike Kreger, M.A., Dr. Markus Prieske
When?
4 November 2026, 10:00-11:00
Where?
Online via Zoom
Meeting-ID: 695 4345 2734
Access Code: PIONEER
Who?
Researchers and teachers
11:30-14:00 | PIONEER Roadshow – PIONEER on site | Campus Deutz
PIONEER on site – What opportunities are available? How does a period abroad work? What does PIONEER have to offer?
Would you like to find out what opportunities PIONEER offers in the areas of mobility, teaching or research? Then do pop by our information stand. We look forward to speaking to you!
When?
4 November 2026, 11:30-14:00
Who?
Students, researchers, teachers and staff
14:00-16:00 | Challenge-based education: Developing your own teaching through real-world challenges | hybrid
How can students work on real-world societal challenges – together with industry partners and perhaps even with students from other European universities?
In this two-hour workshop, you will learn, using concrete examples, how Challenge-Based Education (CBE) can be implemented in higher education – from initial CBE elements to comprehensive challenge-based teaching formats. Together, we will examine typical CBE case studies, best practices and the characteristics that define effective challenges.
In the second part, we’ll get hands-on: you will test the new PIONEER CBE Toolbox on one of your own courses. In doing so, you can identify which elements are already in place, what the next logical steps for development might be, and how aspects such as real-world relevance, student responsibility, collaboration with external partners or international cooperation can be strengthened.
No prior knowledge of CBE is required. The Toolbox is suitable both for taking the first steps and for further developing existing challenge-based formats. It can also help you to view and develop your own course from a fresh perspective.
Please feel free to bring along one of your own courses that you would like to work on specifically during the workshop.
Led by: Prof. Dr. Frank Linde (TH Köln) & Prof. Dr Marie Peskova (Bern University of Applied Sciences, CH)
When?
4 November 2026, 14:00-16:00
Where?
Campus Südstadt, Claudiusstraße 1, room A4.400
OR
Online via Zoom
Meeting-ID: 64899935049
Access Code: PIONEER
Who?
Teachers and staff
15:30-17:00 | Exchange opportunities at PIONEER partner universities for students | online
Discover the exchange opportunities within the PIONEER Alliance!
PIONEER offers a wide range of opportunities for student mobility. Find out first-hand how a period abroad at one of our PIONEER partner universities can enrich your studies. Representatives from these universities will provide insights into the wide range of study programmes on offer, whilst students from TH Köln will share their experiences of studying at a PIONEER partner university.
Led by: Svenja Fillep-Kühn
When?
4 November 2026, 15:30-17:00
Where?
Online via Zoom
Meeting-ID: 645 4586 2118
Access Code: PIONEER
Who?
Students
Thursday, 5 November 2026
11:30-14:00 | PIONEER Roadshow – PIONEER on site | Campus Leverkusen
PIONEER on site – What opportunities are available? How does a period abroad work? What does PIONEER have to offer?
Would you like to find out what opportunities PIONEER offers in the areas of mobility, teaching or research? Then do pop by our information stand. We look forward to speaking to you!
When?
5 November 2026, 11:30-14:00
Who?
Students, researchers, teachers and staff
14:00-14:45 | COIL, BIP, Erasmus+ teaching mobility…? How can I internationalise my teaching – and what funding is available to me? | online
We’ll show you which formats and funding opportunities (Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility, Erasmus+ BIP and COIL) are available to you and how TH Köln and the PIONEER Alliance can support you in this. In addition, a lecturer will share his experiences.
Led by: Martina Brüderle, Svenja Fillep-Kühn & Eva Zielasko
When?
5 November 2026, 14:00-14:45
Where?
Online via Zoom
Meeting-ID: 657 0723 4821
Access Code: PIONEER
Who?
Teachers and staff
15:30-17:00 | Exchange opportunities at PIONEER partner universities for students | online
Discover the exchange opportunities within the PIONEER Alliance!
PIONEER offers a wide range of opportunities for student mobility. Find out first-hand how a period abroad at one of our PIONEER partner universities can enrich your studies. Representatives from these universities will provide insights into the wide range of study programmes on offer, whilst students from TH Köln will share their experiences of studying at a PIONEER partner university.
Led by: Svenja Fillep-Kühn
When?
5 November 2026, 15:30-17:00
Where?
Online via Zoom
Meeting-ID: 699 1974 7275
Access Code: PIONEER
Who?
Students