FAQ Calls
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the University: Future Festival 2026 and the calls. If your question is not answered in the FAQs, you can reach our team at: festival_programm@hochschulforum.org
- Call for Participation
- Call for Arts & Experience
Call for Participation
1. General Information
Who can submit?
Anyone can submit! We evaluate submissions solely on the basis of the quality of their content and whether they fit in with the thematic focus of the University:Future Festival. We particularly want to address university members, students, companies, civil society and internationals.
What makes a good session?
Ideally, a strong (and as short as possible!) title will arouse interest in the topic. The session should go beyond a mere project presentation. Dare to be authentic, creative and opinionated!
In which languages can I submit?
You can submit your ideas in German or English. Make sure that the language of the submission and the session held are the same. There will be no translation.
Will submissions be accepted after the deadline?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept submissions after the deadline.The Call for Participation ends on 16 February 2026.
Which formats are possible?
The following formats are available:
- Inputs: 30-minute inputs on a topic by one or more people. The focus should be on applicable knowledge. The form can vary, but the most common is the lecture followed by a discussion.
- Lightning talks: 5-minute short inputs by a maximum of two people.
- Discussions: A 30- or 60-minute dynamic and diverse discussion by several people. The planned co-discussants must be named in the submission.
- Workshops: 60- or 120-minute interactive formats with a limited number of participants (maximum of 50 by default).
- Trainings: 60- or 120-minute learning units.
- Labs: 90- or 120-minute interactive formats. Session leaders bring an idea, a problem or a prototype and develop it together with the audience to achieve a concrete result.
What is the difference between a training course and a workshop?
There is a certain proximity between the two formats. The following information should help you to classify your submission correctly:
- While workshops are generally used to work on a topic together, training courses always have a defined learning objective.
- In workshops, the focus is on interaction. Training providers are free to determine the appropriate degree of interactivity.
- Workshops are always limited in terms of the number of participants (50 by default, lower numbers by arrangement). Training courses are unlimited.
What tracks are there at the University:Future Festival? And why do I have to decide?
The University:Future Festival programme is divided into seven tracks. The tracks reflect the topics that are important to our communities. They are based on the results of a community survey, experiences from past events and strategic decisions.
How are the entries evaluated?
After the submission deadline, your proposal will be evaluated by a track jury. The track juries are made up of experts in the respective field, students and representatives of the University Forum, the Foundation for Innovation in University Teaching and stage partners. We make sure that your entry is read and evaluated by at least three people, usually more. In a second stage, the heads of the track juries come together and decide on the final program. The members of the jury will be announced on this website before the end of the call. You will receive a decision from the jury by mid-April 2026 at the latest.
Do I have to be at the physical event if I am accepted?
No, virtual participation is actually the standard case. Only individual submissions are invited to take place in person. Only the local meetups take place exclusively in person.
Can I hold my session on site if I am accepted?
The festival is “digital first” and this also applies to all program contributions. Nevertheless, we can probably offer many interested speakers a quiet location for presentations. However, we can only make a binding commitment once the program has been finalized. Workshops and training sessions that take place on the last day of the festival are generally to be held digitally.
What technology and tools will be provided?
To put it simply, our digital rooms will have a similar range of functions to Zoom. We will also always provide you with a Miro board. If you need specific things, please contact us at festival_programm@hochschulforum.org.
I have a product or service that is exciting for the audience. Can I submit a session proposal to promote my idea?
Yes, but your submission is unlikely to be successful. Sessions should always be learning experiences. This means: Feel free to mention your products and projects – but focus on knowledge transfer. Example: “We built a learning platform and had to solve difficult and unforeseen problems” is more exciting than “We have a new, great learning platform”.
Is there a quota for women?
Yes, at least 50 percent of the lecturers should be female.
Is there a student quota?
No. However, it is particularly important to us to provide a stage for student voices. That’s why we look forward to receiving your submissions!
2. Submission
I would like to submit a discussion: Do all speakers have to be confirmed?
Yes, the planned co-discussants must be named in the submission.
Do I need a Sessionize account to participate in the call?
Yes, a submission is always linked to at least one speaker. An account is required to create a speaker profile. You can enter up to 9 co-speakers per session. Please note that you can only enter the email addresses of your co-speakers. Your co-speakers must then create their own profile.
Can I submit a session on behalf of someone else?
No, for privacy reasons, speakers must register themselves.
Step by step: How does the speaker registration work, and how do I submit my idea for the call?
- Step: To submit a session, click on “Call” in the menu, then “Call for Participation”.
- Step: On the overview page of the call, you’ll find a button for the Call for Participation form at the bottom.
- Step: Create an account in our Call tool Sessionize. If you already have an account with Sessionize, you can use your existing account for the University: Future Festival submission.
- Step: Fill out all required fields of the form.
- Step: Complete your submission by clicking the “submit session” button.
- Step: Your submission is now automatically completed and will be considered by the jury during the selection process. You will be informed once a decision has been made.
Will the information in the Call for Participation tool be publicly visible?
The information will only be published once a contribution has been accepted. This applies only to information relevant to visitors. Contact information and other personal data will not be made public.
What are the character limits?
The description of your session must be between 200 and 2,000 characters long. You must also submit a short description of your session, which will appear in the programme if you are accepted. Your self-description as a speaker can have a length of 100 to 800 characters.
Can I submit multiple proposals to the Call for Participation?
Yes, several proposals can be submitted.
Can I still edit my proposal in the call form?
Yes, submissions will only be locked and become unchangeable after the call closes on 16 February 2026. We will contact you if anything is unclear.
My session has not been published. Did you receive it?
If you log in to the call tool and your session can be found, then we have received it.
What happens if I can no longer log in?
Please check your login details again (e-mail and password) and whether you are logging into the correct domain. If the problem persists after several attempts, our team will be happy to help: festival@hochschulforum.org
How can I get help with non-technical Call for Participation questions?
If you have any questions that cannot be answered by this FAQ, please contact: festival_programm@hochschulforum.org
How will I know if my entry has been accepted?
We will contact you as soon as the jury’s selection process is complete. This is expected to happen in mid-April 2026.
Call for Arts & Experience
1. General Information
Who can submit?
Anyone can submit! We evaluate submissions solely on their content quality and on whether they fit the thematic focus of the University:Future Festival. We particularly encourage: arts and culture practitioners who approach the festival motto Under Pressure artistically, and members of higher education institutions who creatively inspire visitors to participate and reflect.
What formats are possible?
In principle, anything is conceivable that engages with the festival themes and is logistically feasible. We look forward to surprises and a diversity of topics and formats!
Where will the projects be exhibited?
The selected contributions from the Call for Arts & Experience will not be shown on the stages, but in our Experience:Space at the centre of the Berlin Mainstage. There will also be space for arts & experience on some of our partner stages.
What infrastructure is provided?
We provide the necessary space (2 × 3 metres, in individual cases more), power, and internet. We are also available at any time to answer questions regarding formats and feasibility.
What costs are covered?
Accommodation and travel expenses will be covered for up to two people per contribution. Decisions on covering additional costs can only be made after the deadline. For this, it is important that you inform us of the expected costs (including travel, transport of materials, accommodation, etc.).
2. Submission
Can I submit several projects/formats?
Yes. Multiple contributions per person may be submitted.
Do I need a Sessionize account to take part in the call?
Yes. Each submission must be linked to at least one person. Creating a profile requires an account. Up to five people can be listed per contribution. Please note:
- You can only enter your colleagues’ email addresses; your colleagues must then create their own profiles.
- We can cover travel expenses for a maximum of two people per submission.
Can I still edit my proposal in the call form?
Yes. Submissions will be locked—and therefore no longer editable – only after the call ends on 16 February 2026. If anything is unclear, we will contact you.
How will the entries be evaluated?
After the submission deadline, your proposal will be reviewed by members of the organising team and assessed for feasibility. The deadline is 16 February 2026.
How and when will I find out if my project has been accepted?
We will contact you as soon as the jury’s selection process is complete. This is expected by mid-march 2026.
Where can I get help with further questions?
If you have any questions not answered by this FAQ, please contact: festival_programm@hochschulforum.org.
