Across Microcredential Call 2026

English-taught and digitally supported courses for learners across the Across Alliance

Application deadline: rolling call until 31 October 2026 (or until the available budget has been exhausted)

Background and purpose

Across – European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing connects universities, researchers, students and external actors across European border regions. This call supports opening existing courses that are embedded in TU Chemnitz curricula as digital microcredentials for students and staff of the Across partner universities. The focus is on English-language learning opportunities that can be completed without being present in Chemnitz and are available via the Across eCampus.

The microcredential certificate is intended for learners who do not have the course in their own curriculum, in particular students and staff of other Across partner universities. The scope corresponds to a single course and may be smaller than that of the module in which the course is currently embedded.

Eligibility

The call is aimed in particular at teaching staff who already offer English-taught or digitised courses.

• Applications may be submitted by professors, academic staff and teaching staff of TU Chemnitz, including staff of central institutions involved in teaching and skills development.
• Each proposal must identify a responsible organisational unit of TU Chemnitz. Applicants who do not head that unit must obtain the endorsement of the responsible professor or head of unit.
• Cooperation across disciplines and with other Across partner universities, for example in collaborative teaching formats, is encouraged.

Eligible courses and requirements

Funding supports opening existing courses that are embedded in TU Chemnitz curricula as microcredentials for international learners from the Across partner universities. Newly developed courses are only eligible if they are delivered entirely digitally and asynchronously, including the assessment, and are intended to be embedded in a curriculum in the future.

The course must:

• be embedded in the curriculum of a TU Chemnitz degree programme; fully digital and asynchronous new developments are exempt,
• correspond to the scope of a single course, stating its ECTS credits and learner workload clearly; the scope may be smaller than that of the module in which the course is currently embedded,
• be delivered in English (at the latest once it is opened) and be suitable for an international audience; language-learning courses may incorporate the target language, with English used for guidance and explanations as appropriate,
• provide an on-demand digital learning experience, with the core content available asynchronously and suitable for independent study,
• be provided in a digital learning space in OPAL that is suitable for asynchronous learning,
• define clear learning outcomes, an intended target group and any entry requirements,
• include an appropriate assessment that external learners can also take, through which learners demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes, providing the basis for certification,
• remain open in the long term, with a credible approach to learner support, assessment and maintenance after the adaptation.

Live online components, such as collaborative teaching formats with Across partner universities, may complement the asynchronous offer where they add educational value. Proposals must explain their purpose, timing and relationship to the on-demand elements, including whether participation is required for successful completion.

Learning materials should be accessible, clearly structured and suitable for reuse. Applicants must ensure that the necessary rights to use and share the materials are available.

Funding and organisational framework

Each selected course receives funding of EUR 2,400. The funding is allocated to the responsible organisational unit of TU Chemnitz and may be used in particular for:

• personnel costs for staff, e.g. a temporary increase in working hours,
• student and graduate assistants,
• travel costs for coordination with Across partner universities in the case of collaborative teaching formats.

The purchase of equipment and infrastructure is not eligible.

Due to the requirements of the funding body, the funds must be spent by 31 December 2026. The specific use of funds will be agreed with the responsible organisational unit before implementation.

Double funding of the same costs is not permitted. Related funding and the distinction between activities financed from different sources must be disclosed in the application.

Evaluation criteria

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis by the Across Team Chemnitz at the International Office based on:

• Relevance and academic value: attractiveness of the course for learners from the Across partner universities and a clear contribution to the Across learning offer.
• Starting point: curricular embedding and an existing English-taught and/or digital offer.
• Suitability for on-demand learning: a coherent asynchronous learning pathway aligned with learning outcomes, workload and assessment, and a justified role for any live components.
• Feasibility: a realistic plan for making the course available by 1 April 2027, clear responsibilities and an appropriate use of the funding in 2026.
• Sustainability: potential for repeated delivery, use across the Alliance and continued maintenance.

Applications meeting the required quality standard are considered in the order of receipt, subject to the availability of funding. Where a proposal is promising but would benefit from adjustments, the Across Team Chemnitz may approve it with recommendations for the concept or implementation plan that are agreed with the applicants.

Application procedure

Applications must be submitted in English using the official application form, which covers the following points:

• Applicant and course: responsible person and organisational unit, course title, degree programme and module in which the course is embedded, target group and any partners.
• Starting point: current language of instruction and level of digitisation of the course, and the adaptations required.
• Learning concept: intended learning outcomes, ECTS credits, learner workload, content and assessment.
• Digital delivery: asynchronous learning activities, any live components, accessibility and the structure of the OPAL learning space.
• Implementation: schedule, responsibilities and planned use of the funding (staff, assistants, travel).
• Continued availability: arrangements for learner support, assessment, maintenance and future use within Across.

Upload the completed application form together with the required endorsement via TUCcloud.

Download application form Upload application via TUCcloud

Deadlines and procedures

• Application deadline: Applications may be submitted until 31 October 2026 and will be assessed on a rolling basis. Applications received after this date will not be considered. The call may close earlier if the available budget is exhausted.
• Use of funds: Due to the requirements of the funding body, the funds must be spent by 31 December 2026.
• Opening: The course will be available as a microcredential to learners from the Across partner universities on the Across eCampus for the first time no later than 1 April 2027.

Expected results and reporting

Funded teams are expected to provide a course opened to learners from the Across partner universities, comprising a microcredential description, a digital learning space with learning materials and activities, and an assessment aligned with the stated learning outcomes that is also accessible to external learners. Access to the course is restricted to members of the Across partner universities; it is not publicly available.

The microcredential description must specify the target group, prerequisites, learning outcomes, language, ECTS credits, workload and completion requirements. Arrangements for hosting, learner access and certification must be agreed with the Across Team Chemnitz during preparation. The microcredential will be listed in the TUCacademy and on the Across eCampus.

A brief completion report must document the adaptations made. After its first delivery, the microcredential will be evaluated by its first participants.

Funded courses and related public materials must include the applicable funding statement and the official logos supplied by the Across Team Chemnitz.

Funding information

This call is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

Contact