Learning design at University of Technology Nuremberg

Do you value close professional interactions with your professors and peers? Would you like to learn more effectively within a learning community? Do you value having a variety of ways in which your learning is being assessed?

If so, the UTN is the perfect place for you! Our innovative learning design, called Active Learning, based on well-founded research, focuses on your active engagement and thoughtful reflection on your activities. You will get regular and individual feedback on the progress of your learning, be it in modules, projects or other activities.

Each study program is divided into different modules. Many modules offer a sequence of learning-oriented assignments, whose completion will support your learning journey using formative assessment. Examples of this are assignments, project-based learning, in-class computerized tests, paper-based assignments, group work, oral or written assessments.

This variety of assessment forms ensures that learning achievements (intended skills or competencies) can be assessed reliably in a world in which we all can and should use GenAI tools to support our work and learning. This combination of GenAI competency and trustworthiness of learning outcomes will make your UTN degree very competitive.

Our teaching and learning concept

All study programs have competencies-based learning outcomes, which means they are designed to help you develop the knowledge and skills essential for your success. Our courses are based on these learning outcomes and developed using innovative, digitally supported learning designs to promote active participation and engagement. We understand learning as a continuous process that uses a blend of tools and techniques. What does that specifically mean?

For example, in a module you may listen to short online presentations and take a quiz about that presentation in preparation for a group-based, interactive, and in-person learning activity, or you work on a project. And it means that you will be expected and encouraged to participate actively and reflect on your learning! These reflections will be supported by individual feedback and a diverse range of assessment methods. Our learning offerings will build on your existing academic knowledge and professional experience to support your further progress.

Read the standards of Learning and Teaching at UTN here

Our competencies-oriented assessment system

You may be wondering what the assessment of your skills will look like. In UTN modules, your skill development will be assessed in stages, using several smaller assignments in a variety of modes for assessing and grading, e.g., conversations, expert discussion, group work, written project reports, oral exams, or others, spread throughout the semester.

Based on learning-oriented assignments

During the in-person meetings and asynchronous online phases you are given various learning-oriented assignments on which you can directly apply your acquired knowledge, actively reflect on your actions and adapt them with the help of feedback from our professors or teachers. You will receive points for the learning-oriented assignments, which will be accumulated over the entire semester and will contribute to your final grade.

For example, the learning-oriented assignments for your courses might look like this:

(Online) group discussions on a previously selected or assigned topic.

Reflective essays in which you analyze or explore the preceding discussions.

Practical individual or group work to apply the acquired knowledge.

Presentation of the results at the end of the course.

Conversations about a group project

Based on a module final assignment (exam)

The assessment of each course consists of an exam. This is made up of several assignments and a final assignment, which counts towards 40% to 60% of the final grade. Depending on the course or module, this may be an oral exam (that is built upon the assignments before), or a selected learning-oriented assignment. Completing this assignment is required to determine your final grade.

You can read about all learning-oriented assignments in the General Study and Exams Regulations (ASPO) at any time. Please note, that the Regulation document is currently available in German only, as it is the authoritative legal document. Direct translations of this document may not capture all details precisely due to language and cultural differences. For specific questions, we encourage you to reach out to the School of StaRs: stars@utn.de.

Our study program

To fit our teaching and learning concept, as well as our assessment or exams system into our study programs, we have also redesigned the organization of our study programs. Basically, each study program is structured in a similar way.

The Scientific Core is the heart of your study program and teaches you the basic knowledge of the subject. The number of modules varies from program to program. In some programs, it can be called Foundation Modules. This is followed by Specialization Modules that build on the Scientific Core.

There are either some Interdisciplinary Modules to specialize the knowledge, or an Interdisciplinary Track. The latter includes several modules that can be chosen from different subjects such as
a) Design (e.g., design of human-computer interaction),
b) Social Sciences,
c) Ethics/Philosophy,
d) Law (e.g., data privacy), or
e) Economy/Business Studies.

Key Competencies include various topics, for example, good scientific practice, project management, and communication. This is key for the Learning in Transformation Project. There are mandatory courses and some are open for choosing, fitting to your studies or personal interests. Detailed information on the key competencies can be found in our fact sheet: Download PDF-file

‘Learning in Transformation’ is a student research project at UTN that runs over two semesters. Together with a project group, you will learn to use a science-based approach to solve real-world problems that exist in, for example, industry, society, or politics. Projects can be set up as an interdisciplinary module or focus on a specific research problem within one discipline. Every year, different project topics will be offered that you can choose from. An important part of this module is the transformation process. You will learn how to think and communicate across two different settings: you use your scientific knowledge (study setting) and apply it to the research problem (e.g., in the research environment of a university or in a team in industry). In doing so, you will have to regularly reflect and re-think to check whether your approach works in the field. At the end, you transfer your knowledge gained from this into new research. The outcome of the project can also be, for example, a paper at a conference or the start of a start-up company. The project encourages you to creatively apply your knowledge including hands-on learning experiences.

You complete your studies with your master’s thesis, which consists of the final paper and final oral defense.

Still have questions?

Then contact our UTN School of Students and Young Researchers (StaRs). We are constantly developing our learning designs in cooperation with our teaching teams and you, our students!

stars@utn.de