Jena, June 01, 2026. The Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena has shaped the face of the city on the Saale for centuries. A new documentary by MDR now highlights the historical development of this tradition-rich educational institution and its path to becoming a University of Excellence.
- Broadcast date: Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 10:00 PM on MDR Fernsehen
- Airtime & Duration: 10:00 PM to 10:30 PM (29 minutes)
- Availability: Available in the ARD Mediathek after broadcast
- Focus: History of the university, influence on urban development, and current research
Top-level Research in Jena: On the Way to Becoming a University of Excellence
The Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (FSU) is considered an established “Hidden Champion” in the European scientific landscape. Currently, the university is striving for the title of a University of Excellence and can already point to two high-profile Clusters of Excellence that underscore its international research strength:
- “Balance of the Microverse”: This cluster is dedicated to understanding microbial communities and researches, among other things, the emergence and prevention of antibiotic resistance.
- “Practices and Dynamics of Social Imagining”: Here, scientists investigate the forces that hold a society together at its core – including shared ideas, social narratives, worldviews, and future designs.
Large-scale Interdisciplinary Project Examines University History
The influence of the FSU on the development of the city on the Saale is also the subject of one of Europe’s largest interdisciplinary research projects, which has been running for six years. Almost 20 institutions and research facilities from across Europe are involved in the project. The participating scientists are investigating the historical beginnings of the university, its concrete effects on urban development, and the long-term effectiveness of the scientific methods developed there.
In the 16th century, Jena was a small town characterized by viticulture. With the founding of the university and the influx of professors and students from all over Europe, crafts and the economy flourished. The heart of today’s city remains inextricably linked to the university to this day.
🎭 Culture & Urban Life: A Protestant Milestone
The Friedrich-Schiller-Universität was founded in the 16th century and is considered the oldest Protestant university in the European educational landscape that has existed without interruption. It transformed Jena from an agricultural settlement into an intellectual center. Today, tens of thousands of students and international researchers shape the social and cultural life of the Thuringian metropolis.
Source:
Jena and its University – Excellence through Tradition | MDR.DE
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.