Jena, May 12, 2026 – The image of the city of Jena is inextricably linked to its university. How strongly the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität (FSU) shapes the Lichtstadt will be shown next week by the ARD alpha “Ländermagazin”. Under the title “Jena and its University – Excellence from Tradition,” a half-hour report highlights the interplay between science and urban society.
- What: TV report “Ländermagazin: Today from Thüringen – Jena and its University”
- When: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
- Channel: ARD alpha
- Online: Available at any time in the ARD Mediathek
Students, Researchers, and Architecture in Focus
The 30-minute program, provided by Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR), takes a close look at the diverse facets of the university. For centuries, the university has changed and shaped life in the city on the Saale. The report shows how students and researchers enrich urban life and strengthen Thüringen as a location through innovative projects. The partly historical, partly ultra-modern building complexes that significantly dominate Jena’s cityscape are also part of the cinematic observation.
Background: The Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Founded in 1558, the university is the largest higher education institution in Thüringen and a central engine for the regional economy and culture. With over 17,000 students, they make up a significant part of Jena’s population. The close historical link between the university and local industrial pioneers such as Carl Zeiss, Ernst Abbe, and Otto Schott laid the foundation in the 19th century for Jena’s reputation as a high-tech center and “Optics Valley.” Today, the FSU continues this tradition with clusters of excellence – for example in microbiology and photonics – and is strongly networked with the research institutes on the Beutenberg-Campus.
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Preview: Ländermagazin • Today from Thüringen Jena and its University – Excellence from Tradition
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.