Introduction
The two-days SPHERE Study Visit (24-25 November 2025) was hosted by the Technische Hochschule (TH) Köln, which is a university of applied sciences, with a focus on teaching, but also active in research. The institution‘s Centre for Academic Development (Zentrum für Lehrentwicklung/ZLE) coordinated the visit, which involved staff from different faculties and services.
TH Köln addressed future Skills and STEM education, societal challenges and solutions with societal actors and industry. Key topics included the development of forward-thinking, future-oriented curricula and innovative approaches for fostering future skills in engineering education. The visit included a wealth of inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Participants had the opportunity to exchange with staff and students of the institution. In small workshops, the tested learning approaches and technologies. A highlight of the program was the visit to the :metabolon Center for Learning and Research, dedicated to circular value creation and sustainability.