Seed Fund Call For Teachers 2026

Co-teach, Co-create, Connect

Unite your students in a virtual classroom

Are you passionate about innovation in education? Do you want to collaborate internationally and enhance your students’ learning experience through a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)? Ulysseus European University invites teaching staff from all disciplines to apply for the new Seed Fund Call.

Take this opportunity to:

- Collaborate internationally with another Ulysseus European University teacher.

- Pilot a COIL, as an innovative online learning experience for your students.

- Provide your students a global perspective through an enriching virtual exchange.

Applications are open until 31 January 2026!

Introduction about COIL

The Ulysseus Seed Fund for Teachers is designed to provide financial support for innovative, co-creative, and collaborative ideas in teaching and learning across the Ulysseus European University. alliance.

In this Seed fund call applicants may apply for funding for a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) in existing academic courses.

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) connects existing academic courses across institutions through virtual collaboration, fostering cross-cultural exchange among students and teachers. A COIL is not a new course; rather, it is an innovative methodology designed to enhance the delivery of an existing course in a virtual classroom setting.

Seed funding is available to support teachers from at least two different Ulysseus partner universities in the joint design and delivery of a COIL. Eligible costs may include travel and related expenses for an in-person meeting at one of the partner universities, providing space and time to collaboratively shape this innovative educational format.

Key features

Collaboration between teachers from two or more Ulysseus universities, in any discipline.
Integrated into existing academic courses (similar topic or transversal).
Delivered synchronously, asynchronously, or both.
Students work together online, and receive ECTS and are graded by their home university.
Must be an integral part of the curriculum with a duration of 1 week to 1 semester (recommended 5-14 weeks).

See the Ulysseus COIL Handbook: A Practical Guide for Educators for guidance.

Funding & Financial Procedures

This seed funding supports academics in co-creating a COIL, enabling teachers to meet in person for joint design and planning. By applying to this call, applicants agree to the following conditions:

The applicant may receive up to €2,500 in financial support for planning and designing the COIL together with the collaborating partner.
The funds will be paid to the applicant(s) (= travelling teacher) by his/her/their Ulysseus home university.
Expenditures will be reimbursed on the basis of actual costs incurred, supported by documentation (e.g. invoices, travel tickets).
Travel costs must comply with the local university’s travel policies and regulations, and must be economically justifiable.
Proof of delivery: After the COIL has taken place, the granted teacher submits a short report including:
- An overview of expenditures
- A brief reflection via the Project Report Form on outcomes and lessons learnt (external link to Report Form).
- Optional: sharing of additional written documentation and/or photos.
- If the agreed COIL outcome is not delivered, the eight Ulysseus higher education institutions reserve the right to demand repayment of any expenditures incurred or disbursed by the applicant.

Application Procedure

Checklist: Submission Requirement

Submission: Confirm a mutually agreed collaboration with a Ulysseus partner teacher to co-create a COIL. Applications must be submitted exclusively by the travelling partner, using the local application form (see Table 3). The application window remains open until 31 January 2026.
In cases where there is a valid and well-argued reason to meet twice, at both universities, it is possible for both partners to each submit a separate application.

Host university department approval: Obtain an endorsement letter from the Head of Department at the host university (see annex for example).
Supervisor approval: Obtain approval from your supervisor (email confirmation is sufficient).
Course abstract: Provide a course abstract that includes a course description and a work plan (max. 500 words).
Budget allocation: Include a detailed explanation of the budget allocation.

Members Ulysseus European University	Application Form
University of Seville	Seed Fund Application Form for USE Lecturers (external link)
University Côte d’Azur	Seed Fund Application Form for UniCA Lecturers (link )
University of Genova	Request application form via: mobility.ulysseus@info.unige.it
Technical University of Košice	Request form via ulysseus.ucitelia@tuke.sk
MCI \| The Entrepreneurial School®	Seed Fund Application Form for MCI Lecturers (link)
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences	Seed Fund Application Form for Haaga-Helia Lecturers (external link)
University of Münster	Request application form via: mobilityulysseus@uni-muenster.de
University of Montenegro	Seed Fund Application Form for UoM Lecturers (external link)