Relationships and Academic Belonging in Higher Education

The project “Relationships and Academic Belonging in Higher Education (ReAction)” investigates how relationship quality in teaching and learning influences engagement, participation, and academic success at the University of Hamburg. It is based on the idea that strong relationships – among students and teachers, across disciplines and cultures, and even between humans and machines – are essential for a vibrant and transformative university.

In an era of rapid technological and ecological change, universities face the challenge of fostering resonance, trust, and belonging while embracing the Twin Transformation of digitalization and sustainability. ReAction connects current higher education research with practical innovations to address this challenge.

The project focuses on five key relationship dimensions:

• Interpersonal relationships between students and lecturers,
• Interdisciplinary relationships that bridge academic fields,
• International relationships in teaching and collaboration,
• The relationship to oneself, emphasizing self-reflection and intellectual confidence,
• Human–machine relationships, especially in the context of artificial intelligence.

ReAction designs and tests interventions across three levels of university teaching: at the curriculum level, within courses, and in specific learning situations. These include academic mentoring, peer tutoring, co-teaching formats, experimental curriculum development, and AI-supported learning.

By linking faculties and central institutions, ReAction builds a bridge between educational theory and university practice. It aims to create lasting structures that empower both students and lecturers to engage actively with digital and societal transformation. Ultimately, the project’s vision is to turn reaction into action – shaping a university that learns, connects, and evolves through relationships.

Project Partners

University Executive Board, University of Hamburg
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences (MIN)
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Business Administration
Hub of Computing and Data Science (HCDS)
Hamburg Center for University Teaching and Learning (HUL)