Lectures, seminars, studying, or writing term papers: student life often takes place while sitting. This makes small movement breaks in between all the more important. To support this, new options are now available in the central lecture and seminar building at Technische Universität Ilmenau: a total of 30 height-adjustable standing desks and sit-stand stools have been installed in eight seminar rooms.
The TU Ilmenau has long provided opportunities for students to study standing up and take active breaks - for example in the form of "station training" on the so called Active Campus or in the university library, where several standing workstations and a treadmill desk have been available for students since 2021. Research, read, write and keep moving at the same time: The dynamic "stay in motion" workstation makes it possible. With the new standing desks, the offer is now being specifically extended to courses and seminars.
The new desks were inaugurated at the "Experience diversity - strengthen health" day of action organized by the Division for Equality, Diversity, and Health (GDG) on 27 May 2026 as part of the Thuringian universities' Diversity Days. "At the heart of the Diversity Days and the day of action is the idea of understanding diversity as an enrichment, promoting exchange between university members and breaking down barriers in everyday study and work life," explains Head of Division Andrea Krieg. The day of action also included an expert consultation hour and an online "Lunch & Talk" on topics such as mental health and successful workplace integration management (BEM). The Gender Diversity Working Group also presented its work and invited people to discuss diversity and respectful interaction at the university.
Students and staff used the day of action to try out the standing desks and sit-stand stools in the university's largest lecture hall building, including Falk Matthes, mechanical engineering student and former student consul at the university:
I have an electrically height-adjustable desk at home myself, and I also try to use these kinds of desks here at the university because I spend a lot of time sitting, and it’s simply more comfortable to change positions from time to time. That’s why we students also supported the idea of purchasing these desks.
New opportunities for group work and more active seminar methods
At the same time, interested parties were able to have their posture analyzed during a health check and take away tips for a more movement-friendly study routine. In future, the new standing desks will not only break up long periods of sitting, but also enable new teaching and learning formats - such as group work while standing or more active seminar methods.
The "Pausenexpress" also got things moving on the action day: staff and students took a short active break together in the middle of the university's daily routine. Isabella Liedtke from TU Ilmenau's University Health Management in the GDG department, which also initiated the purchase of the new standing desks, explains:
'Small changes often make a difference. Standing up regularly, taking short active breaks or alternating between sitting and standing can help you to work with more concentration and get through long university days in a more relaxed way.
The Pausenexpress, which has been established for many years, is a free, 15-minute exercise program offered by the University Sports Center at TU Ilmenau, which takes place once a week between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. directly at the workplace. Under the guidance of trained trainers, groups of four to eight people perform mobilization, strengthening, stretching and relaxation exercises - without changing clothes and with free organization of the space by the participants. The aim of the offer is to prevent tension, promote health and at the same time increase concentration and performance in everyday working life.
University lecturers are also invited to incorporate the Pausenexpress into their lectures and seminars in order to make courses healthier and more lively, says Isabella Liedtke:
The digital student break express has already been in place for several semesters for this purpose. After all, short units of exercise not only promote students' health, but also create a relaxed learning atmosphere and improve their ability to concentrate.
The new standing desk offer is therefore also accompanied by a small communication campaign by the Department for Diversity, Equality and Health: Under the motto "Stand up for your health - Always sitting? Bring more movement into your everyday study life!", the aim is to encourage students to incorporate movement into their everyday university life in an uncomplicated way - at home, in the library, on campus or directly in the seminar room.
Current offers as well as further information and contact persons for healthy studying can be found at www.tu-ilmenau.de/en/university/quicklinks/referat-gdg/health and on Instagram: sgm_tuilmenau.