Laptop Donation Campaign

No online teaching without computers. That is why we need your donations!

Information for donors

Do you have an obsolete, working notebook that you could donate to our students? If so, please contact laptopspende@uni-jena.de.

We will gladly accept your used device. We will permanently and reliably delete all data and install new software so that students can take part in all online teaching offers. Your old notebook will come to life again in virus-free and sustainable way. This helps you, the environment and our students. We would be happy if you could support us!

The devices should meet the following minimum requirements:

  • at least 4GB RAM
  • at least 100GB hard drive / SSD
  • not older than 7 years
  • working webcam and microphone

If you are unsure whether your device meets these requirements, you can send us an email. Our colleagues will then check the suitability of your device.

You want to learn more about the campaign? See here for some facts and figures about the “Laptop Donation Campaign”.

Information for students

Do you urgently need a donated laptop for your studies? Send an email to laptopspende@uni-jena.de. Please note your library user number in your request (12-digit number on the back of your “thoska card”: 0027XXXXXXXX). You can loan a device free of charge for one semester. The loan period can be extended if necessary. After returning the device, personal data will be deleted and the device will be refurbished again so that it is available for other students.

We offer technical support for students who have already received a donated device.

Please note: Our loan offer is only valid to students of the Friedrich Schiller University.

You have your own laptop, but you need a webcam? The Multimedia Centre is now loaning webcams to students for digital exams. Here you can find more information about how to loan a webcam de.

  • Terms of use

    The loan offer of the “Laptop Donation Campaign” is only valid for students of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU Jena). The equipment remains the property of the FSU Jena. Please handle it with care. The user regulations of the Thuringian State and University Library (ThULB) apply.

    The laptop will be handed over to you for use free of charge until the end of the semester running at the time of the loan. You will receive an automatic reminder by email in good time before the loan period expires. The device will be credited to your loan account “Laptop Donation”. There you can extend the loan period twice for 180 days each time by yourself, if necessary: https://laptopspende.thulb.uni-jena.deExternal link. The log-in to the account is possible with your user number of the ThULB and your date of birth in the form DDMMYYYY. Further extensions are possible, but only in person at the ThULB after making an appointment via laptopspende@uni-jena.de.

    If you no longer need the device, you can return it at any time at the Central Information Desk in the main building of the ThULB (Bibliotheksplatz 2, 07743 Jena). In case of de-registration before the end of the loan period, the device must be returned immediately, at the latest by the date of de-registration.

  • Device features and notes of use

    The available devices are used, still working laptops which we receive as a donation. We prepare the devices before delivery so that you can get started with your work.

    The open-source operating system Ubuntu and basic application software are installed on each device. On our website, you will find installation instructions and tips for using the devices.

    If necessary, you can change the operating system and application software. In this case, please refer to the software offers for students on the website of the University Computer CentreExternal link.

    To personalize the device, you will be asked to enter a user name and password after switching on. Please make a note of your entries. Unfortunately, we can only help you to a very limited extent to recover forgotten user data.

THANKS to our donors!

We receive donations from both private individuals and companies as well as from university working groups that no longer need the equipment for research and teaching. Here we present some representative examples. A heartfelt thank you to these and all other donors!

Additonally, we purchased used laptops which were refurbished by a non-profit company to increase our stock.

25 new laptops arrived

On 2 March 2021, 25 new laptops arrived and are now also available for students to borrow. The laptops are used devices and were refurbished by a non-profit company. We had already purchased 75 devices in summer 2020, which were also refurbished by the company in order to increase our stock. In order to be able to meet the demand for laptops in the long-term, the university decided to purchase more laptops at the beginning of 2021. These are an ideal addition to the devices received through donations. The 25 new devices are currently being prepared for loan. We will then be able to provide our students with a total of 184 laptops (as of 3 March 2021).

14 notebooks from Eurofins Umwelt Ost GmbH

Eurofins Umwelt Ost GmbH has donated 14 notebooks that have been taken out of service but are still fully functional. Managing Director Dr. Benno Schneider (left) handed over the devices to Claudia Hilbert (right) on 14 August 2020. We say: THANK YOU!

ZEISS supports the "Laptop Donation Campaign”

We are very happy about ten laptops which we received on 18 July 2020. The photo shows Marco Reformat (right), employee of ZEISS Corporate Information Technology in Jena, handing over the laptops to Anke Böttcher (left) from the IT department of the ThULB.  

Donation from HUK-COBURG Dienstleistung GmbH

Joyful smiles behind masks: On 20 May 2020 we were able to accept 15 used notebooks from HUK-COBURG Dienstleistung GmbH. Thank you for this generous donation!

The following people witnessed the handover (from left to right): Claudia Hilbert (Assistant to the President's Office), Michael Lörzer (Director of the ThULB), Sara Kolbe (HUK-COBURG Dienstleistung GmbH Jena), Karsten Leydolph (Deputy Head of the Department of Information Management and Information Systems at the ThULB), Luise Rieger (HUK-COBURG Dienstleistung GmbH Jena), Dr. Frederik Schulz (Head of the Office Digital University), Dr. Astrid Urban (Executive Assistant to the President).

What students say about the campaign

I am very happy about the University's donation campaign for those in need. Especially in my study programme Chemistry, a laptop is indispensable. Besides lectures and seminars, colloquia are also held digitally. In addition, we have to prepare some experimental protocols for practical experiments, which require access to software programmes. Therefore, a personal laptop is of enormous importance in this digital semester. Since we are not sufficiently equipped with laptops or similar devices in our household (also due to poor internet availability), the donation campaign of the University is a great help. Only through this donation campaign can I imagine to complete the semester satisfactorily and successfully.

Bastian, student

The “Laptop Donation Campaign” in the media

The Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk reported about the "Laptop Donation Campaign". Here you can read or watch the reports: