TAH — Centre for Innovations in Technology, Art, and Humanities’ Post

What new formats can unlock effective collaboration in higher education? 🌍🤝 At the GICHE Conference, the workshop “Innovative Formats of Collaboration” will feature perspectives from ASEAN University Network, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), Worldwide Universities Network, and #RéseauDg2.    The session will explore innovative mechanisms for joint research funding, advancing cooperation in virtual teaching and learning, and applying creative, adaptive partnership models. The discussion will highlight how these formats can further strengthen collaboration within and between higher education networks. #GICHE2025 #HigherEducation #Collaboration #FutureOfCollaboration

🌾 Building confident, connected researchers Over the past month, WAARC Postgraduate Program participants took part in two Cohort-Connect workshops with CSIRO National Innovation Facilitator Maren Strachan - exploring how to engage industry with purpose and communicate research with impact. With more than 20 years’ experience leading strategy and design initiatives across purpose-driven organisations, Ms Strachan brings deep expertise in helping teams translate complex ideas into actionable strategies. In her current role at CSIRO, she works with cross-disciplinary teams to design and deliver innovation that supports national priorities. The first session, Industry Engagement Ready, focused on the practical side of collaboration helping researchers understand the “why” and “how” of networking, engage in problem-centred conversations, and plan discussions using the 5 Es framework. The follow-up session, Impact Thinking, encouraged participants to explore the why behind their science and communicate their personal and professional impact with clarity and confidence. The University of Western Australia PhD student Huyen Pham said the sessions offered valuable insight into real-world communication. “I learned a lot about demonstrating industry impact and refined my impact story map based on Maren’s suggestions,” Ms Pham said. Together, the sessions helped WAARC postgraduates strengthen the skills that bridge research and real-world application - connecting science, industry, and community. #WAARC #AgResearch #PhDProgram #ResearchImpact #CSIRO #Agriculture #Collaboration

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at the Interreg Europe – UIIN joint workshop on Connecting regions and empowering universities through stronger R&I policies. The event brought together perspectives from the European Commission (DG RTD), Interreg Europe projects, and ERA Widera initiatives (incl. our Accelerate Future HEI initiative), all exploring how we can strengthen the ties between universities, industry, and align regional policies to accelerate transformation and innovation across Europe. In my session, I shared UIIN's research on “Reimagining Engagement: A New Framework for University Engagement” — based on data from 4,600+ academics across 68 universities. We explored four distinct university engagement models — Research-Intensive, Entrepreneurial, Engaged Urban and Civic — and how recognising these differences can help institutions and policymakers design more effective, context-driven strategies for impact. Download the whitepaper at https://lnkd.in/eXpdjj86 The discussions throughout the workshop echoed a key message: 👉 Universities are central actors in Europe’s innovation ecosystems, but empowering them requires a strong alignment between institutional transformation and regional policy frameworks. A big thanks to Interreg Europe, Marc Pattinson, Arnault Morisson, and Rimante Rusaite for organising this event. You can read the key takeaways here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eyQrFXAR #UniversityEngagement #InnovationEcosystems #HigherEducation #RegionalDevelopment #InterregEurope #UIIN

🌍 University Development Cooperation becomes Equitable International Cooperation At VUB, we are proud to announce a major step forward: University Development Cooperation (UDC) has evolved into Equitable International Cooperation (EIC). This shift reflects not just a change in terminology, but a transformation of the mindset. By moving away from the traditional “development” paradigm with the division into Global North and Global South, we embrace partnerships built on equity, reciprocity, and mutual growth. EIC challenges colonial and modernist imaginaries, promotes contextualised research and education, and prioritises shared ownership and responsibility. This is not cooperation as usual - it’s a commitment to fairness, inclusion, and shared transformation❤️ #EquitableInternationalCooperation #GlobalPartnerships #Sustainability #VUB #ResponsibleInternationalisation #HigherEducation

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡? By merging diverse perspectives, uncover deeper insights, challenge assumptions, and create more impactful solutions. That’s exactly what FIIB’s doctoral scholars are experiencing through the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩 2025 — a program designed to infuse interdisciplinary thinking into their research and expand the scope of management scholarship. 📚 𝐃𝐚𝐲 1 opened with 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐘𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐧 (𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭-𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲), who traced the evolution of management thought and underscored how strong theorizing lies at the heart of impactful research. 🔍𝐃𝐚𝐲 2 featured 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫 (𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞), who walked scholars through qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches, emphasizing ethical considerations and practical applications across fields. With two more days of discovery ahead, the Bootcamp promises to further explore how interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches enrich research depth and academic impact. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey of crossing boundaries to build better research! #InterdisciplinaryResearch #ResearchMethodology #ManagementTheory #PhD #DoctoralStudies #AcademicWriting #FIIB #ResearchInnovation Prof Kokil Jain Dr. Tavleen Kaur Shruti Chandra

📌 Study Visit to Lund University, Sweden – 6th to 11th October 2025 A study visit was conducted at Lund University, Sweden, from 6th to 11th October 2025, coordinated between the Validation Unit (Mr Gaetano Calleja, Mr Nutan Balla, Mr Andrei Vella Laurenti and the Research & Policy Unit (Ms Jessica Sammut) within the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). The peer learning activity was an insightful experience that provided valuable knowledge on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) , the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF). The visit also created opportunities for meaningful discussions with key stakeholders and institutions involved in RPL, as well as potential future collaboration in diverse learning pathways. During the visit, the MFHEA delegation presented the Horizon Project proposal—recently submitted to the European Commission—to colleagues at Lund University. The presentation highlighted the structure and operations of MFHEA, the evaluation process related to RPL in Malta, and the role of Micro-Credentials as a way forward to address skills needs. The delegation also attended engaging presentations, including: Micro-Credentials in the Nordic Region, which outlined a model involving five key stakeholders: learners, providers, social partners, society, and policymakers; and The Use of AI in Higher Education, focusing on how artificial intelligence can enhance efficiency and learning experiences. On behalf of the MFHEA delegation, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to: - Christel Berg, for overseeing the logistics of the programme. - Cecilia Raab, for her detailed presentation on Lund University. - Prof. Ebba Ossiannilsson, for her inspiring presentation “A Lifetime of Learning: Mapping Competence Development in the Workplace”; and - Mr. Joakim Cao ツ, for his insightful presentation on “A Swedish Perspective on How AI Can Enhance Efficiency and Service in Higher Education Admissions.” #RPL #LundUniversity #MicroCredentials #AI #MFHEA

𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 | 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 The international classroom is one of Maastricht University’s defining features. But does diversity really help learning for all students? Education researchers Carla Haelermans and Patrick Bijsmans combined large-scale data analysis with classroom observations and interviews to answer that question. Their findings: 🌍 International diversity benefits all students, including Dutch students ✨ A balance of backgrounds matters for group dynamics 📚 Inclusive teaching strategies make the difference This study shows how interdisciplinary collaboration makes research richer and more impactful – and why education research is essential for the continuous improvement of Problem-Based Learning (PBL). 👉 Watch more episodes in this EDLAB series on education research and teaching innovation at Maastricht University here: https://lnkd.in/eDZXxTuF Video production: CONCREET.media #education #research #international #classroom #collaboration

🤩 A milestone for WIL research at University West! 🤩 The first issue of our research publication Current Issues in Work-Integrated Learning (CIWIL) has been released! “It’s been a long process and a lot of hard work. This is a big step not only for University West but also for work-integrated learning (WIL) as a research field. Together with the Editorial Committee, the Editorial Board and the community surrounding WIL, I look forward to building a research journal that really helps tackle challenges related to sustainability and technological advances.”, says Ulrika Lundh Snis, Editor-In-Chief of CIWIL.   The aim of CIWIL is to encourage and contribute to innovative research focusing on the relationship between work and learning. The journal provides a unique arena for co-creating, enhancing and sharing current issues in work-integrated learning and related topics.    You can download the first issue here: https://lnkd.in/dsVmRHCA Pictured below: Per Assmo, Iréne Bernhard and Ulrika Lundh Snis. #workintegratedlearning #research

I agree completely! To further enrich this agenda (reflecting also policy goals for skills formation in Europe), it is important to study the Alliances' development and impact in synergy with other major European E&T initiatives. Specifically in the VET and applied sciences sector, the Alliances need to be examined alongside the roll-out and evolution of Erasmus Centres of Vocational Excellence (which include also some hundreds of universities of applied sciences). As we’ve had a chance to discuss before, comparative perspective learning from the experiences of existing and preceding strategic partnerships—especially those involving public-private collaborations—could also offer insights into sustainable governance models, effective knowledge transfer, and cross-sectoral integration for the European Universities Alliances. Lukas Graf Marcelo Marques

An inspiring conversation today with Henri Muurimaa of Eduten / University of Turku and Ariel Lehmann of Matic Soluciones Educativas. From the perspective of IIPE UNESCO América Latina y el Caribe, this was a valuable opportunity to explore critical synergies for the future of educational planning. At IIPE UNESCO América Latina y el Caribe, our mission is to strengthen the capacity of countries to plan and manage their education systems effectively. In today's digital age, this increasingly means leveraging data and innovative tools for informed decision-making. We discussed how platforms like Eduten and Matic's solutions can be crucial in this process. They represent a powerful case study for how digital tools can help address systemic challenges, such as the persistent learning deficits in mathematics across Latin America and the Caribbean. By providing real-time data and evidence-based interventions, these technologies can empower policymakers to design, monitor, and scale more effective educational strategies. Excited about the potential for future collaborations that bridge cutting-edge technology with public policy to build more resilient and data-driven education systems for all learners. #EducationalPlanning #EdTech #IIEPUNESCO #DigitalTransformation #DataForPolicy #Education #LatinAmerica #Caribbean #Mathematics #SDG4 Ana Sonsino Marta López de Mäkinen