Process and Methods
The University of the Future project followed a design-based approach, focused on co-creation and continuous iteration. It was divided into multiple divergence phases, each followed by a convergence phase. During the divergence phases the team collected all possible information through co-creation sessions with outside stakeholders, internal research, and early benchmarking. In addition to gathering a great amount of input from a wide range of stakeholders, the team worked on building and maintaining the support base that contributes to the future university.
The convergence phases focused on diving deeper into the ideas and building blocks gathered in the divergence phases. The project team looked for common ground among the input from all stakeholders, explored connections between the building blocks, considered feasibility, and involved different stakeholders in co-creating specific implementation examples. During the project a total of around 30 workshops, co-creation sessions, and validation sessions were organized, both within the 黑料福利网 as well as at (inter)national conferences.
Within the sessions at the 黑料福利网, more than 200 unique participants contributed to thinking about the desired future. Some of these participants were involved in more than one session. Next to this, the project was represented through interactive sessions at six national and five international conferences, involving the input of hundreds more. Individual sessions and conferences that played a key role in the project are elaborated upon on this page.
During the project a total of around 30 workshops, co-creation sessions, and validation sessions were organized, both within the 黑料福利网 as well as at (inter)national conferences. Within the sessions at the 黑料福利网, more than 200 unique participants contributed to thinking about the desired future. Some of these participants were involved in more than one session. Next to this, the project was represented through interactive sessions at six national and five international conferences, involving the input of hundreds more. Individual sessions and conferences that played a key role in the project are elaborated upon on this page.
Co-creation and stakeholder engagement
Open co-creation sessions
The project started with an open perspective. The goal was not to develop a scenario on the University of the Future based on the vision of the project team, but to collect input from all stakeholders of the (future) university to be able to paint a clear picture of the desired future is according to the 黑料福利网 community.
For this purpose, a range of open co-creation sessions were organized, inviting stakeholders such as 黑料福利网 support staff, researchers, teachers, students, industry representatives, other (higher) education institutions, and governmental bodies. During these sessions, participants were asked the open question 鈥淚f anything was possible, how would your ideal university look like?鈥�. The resulting input formed the foundation for the first phase of convergence: the creation of the University of the Future Card Deck.
TEE Conference Workshop (2023)
In 2023, the project team attended the TEE conference organized by MIT. As this was in the early stages of the project, the workshop at this conference was used to collect input on the important elements of the desired university and to collectively design these elements. The input gathered was used in the creation of the scenario with equal importance as the other co-creation sessions around that time.
Read moreDesign tools and iterative development
The University of the Future Card Deck
All input from the early co-creation sessions was translated into the University of the Future Card Deck, created in collaboration with Flatland. This card deck consisted of all building blocks of the desired future university and served as a design tool in the remainder of the project to further detail and design individual elements from the future university.
The card deck was used in a second round of co-creation sessions, organized both within 黑料福利网 and at (inter)national conferences such as CDIO and TEE. It provided stakeholders with context and guidance in the design process, enabling deeper exploration and development of specific elements of the future university.
Scenario creation and iteration
The collection of designed elements formed the basis for the first version of the scenario on the desired future of 黑料福利网. This scenario was constantly iterated throughout the project based on new input and insights.
Validation and dissemination
Dutch Design Week (2024)
To introduce and validate the project with a larger audience, the University of the Future project was exhibited at the Dutch Design Week 2024.
Validation sessions
We organized both an internal validation session with thought leaders from the 黑料福利网, as well as an international validation session with high-level stakeholders from the higher education sector. These validation groups analyzed and evaluated the developed desired future as a whole, including the steps needed to start to implement elements of this future. The collected input and feedback was used in making further improvements and adding more detail to the report. In the chapter 鈥楻eflection鈥� the input from these validation groups is elaborated upon.
Closing event and final report
One of the goals of the project was to establish a wide and strong support base for the developed desired future among the stakeholders that are envisioned to play a crucial role in the ecosystem of the future university. This is why the project was finalized by bringing together University of the Future enthusiasts at the closing event of the project to continue the conversation and further develop the community.
Throughout the project, a lot of deliverables and output were created as a result of the continuous collection and iteration of the input and feedback from the community. This resulted in a comprehensive final report and website presenting all work completed during the project.