2022 CG High-Level Seminar on Education Policy, Uppsala:“From learning spaces to learning environments”
Uppsala University, 9-10 November 2022
The High-Level Seminar on Education Policy at Uppsala University took place on 9th-10th November 2022, on the topic “From Learning Spaces to Learning Environments.” The event intended to focus on the following overarching questions related to the topic:
- How can universities ensure the broader adoption and more integrated use of often costly, innovative spaces for teaching and learning, in order to benefit a high number of students and contribute to the positive return on educational investment?
- How can we ensure that the many lessons learnt during the Covid-19 crisis can be turned into fruitful, pedagogical development, creating learning environments which make the best possible use of both online and campus-based activities?
- How can our universities, at all levels, share experiences, best practices, and strategies for the development of creative, sustainable and inclusive learning environments – whether they are physical or virtual, and whether they concern courses or the entire campus? How can we best learn from each other?
Worldwide, universities have invested considerable resources in the construction of new, physical learning spaces, often equipped with different digital technologies. During the Covid-19 crisis, the use of online, virtual learning spaces also expanded quickly. Coimbra Group institutions are no exception in the area of vividly developing virtual and digital technologies. Our universities have been creating and running innovative facilities and are well positioned to present a broad spectrum of various learning spaces. Locally, at Uppsala University which hosted the 2022 Seminar, several new learning spaces have been developed. Both brand new, such as the Experimental Classroom at Campus Blåsenhus, as well as redesigned rooms.
Taking these realities into consideration, the 2022 High Level Policy Seminar gave Rectors and Vice-Rectors for Education of Coimbra Group Universities an opportunity to engage in strategic-perspective conversations on the evolving relationship between learning environments and education policy. Participants had a chance to benefit from the following diverse agenda items:
• Introduction to examples of innovative teaching and learning activities during the Walkabout Session which featured innovative use of learning spaces within the Coimbra Group network prepared by Education Innovation Working Group members,
• Interaction with both teachers and students of Uppsala University on their respective experiences,
• Insights from current research on new learning spaces delivered by three keynote speakers: Marie Leijon from Malmö University, Sandra Kučina Softić from the University of Zagreb and Brent Carnell from University College London,
• Exchange, with peers and experts, on aspects of critical importance for the successful development of academic learning environments during the Workshop and the Roundtable discussion on the second day of the Seminar.
This High-Level Seminar intended to reflect on the conclusions coming from both research and practice and translate them into the strategic-oriented conversations. Ten months after its adoption by the European Commission, the new European Strategy for Universities (ES4U) provided a baseline for discussion, with the objective to address the topics presented below and provide recommendations for ES4U translation into tangible outcomes for our institutions:
- Creating and using living labs in the context of effective campus development,
- Supporting effective strategies for the Assessment of Learning Spaces,
- Implementing equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) values into the creation of Learning Environments,
- Facilitating and promoting transnational teaching at universities,
- Enabling effective strategies for professional development of academic staff in the context of teaching innovations,
- Creating of genuinely international, sustainable learning environments in the realm of European University Alliances,
- Preparing graduates to be critically thinking well-informed European citizens by using university heritage collections,
- Creating synergies that enable educational projects to improve teaching & learning activities sustainably.
This year’s Seminar gathered nearly 50 participants coming from diverse locations of Coimbra Group universities across Europe, which was reflected in rich contributions and led to quality and creative discussions. The High-Level Seminar in Uppsala continues the annual tradition of Coimbra Group high-level policy events addressing issues of key concerns in, alternately, education and research policies.
High-Level Seminar in Uppsala Programme
Presentations of keynote speakers:
Marie Leijon, Malmö University: Hybrid learning spaces – a hype or a hope?
Sandra Kučina Softić, University of Zagreb: Rethinking Learning Space for 21st century Student
Recordings of keynote sessions:
Marie Leijon, Malmö University: Hybrid learning spaces – a hype or a hope?
Sandra Kučina Softić, University of Zagreb: Rethinking Learning Spaces for 21st century Student
Wrap-up Summary « (available shortly) »
Key Recommendations from the Workshop « (available shortly) »
Good practices of learning environments from Coimbra Group universities