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Jacobs University and Jacobs Foundation seek radical ideas for a first-class higher education


October 08, 2018

How will higher education develop in the 21st century? What demands will digitization place on research and teaching? B³ - Bildung Beyond Boundaries – under this heading international education experts from a wide range of disciplines will discuss new concepts and radical ideas for a first-class and innovative higher education on the campus of Jacobs University in Bremen on 8 and 9 November. On the second day of the symposium, Jacobs University and the Jacobs Foundation will design an international challenge together with the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI). Particularly progressive ideas for future higher education are sought. In the course of the challenge, the Jacobs Foundation will be funding selected projects with a total amount of up to 650,000 euros (750,000 Swiss francs).

On 8 November, the international symposium will be open to a specialist audience. In lectures and discussions, education experts will look at the future of higher education from different perspectives.
An internal workshop will be held on 9 November. On this second day, experts from the first day will develop and adopt the foundations of an international challenge for radical ideas for higher education. The challenge will promote collaboration between international and interdisciplinary teams and focus on evidence-based educational research. At the symposium on 8 November, scientists and digital innovators will be able to exchange ideas with the challenge coordinators.

Sandro Giuliani, Managing Director of the Jacobs Foundation, and Prof. Dr. Michael Hülsmann, President of Jacobs University, will open the event as initiators and hosts. “We are looking forward to two exciting days during which we will reflect on the future of higher education with renowned education experts from various disciplines and discuss innovative teaching and learning concepts from all over the world,” says Michael Hülsmann. “We hope that the international challenge will provide us with many valuable impulses for the future design of excellent higher education,” adds Sandro Giuliani. “With the scientific support of Jacobs University, the evidence-based approach will ensure the greatest possible practical relevance of the ideas selected and funded by the Jacobs Foundation.”

After the symposium the challenge will be officially launched. An international jury will evaluate all applications received. The nominated projects are expected to start in 2019 and run for a maximum period of two years. Innovations and ideas from international applicants in all disciplines are sought; Jacobs University will provide scientific support for the projects during their implementation.  

Among the internationally renowned symposium participants are:

  • Prof. Dr. Patrick Aebischer, member of the Jacobs Foundation Board and former President of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
  • Prof. Dr. Siân Bayneo, Professor of Digital Education at the University of Edinburgh
  • Manuel Dolderer, President and Co-Founder of CODE University of Applied Sciences in Berlin
  • Prof. Susan Engel, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Williams College

The entire program can be found at: https://www.jacobs-university.de/b3

Media representatives are cordially invited to the symposium on 8 November. Please get in touch with the contact mentioned below in order to arrange any requests for interviews.