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Curriculum innovation requires a dynamic balance between local and global perspectives. By integrating international best practices while preserving local relevance, educational programmes can foster a more inclusive and globally aware learning environment. Key aspects include:

1. Multilingual and multicultural education

• Encouraging diversity and cross-cultural competencies to prepare students for a globalised world.

2. Diversifying knowledge systems

• Expanding beyond traditional frameworks to include a broader range of perspectives in curricula.

3. Flexible curriculum design

• A response to the differences between students, making learning more personal, relevant and effective and better aligned with changing societal and labour market needs. For example, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can be considered to ensure accessibility and inclusivity in education.

In a changing world, building strong international partnerships is more important than ever. These partnerships should encourage mutual learning, support sustainable development, and connect different fields of expertise. Key aspects include:

1. Strategic, impactful partnerships:

• Exploring equal partnership models and addressing power imbalances in international collaborations
• Overcoming challenges in joint curriculum design
• Evaluating the impact of international partnerships on local communities

2. Student and staff exchanges with benefits for the local community

• Emphasising the transformative potential of exchange programs 
• Exploring service learning and community-based programmes

3. Interdisciplinary collaborations in education for regional development

• The interplay of glocalisation and interdisciplinary collaboration for addressing global challenges at a regional level
• Exploring the development of interdisciplinary curricula which address regional challenges 
• Embedding internationalisation: Within curriculum development through initiatives such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), student and staff mobility, and cross-border academic partnerships.

In a rapidly changing society, the transformative potential of technology, which can bridge the gap between global educational resources and local needs within European universities, becomes key to remaining globally connected while still being locally connected. It focuses on how digital tools can encourage collaboration and inclusivity and increase accessibility.

1. Expanding access and customisation: online learning, MOOCs, COILS, virtual classrooms and digital platforms

• Moving beyond just offering courses online to exploring how digital platforms can be used to curate and adapt global educational content to the local context
• Discovering the potential of virtual exchange programmes and collaborative co-learning environments which encourage intercultural understanding and global citizenship with the use of technology

2. AI-Powered language translation and cultural adaption

• Exploring the potential AI has to create personalised learning experiences by  diminishing language barriers, and facilitating intercultural communication in an (online) learning environment
• Critically discuss the ethical considerations and challenges of using AI for glocalisation within education

How do European universities equip students with the skills, knowledge, attitudes and values they need to thrive in a constantly changing world while contributing to sustainable development and social well-being at both a global and local level?

1. Embedding entrepreneurial skills for social and sustainable innovation within the curricula to cultivate innovative solutions to global and local challenges

• Fostering the development of incubators, accelerators and mentorship programmes that support and encourage student-led social and sustainable ventures (e.g. Green Offices)
• Discovering how to create interdisciplinary entrepreneurship and innovation hubs within universities that foster collaboration between students, faculty (academia), local community industry, and civil society and the environment (quadruple helix)

2. Developing entrepreneurial mindsets and transversal skills needed to make a global impact

• Going beyond technical skills by emphasising the development of transversal skills such as: critical thinking and problem-solving; intercultural communication and innovation; adaptability and resilience and ethical reasoning

Description

The hands-on shift is a dynamic and engaging 90-minute session designed to provide a platform for you to present your innovative educational practice and empower participants with actionable takeaways. The session starts with an introduction to your innovative practice, highlighting its core elements. Next, the participants will dive into hands-on exercises and activities that are based on your practice. The session focuses on providing concrete tools and tips that participants can transfer to their own contexts. It's a chance to share your expertise, inspire others, and leave a lasting impact.

Submission guidelines

Your submission must consist of the following elements:

• Title: Your title should be engaging, concise, and accurately reflect the content of your session. 
• Abstract: Provide a to-the-point summary of your session (max. 250 words).
• Extended summary (max. 750 words):
  • Clearly outline the innovative practice you will be showcasing.
  • Describe the practical exercises and activities participants will engage in.
  • Explain how you will support the transfer of knowledge and skills to participants.
• Contribution to the track: Explain how your session contributes to the overall theme and objectives of the chosen track. (max. 250 words).

Selection criteria

The selection criteria are the following:

Overall quality & clarity of the proposal (50%)

• Are all elements present in the proposal (title, abstract, condition and barriers, contribution to track)?
• Is the structure of the proposal clear?
• Are the objectives of the proposal clearly and specifically formulated?
• Is the setup of the session clear and engaging?
• Is the language clear, concise and understandable?

Innovation & impact (30%)

• Is the proposal innovative and original?
• Does the proposal encourage engagement from participants?

Relevance to the selected theme of submission (20%)

• Is the proposal relevant to the theme of submission?
• Is the proposal relevant to the intended participants?

Description

The visual story pitch: Ditch the text, tell your story!

Forget lengthy papers and text-heavy slides. The visual story pitch challenges presenters to convey their research or practice through compelling visual narratives. Think infographics, comic strips, short videos, or live storytelling to deliver your message with impact. The format is suitable for presenting research results, educational practices or other innovative ideas and conclusions. The focus is on delivering messages in a memorable and engaging way, maximizing audience understanding and retention. The session has a duration of 30 minutes: 15 minutes for visual storytelling presentation and 15 minutes for Q&A. 

Note that this is the only presentation format.

Submission guidelines

Your submission must consist of the following elements:

• Title: Your title should be engaging, concise, and accurately reflect the content of your session. 
• Abstract: Provide a to-the-point summary of your session (max. 250 words).
• Extended summary (max. 750 words):
  • Describe your visual story, including the techniques you will use (infographics, comic strips, videos, live storytelling, etc.).
  • Highlight the key messages and the intended impact on the audience.
  • Clearly state what the attendants will learn from your story.
• Contribution to the track: Explain how your session contributes to the overall theme and objectives of the chosen track. (max. 250 words).

Selection criteria

The selection criteria are the following:

Overall quality & clarity of the proposal (50%)

• Are all elements present in the proposal (title, abstract, condition and barriers, contribution to track)?
• Is the structure of the proposal clear?
• Are the objectives of the proposal clearly and specifically formulated?
• Is the setup of the session clear and engaging?
• Is the language clear, concise and understandable?

Innovation & impact (30%)

• Is the proposal innovative and original?
• Does the proposal encourage engagement from participants?

Relevance to the selected theme of submission (20%)

• Is the proposal relevant to the theme of submission?
• Is the proposal relevant to the intended participants?

Description

Instead of showing off a solved problem and offering solutions, show your problem and ask the audience to help solve it. This collaborative approach fosters creative thinking and practical outcomes. In this dynamic speed storm session, each presenter will have 45 minutes to engage participants in an interactive problem-solving experience with lots of lessons learned and take-aways for their own projects or educational programmes. 

Submission guidelines

Your submission must consist of the following elements:

• Title: Your title should be engaging, concise, and accurately reflect the content of your problem statement. 
• Abstract: Provide a to-the-point problem that you want input on during your session (max. 250 words).
• Conditions and barriers (max. 250 words):
  • Clearly outline conditions of the problem.
  • Outline what barriers the participants should keep in mind during the session.
• Contribution to the track: Explain how your session contributes to the overall theme and objectives of the chosen track. (max. 250 words).

Selection criteria

The selection criteria are the following:

Overall quality & clarity of the proposal (50%)

• Are all elements present in the proposal (title, abstract, condition and barriers, contribution to track)?
• Is the structure of the proposal clear?
• Are the objectives of the proposal clearly and specifically formulated?
• Is the setup of the session clear and engaging?
• Is the language clear, concise and understandable?

Innovation & impact (30%)

• Is the proposal innovative and original?
• Does the proposal encourage engagement from participants?

Relevance to the selected theme of submission (20%)

• Is the proposal relevant to the theme of submission?
• Is the proposal relevant to the intended participants?