Programme

You can find the programme for each day here. The theme of the first day of the event is education, the second day is a shared day between education and research and the third day focuses on research.

Day 1: Education
Day 2: Education & Research
Shaping Tomorrow - Universities as Glocal Change-Makers
Day 3: Research & Innovation
Back to Glocalising universities: a shifting horizon

Day 1: Education

Keynote

The Pedagogy of Transformation: Centering Glocalisation in Sustainable Futures

Indira van der Zande is Associate Professor in Transformative Learning and Applied Ethics and Vice Dean of Education at the University of Groningen/Campus Fryslân. She co-developed the cutting-edge and award winning Bachelor of Science in Global Responsibility & Leadership, with a curriculum entirely inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Her current research focuses on diversity and engagement in higher education, with a particular focus on decolonisation of knowledge and curricula; global learning competencies; and transformative educational practices. She is also the co-director of the Centre for Transformative Education, dedicated to conducting interdisciplinary and practice-oriented research in order to strengthen and transform higher education and drive innovative and sustainable solutions.

Programme

Timing	February 3, 2026
9:00 - 9:30	Welcome and presentation by Vice-rector Education Hasselt University, prof. dr. Elke Hermans
9:30 - 10:30	Keynote: "The Pedagogy of Transformation: Centering Glocalisation in Sustainable Futures" by dr. Indira S.E. van der Zande
10:30 - 11:00	Coffee break
11:00 - 12:30	Parallel sessions & silent workspace
Formats	The visual story pitch Hands-on shift Speed storm
Tracks	Track 1: Curriculum innovation Track 2: International collaborations and local impact Track 3: Technology and digital transformation in glocalised education Track 4: Future-proof skills, development and entrepreneurship
12:30 - 13:30	Lunch & IOP-innovation café
13:30 - 15:00	Parallel sessions & silent workspace
Formats	The visual story pitch Hands-on shift Speed storm
Tracks	Track 1: Curriculum innovation Track 2: International collaborations and local impact Track 3: Technology and digital transformation in glocalised education Track 4: Future-proof skills, development and entrepreneurship
15:00 - 15:30	Coffee break
15:30 - 16:00	Teacher Award & Recap of the day
16:00 - ...	HEERA-café

Important to know:

This event replaces the traditional education day of the Educational Development, Policy and Quality Assurance Service (OOBKZ). Participation is free and you can choose to join the event for one, two or even three days.

Day 2: Education & Research

Panel Discussion: Shaping Tomorrow - Universities as Glocal Change-Makers

Daniella Tilbury

Prof Daniella Tilbury is a policy expert, academic leader and changemaker credited with having developed the initial frameworks for sustainability in higher education (University of Cambridge 1990). She was the inaugural Rector and CEO of the University of Gibraltar and held academic leadership and research positions in Australia, UK and Hong Kong. She was the UK’s first Dean of Sustainability.

Daniella was a member of the Board of WWF Australia that brought Earth Hour to the World in 2007 and has been actively involved in international initiatives that inspire transitions towards climate positive futures. She is a Professorial Fellow of the University of Cambridge and Council Member of the University of Girona and the UK government’s focal point at the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). She is also an expert adviser to the EC on green and digital transitions specialising in learning, research and institutional change for sustainability.

Ioana Dewandeler

Ioana Dewandeler is Policy Officer for Higher Education in the European Commission's Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture where she is mainly in charge of the coordination of the European Universities initiative. Ioana has over 15 years of prior experience in various positions within the European Commission, in DGs for Research and Innovation and for Education, Youth and Sports, working on higher education policy, strategic coordination of the Erasmus+ programme, social sciences and humanities in research and innovation, and the socio-economic dimension of transport research policies. She studied economic and social public administration and EU law and litigation in Romania and France.

Timing	February 4, 2026
9:00 - 9:30	Welcome and presentation by Rector Hasselt University, prof. dr. Bernard Vanheusden
9:30 - 11:00	Panel Discussion: "Shaping Tomorrow: Universities as Glocal Change-Makers" with prof. Daniela Tilbury and Ioana Dewandeler
11:00 - 11:15	Coffee break
11:15 - 12:45	Innovation café
Tracks	Track 1: Glocalising Knowledge Building glocal partnerships Translation research into education Track 2: Pedagogical Innovation Digital learning ecosystems for lifelong learning Co-creating curricula with researchers and students Track 3: Driving policy and practice Building institutional capacity for change From pilot to policy: embedding innovation universities Track 4: Enhancing community and stakeholder engagement Strengthening regional innovation ecosystem Storytelling and visibility of impact
12:45 - 13:30	Lunch
13:30 - 17:00	Hasselt University visits to research infrastructures and Science Parks (combination with incubator and company activities)
	Energy: EnergyVille (Thor Park Genk) Innovations & Materials: Science Tower, CERG, MakerSpace (Green Campus, Diepenbeek) Architecture and Mobility: City Campus (Hasselt) Climate Research: Ecotron (Maasmechelen) Movement & Medicine: MOVElab, Health Campus inc. (bio)medical infrastructure (Green Campus, Diepenbeek) Tech and Innovation Hub: Corda Campus including startup incubator (Hasselt)

Day 3: Research & Innovation

Flagships, connections and collaboration

Centred around research, innovation and collaboration, day 3 takes a deep dive into the EURECA-PRO Flagships, expanding teams and strengthening collaboration across research and education.

You will explore flagship themes, share progress and expertise, and identify new opportunities for cooperation and funding.

Throughout the day, sessions focus on transforming research challenges into impactful innovation and valorisation — from Flagship presentations and the interactive poster experience to hands-on synergy sessions and a practical EU grant-writing workshop.

Timing	February 5, 2026
9:00 - 9:15	Welcome by Vice-rector Research Hasselt University, prof. dr. Ken Haenen
9:15 - 10:45	Exploring the EURECA-PRO flagship initiatives
10:45-11:15	Coffee break
11:15 - 12:15	Poster experience
12:15-13:30	Lunch
13:30 - 15:30	Parallel sessions on: Flagship synergy sessions: From connections to collaboration Grant writing courses and possibilities for EU funding

Programme

Day 1: Education

Keynote

The Pedagogy of Transformation: Centering Glocalisation in Sustainable Futures

Programme