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Our Purpose
Global ecological problems (climate change, loss in biodiversity, scarcity of resources, etc.) and their consequences (growing inequalities, poverty, conflicts, forced migrations, etc.) call on us to promote a paradigm shift, to redesign production – and consumption patterns and lifestyles. This means that we also need to redesign the curricula in higher education and actively explore how economic and legal tools can be applied to current challenges. That is the impetus to ecological transition in the field of education.
The European University For Transition (EU4TRANSITION) Erasmus+ project aims to develop and implement innovative teaching/learning and research practices (e.g. new curricula, teaching methods, research agenda’s and institutional networks). The project addresses key topics which are relevant to the contemporary ecological transition at local and European level. The transition includes addressing ecological controversies and demands change in e.g. governance, economics, ethics and spirituality, construction, energy, finance, community, local, agriculture, climatology and engineering.
In addressing these issues, EU4TRANSITION focuses on the development of a European University in Transition (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008), that accompanies ecological, but also economic, social and legal transitions (4 main domains). Our purpose is to develop innovative, transdisciplinary, pragmatic and holistic approaches to teaching and learning in the field of 'Transitions' and to facilitate exchanges, flows and the co-creation of knowledge and, more specifically, skills.
By working together with a diversity in partners, we challenge structures, organizational formats and methods that have been taken for granted. We co-create new teaching- and research modules on ecological transition and develop new forms of educational programs, research agenda’s and certification, and so aim to create the foundations for a new Open and Virtual European University for Transition which we want to share in Europe and beyond.
Our Last Event
Summer School
Summer School
June 19th-23rd, 2023
Forges, France
Between June 19th and 23rd 2023, the European University for Transition conducted their third and final Summer School at the Campus de la Transition (Forges, France).
For this event students, staff, lecturers and professors from international partner institutions gathered. In an intensive 5-day program, they were able to experience, test and comment on teaching material that has been developed for our pedagogical guide (IO1) and master course (IO2). They also participated in additional workshops and on-site activities related to the ecological and social transition, including a workshop co-created by the UvH (Henk Manschot and Caroline Suransky) and S-Composition (Jean-Pierre Seyvos and Chloé Latour).
News
2023
Multiplier Event
June 22nd, 2023
Online
On June 22nd 2023, European University for Transition hosted a multiplier event. The event was both online and onsite, live from the Campus de la Transition. Its main aim was to present the project, its partners and the results of the research. The session was free and open to all.
Transnational Meeting
June 15th-16th,
2023 Cergy, France
The European University for Transition held a Transnational Meeting in Cergy (France) at ESSEC Business School, June 15th and 16th.
This event focused on coordination activities with all partner organizations and was also an opportunity to record videos for the MOOC on the ecological and social transition. The team furthermore exchanged views and experiences during informal moments.
2023
Transnational Meeting
May 11th-12th, 2023
Yasar University, Turkey
The European University for Transition held a Transnational Meeting in Izmir, May 11th to 12th 2023. The meeting took place at Yasar University.
The meeting provided opportunities for the EU4T team to coordinate their activities, prepare the concluding steps of the project including the final summer school, and record a number of videos for the MOOC. The event concluded with a social dinner in Izmir.
Multiplier event
April 31st, 2023
Madrid, Spain
Multiplier event at Facultad de Empresariales (Comillas ICADE)
On April 31st 2023, Comillas University organized a debate tournament on the role of the University in responding to social and ecological challenges.
2022-2023
Multiplier event
February 18th, 2023
Gaia Academy, Estonia
On February 18th, 2023, the Gaia Academy team of the EU4T project organized a multiplier event to present intermediary results of the European University for Transition at Gaia Academy.
For this full day event around 30 people gathered from various backgrounds. After an introduction to the EU4T project, the team implemented a methodology to discuss, analyze and create inspiration for bringing transition into practice and education. The event assisted the Gaia Academy in gathering new input to design future educational programs and workshops on transition.
Multiplier event
December 14th, 2022
Yasar University, Turkey
On December 14th, 2022, the EU4T team at Yasar University in Turkey organized a multiplier event.
The EU4T project aims to develop and implement innovative learning and research practices. The approach is multidisciplinary, pragmatic and holistic.
The main aim of this multiplier event was to provide information about the objectives of the project, project process, module contents and expected results, and to collect feedback from the participants. The team also exchanged views and experiences during informal moments.
2022
Multiplier Event
November 24th, 2022
UVH, Netherlands
On November 24th 2022, the University of Humanistic Studies team of EU4T organized a multiplier event in Utrecht.
The event was hosted as part of a conference dedicated to 'Earth Work'. This conference gathered 80 Dutch academics and professionals working on transition issues. The speakers gave presentations on topics related to the ecological crisis.
EU4T was given the opportunity to introduce and discuss the intermediary results of their research project.
Multiplier Event
October 15th, 2022
Arterra Bizimodu, Spain
On October 15th, 2022, the Arterra Bizimodu team of EU4T organized a multiplier event to discuss the intermediary results of the project.
For this event, participants from different backgrounds gathered. It was an opportunity to introduce the project, its aims and an overview of the masterclass course and the pedagogical guide as a new approach to transition in universities.
The students who took part in the summer school in Estonia (2022), discussed their experiences and encouraged participants to participate in the 2023 summer school in France.
The event included two masterclasses and small groups activities to reflect on the experience of the day and provide feedback on the EU4T project.
2022
Multiplier Event
Erasmus Days Seminar
October 14th, 2022
ESSEC Business School, Cergy-Pontoise, France.
On October 14th, 2022, the intermediary results of the Erasmus + partnership European University for Transition, were presented at the ESSEC Business School.
During the afternoon, participants took part in a conference, workshops and a cocktail event. The seminar provided an opportunity to present the expected outputs of the project: a master course on transition, a teaching guide to teach transition and a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
The international dimensions of the EU partnerships were highlighted by the participation of speakers from Universiteit voor Humanistiek and Universidad Pontifica Comillas, both partners in the project. The Campus de la Transition, an eco-campus and partner in the project, also provided a speaker for the conference.
A former ESSEC student testified about her participation into the intensive Autumn school week organized in 2021. ESSEC students provided support in designing and organizing the event, particularly the workshops.
The seminar was an event of the Erasmus days 2022.
Multiplier event
October 14th, 2022
CY Cergy Paris Université, France.
On the occasion of the Erasmus days 2022, the Campus de la Transition organized a workshop followed by drinks at CY, Cergy. They presented and discuss the intermediary results of the European University For Transition research project.
The project coordinator of from the ESSEC Business School gave a presentation on the history, aims and expected outputs of the project (master course on transition, a teaching guide and a Massive Open Online Course), and provided participants with information about the international EU4T team.
Participants were subsequently able to experiment with a new holistic pedagogy and were introduced to new content on ecological and social transition with a lecture by Cécile Renouard, president of the Campus de la Transition.
2022
Transnational Meeting
October 6th to 7th, 2022
Utrecht, The Netherlands.
In this transnational meeting, the partners of EU4TRANSITION came together in Utrecht in order to coordinate their management activities and focus on the remaining dimensions of the intellectual outputs.
The kickoff took place with a welcoming word and introduction by rector Joke van Saane, who gave an overview of the position of the University of Humanistic Studies (UvH) in the landscape of Dutch universities. The UvH is a special university, inspired by humanist values and traditions. Under Joke van Saane’s lead the university intensified it focus on topics like Sustainability and Pluralism. She therefore strongly supports the vision and mission of EU4TRANSITION, in which universities are invited to work together with schools of transition and eco-villages.
After a tour of the university and library buildings, and a wonderful lunch in the old center of Utrecht, the partners exchanged important matters about coordination tasks and discussed the intellectual outputs. We all had dinner in eco-restaurant the Green House of Utrecht.
The next day, the director of the Dutch Humanist League (Humanistisch Verbond), Robbert Bodegraven, gave a presentation about the particular position of humanism in Dutch history.
In the afternoon, the partners finished their discussions on management matters and intellectual outputs, and then scheduled their work process for the coming months.
The University of Humanistic Studies was very pleased to see its partners working so hard on the project of EU4TRANSITION, and thanked them all for their invaluable inspiring contribution!
Summer School
July 4th to 8th, 2022
Gaia Academy Estonia
The European University for Transition organized a Summer School from the 4th to 8th of July, 2022, at Gaia Academy, in Estonia.
The school involved 20 students, staff, lecturers and professors from partner institutions related to education in eco-social transition. Participants discussed the research outcomes (classes, workshops) and critically evaluated them with the intent to improve the project outcomes.
The summer school provided an opportunity not only to test and experiment the intellectual outcomes that were achieved earlier, but also to deepen our knowledge and skills on transitioning the way we live, produce and consume.
2021
Autumn School
October 25th to 29th, 2021
Arterra Bizimodu, Spain
The European University for Transition organized an Autumn School week, October 24th to 29th 2021, at Arterra Bizimodu, an ecovillage in Navarra, Spain.
Involving 22 students, staff, lecturers and professors from partner institutions, the school provided the opportunity to test and experiment the intellectual output that was achieved during the year.
The objectives of the program were multiple:
- to offer participants the opportunity to learn about the challenges of ecological and social transition;
- to deepen and co-construct the content of the expected deliverables (course and guide to teach transition);
- to test and experiment new educational tools (exercises, collective governance, etc.);
- to learn from the feedback of students;
- to meet the local actors and practitioners of the Arterra Bizimodu ecovillage, as being instrumental in understanding studied issues.
Transnational Meeting
October 21st to 22nd, 2021
Madrid, Spain
The European University for Transition conducted a transnational meeting in Madrid, October 21st to 22nd, with 12 participants from partners universities and schools.
The purpose of the meeting was to verify that the defined results of the project were on track through :
- Discussing reports on past activities and an assessment of the management of the allocated budgets;
- Reflection on group progress and reassessment of experiences;
- Evaluation of communication tools and online publications;
- Anticipated steps forward
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The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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