Mission: Transition – Future makers at Hogeschool Rotterdam
On September 17, Studium Generale – Mission: Transition focused on Future Makers. It was a valuable event that provided insights into the skills students and tutors need to navigate an uncertain future.
The afternoon kicked off with keynote speaker Kiki Vreeling, who explained how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led to the development of the Inner Development Goals (IDGs). According to Kiki, progress on the SDGs has been slow because while the knowledge is there, not enough action is being taken. Hence the shift towards personal development. If you want to change the world, start with yourself. Inspired by the book The Nordic Secret, she emphasized the importance of personal leadership.
She also posed a thought-provoking question: What do you consider important for the world in 5, 20, and 100 years? My answer is: invest in education. Make it accessible, affordable, and not a tool for selection. Give students influence, or as a colleague aptly put it: “Make sure we connect and share in education and in the world at large.”
Next, two colleagues from the Built Environment Institute (Gebouwde Omgeving) presented their curriculum for Personal and Professional Development (PPO), linking it to the IDGs. It was interesting to see how they are preparing students to work in multidisciplinary teams. However, I wondered why the program consists mainly of small workshops and how personal development will ultimately be assessed.
The day concluded with Justien Marseille and Jolien van Gorkum, who led an interactive session on future thinking, including the Polak game. The call to view the future differently felt particularly relevant, especially on Prinsjesdag in the Netherlands.
https://www.hogeschoolrotterdam.nl/hogeschool/duurzaam/missiontransition/
