Evolving Education: Call for Manifestos  

Higher education has always evolved to meet societal needs, adapting to technological, economic, and cultural shifts. The escalating socio-ecological crises we face today demand a profound transformation in higher education. Climate change, social inequalities, ecological degradation, food scarcity, and social polarisation threaten the stability and well-being of communities worldwide. Navigating this context requires reimagining teaching and learning practices to cultivate skills such as critical thinking, transdisciplinary collaboration, and reflexivity.

In response to this imperative, "Evolving Education: A Manifesto to Reimagine Higher Education" offers the opportunity for a bold exploration of the future of learning. Embracing critical insights from a diverse range of disciplines and perspectives, the manifesto aims to explore innovative perspectives, transformative strategies, and radical visions that can redefine the role of higher education in fostering critical thinking, justice, and societal impact. At its core, the manifesto is a call to action - it is a manifesto that dares us to dream big, to think creatively, and to imagine a future where “education is freedom”.

We call on our community and students to delve into the pressing issues facing higher education today and share ideas for reshaping the landscape of higher learning. We seek abstracts that address and challenge education related to the following themes:

• Purpose and Mission: What should be the overarching purpose of higher education in the 21st century? How can higher education institutions adapt their missions to better serve the needs of diverse learners and society as a whole?

• Access and Inclusivity: What strategies can be employed to increase access to higher education for underrepresented groups? How can institutions create more inclusive environments that embrace and celebrate diversity and foster belonging?

• New pedagogy and Curriculum: How can teaching and learning practices be reimagined to cultivate essential skills such as adaptability, collaboration, critical thinking, and resilience? What innovative curriculum models can prepare students for the challenges of an ever-changing world?

• Technology and Innovation: What ethical considerations must be taken into account when integrating technology into teaching and learning?

• Governance and Leadership: What new models of governance and leadership are needed to drive meaningful change within higher education institutions? How can stakeholders collaborate effectively to navigate complex challenges and seize opportunities for innovation?

• Transdisciplinary Education: How can transdisciplinary education break down silos and foster a critical understanding of societal challenges? What innovative pedagogies promote collaboration across disciplines? How do we navigate challenges and harness the potential of transdisciplinary approaches?

• Decolonial Education Institutions: How can we challenge power dynamics and colonial structures in higher education? What strategies can be employed to centre Indigenous knowledge systems, perspectives, and voices within higher education institutions? How can partnerships with local communities and global indigenous knowledge networks inform and enrich higher education?

The themes outlined above are not exhaustive, and submissions that are in line with the call but do not necessarily address these themes will also be considered.

Join us in shaping the future of higher education. Together, let us forge a path towards fair, inclusive, critical, and more impactful education.

CALL FOR MANIFESTOS

We invite teachers, education professionals, and students to submit abstracts for consideration in the Evolving Education Manifesto. We encourage submissions from diverse disciplinary and multidisciplinary backgrounds. Collective manifestos are particularly encouraged but individual submissions are equally appreciated.

Abstracts should clearly outline the proposed contribution to the manifesto and highlight how the ideas presented contribute to rethinking higher education related the themes presented above. 

[Abstract] Submission Guidelines:

• Abstract submissions should be in line with the core ideas of the call.

• Abstracts should be no more than 300 words.

• Please include a brief biography of no more than 100 words.

• A small survey will accompany the form to start building a community to rethink Higher Education.

You can submit your abstract here.

Accepted abstracts will be invited to expand their contributions into full-length manifestos, which will be compiled into a manifesto book to inspire dialogue, reflection, and action within the higher education community.

[Full-lenght manifestos] Submission Guidelines:

• Full-length submissions should be in line with the core ideas of the call.

• Full-length manifestos should be no more than 2000 words.

• Manifestos are not academic publications and should not be reviewed as such. For this book, we will work with "commentators" instead of reviewers. Your manifesto will be sent to a commentator, who will read your manifesto and provide comments to improve the text with respect to coherence and clarity. 

IMPORTANT DATES

16 September 2024: Opening event (details and registration)

18 September 2024: Workshop for TU Delft staff and students (details and registration)

27 September 2024: Deadline for abstract submission

18 October 2024: Invitation to submit a full manifesto

13 December 2024: Deadline for manifesto submission

January-February: The team of commentators will revise the manifestos*

March 2024: Deadline for revised manifesto*

*Dates are indicative

For more information, please contact Juliana E. Goncalves (J.E.Goncalves@tudelft.nl) and Jing Spaaij (H.Spaaij@student.tudelft.nl).