4th Global Minds Conference
REPORT - The 4th Global Minds Conference: 'Global Engagement in Higher Education: Road mapping sustainable international cooperation' was organised on the 22nd of October in the historical buildings of Narafi of LUCA University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Brussels.
5 years ago, all Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts, started a
common programme: Global Minds, coordinated by the Flemish Council of
Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts in Brussels. This project was developed to stimulate the Development Cooperation and capacity building among the Universities of Applied Sciences and arts.
UASAs already have a clear focus on practice-oriented research, education, and entrepreneurship, all of which is often very relevant for the cooperation in international projects. Partner institutions in Asia, Africa and Latin America with a similar role and mission as Flemish UASAs are essential to provide the basic education in order to foster the growth of a middle class and challenge the massive threats of the future. Our UASA are playing an appreciated role in these challenges and create impact in the partner countries through:
- First, the establishment of networks and cooperation with HEIs in the Partner Countries with a focus on the exchange of good practices.
- Second, offering profession-oriented education with high attention to the employability of the students in the partner countries. (Curricula development).
- And third, through research, practice-oriented and based on the local needs. The conference was organised in this framework.
During this day on overview of how UASA’s fulfil their duty on the implementation of global engagement in restricted times.
A little more than 130 people were attending, mostly staff from the Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts, but also participants from NGO’s, policymakers, representatives from partner institutions and journalists.
Host Maria Meulders kicked the day off with a warm welcome followed by the president of the Flemish Council of universities of Applied sciences and Arts, oen Goethals. He strengthens the transition of a classic development cooperation which was occurring before Global Minds towards a Global cooperation where equality and equity between partners are important values. We can change the world!
Our first keynote was Gie Goris, ex-journalist Mo Magazine. He gave a very intense keynote non "Equal partners in an unequal world”. He strengthens the fact that UASAs are educationing the future and are creating the future through their many students. Students should be aware of the fact that inequality creates poverty and poor health conditions. He was also referring to climate change and the active role we have over there. We need to change, and the change needs to be radical, if not, we will not drop out of the inequality. The future is not a white paper, we need mindsets, we need to learn from the past. We must ask ourselves the questions if we really are equal partners? Is the donor-beneficiary relationship still there? Are we learning from our errors? Are we honest? What is the contribution / impact you are trying to create? Try to develop a critical mind and it is allowed to make mistakes.
Goitom Tegegn, teacher at Mekelle university Ethiopia, gwas the second keynote speaker with: “Towards sustainable institutionalized COILing: Lessons from Intercultural Engagements”. He explained how Thomas More and Mekelle University found each other to organise a multidisciplinary COILsip: Education, ICT and Nursing. He strenghtend how import the support of the institution is and the involvement of many staff members, students and policymaker. The CoilSip can be used in many curricula and activities. He was also presenting a global monitoring – intercultural assessment. Both partner institutions want to continue working with similar cooperation models in the future.
After his keynote, the breakout sessions started.
During the pandemic, UASA’s were showing their adaptability skills. Good practices, innovative methodologies and new types of exchanges and practice-oriented trainings in line with environmental and travel restrictions were shown during the 8 breakout sessions:
- Session 1: The international Educating Class. UCLL
- Session 2: PTEC-KdG COIL ‘Effectiveness of Teaching
- Session 3: Global Engagement Changemakers in VIVES
- Session 4: Inquiry-based science education in metal polluted areas in Peru EHB
After the 4 first sessions, participants could enjoy a vegetarian lunch outside.
The dessert was served at 4 open tables, were KULeuven Global Minds, Djapo NGO, VVOB and Global Minds Flemish Council of Universities of Applied sciences and Arts were sharing their experiences about involving target groups on global citizenships and intercultural competences.
In the afternoon it was time for our next keynote presentations. Ezra Charlier from UCLL introduced us the development and enrolment of the "Global Engagement Staff Lab: a training, beyond the borders of time and space, for staff at Flemish UASAs". Modules 1 and 2 are already online and Module 3 will be launched at the end of the year. By the way: you can register through this website
The 4th keynote, Anne-Mie Engelen, staff member at the
HoGent and Lizahn G. Cloete, staff member Stellenbosh University,
presented “Connecting and unlearning dichotomized development” HoGent
is showing here a long term partnership with local partners at
Stellenbosch University in occupational therapy. They are strengthening
again the need to take time to build up on your trustful relationship
and find timeslots and commons objectives to maintenance this
cooperation.
During the 5th Keynote, Steven Schoofs, Project coordinator Global Minds at VLIR-UOS, introduced the Theory of Change of Global Minds of the next 5year program. He is showing the focus on the creation of agents of change ( students and staff) who are contributing to the SDG agenda 2030. Global Minds belongs to the institutions, we can co-create this program together.
After Stevens' keynote presentation, it was time for the second round of break-out sessions:
- Session 5: Prevent chronic malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life- ODISEE
- Session 6: International student mobility and Global South partnerships - How ethical are our practices? UCOS
- Session 7: Breaking physical, personal and environmental boundaries through innovative education- HOWEST
- Session 8: How a cross country - interdisciplinary approach will pave the way to a multi-dimensional intercultural understanding- PXL
The last keynote was presented by Els Hertogen, director of 11.11.11. During a videoconference, she was exposing her vision on international solidarity which should be: about: Justice, Distribution of means, Distribution of power, Human and Nature, Sharing responsibilities and… Hope!
Simon Van Damme, dpresident of LUCA school of Arts and Charlotte Christiaens, project coordinator Global Minds at the Flemish Council of Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts, ended the day highlighting the main insights and expressing how satisfied they were seeing all these people’s dedication on working in international projects and willingness to improve their current partner cooperation according to global engagement principles as equity and equality.
We ended the Conference with announcing the winner of the Global Minds Award 2021: "Prevent chronic malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life" -from Odisee and Foundation Heights and Minds. Congratulations on behalf of the entire team!
After a network reception, all participants went home with a lot of new insights and food to develop new project ideas.
We are looking forward to meeting you during the next Global Minds Conference in the next 5-year program (2022-2026).
