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Dies: in 2030 one study programme at multiple universities?

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February 18, 2022

What will university education be like in 2030? This question will be essential to the 104th Dies Natalis. According to Rector Magnificus, Arthur Mol, this is a special yet logical theme: "Educational innovation is moving incredibly fast at the moment, and this is only partially due to the coronavirus pandemic. There has also never been a Dies which has had education as a central theme."

“Metamorphosis. Shaping tomorrow’s university education.” This sentence is printed at the top of the invitations to the Dies, which will take place on Wednesday 9 March 2022. Since the University was first founded in 1088, higher education has undergone a metamorphosis. What once took centuries can now occur in just a few decades. The high speed at which this transformation now takes place is mainly thanks to increased scope (digitalisation) and tailored education (personalisation). But the speed is also due to the changing labour market, the emergence of private education providers and life-long development.

Arthur Mol: "The educational landscape is constantly shifting. It is becoming ever more global. There are more and more private educational players. And life-long-development is now an established concept in our society. New tools, such as virtual reality, are entering education and challenge-based education is also going to play a bigger role. In this form of education, students work on solutions to all kinds of current issues. Think, for example, of our successful student challenges."

"More and more is possible in education: digital and on-campus education, personal and large-scale, tailored/flexible and standardised, initial (BSc and MSc) and life-long development. The possibilities seem boundless, but what does Wageningen University want? How does the future of Wageningen University and its educational landscape look? And what do we need to do now to make it a reality in 2030?"

The possibilities in education seem boundless

"It definitely played a part, but it was not the deciding factor. Even before the pandemic, we were working hard on a vision for the future of education. A working group was able to put together three attractive scenarios that formed the base for the WUR Strategic Plan. But we are three or four years down the road, and new opportunities are cropping up all the time. The keynote speaker at the Dies (Prof. van Damme) has been grappling with changes and stagnation in higher education for a long time, and he can also outline what the developments on the international stage are."

Innovation in education What major challenges do we actually face?

"The challenges are substantial, but also very varied. We need to make a lot of investments into both digital infrastructure and new teaching methods. New ways of teaching require different knowledge and skills. Moreover, not only is the desire for tailored education growing, but there is a simultaneous opposing movement calling for more widely accessible/large-scale education (MOOCs). It is not either-or, but both-and: both sides need investment. Don’t forget that there is also something else at play: how can we continue to ensure a solid link between primary and secondary education and the University?"

Suppose it is 2030. What will be the main difference in education compared to now?

"Everything will be more flexible. The study programmes will be much less standardised, students can no longer study at a single university and they can map out their own study routes much easier. It will also be much easier to study at different universities during a single programme. Blended learning will be the norm. A mix of online and in-person education.

Meeting people remains an essential part of study and education

There will be a great many more digital tools that will be used during lectures, but also for practicals and field trips, for example. Virtual and augmented reality will become standard. However, meeting people remains an essential part of studying and teaching. The campus continues to play an important role, as do lecturers with inspiring stories. The same applies to lectures: face-to-face education will always be important."

The 2022 Dies Natalis will take place on Wednesday 9 March, from 3.30 to 5.00 pm. The official celebration will be preceded by a symposium on the same subject, organised by the Wageningen Graduate Schools. The Dies can be attended both online and in-person. Please register.