Gül Akcaova
Lead futurist at SURF
Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Gül Akcaova is the lead futurist at SURF - the cooperative for ICT in (higher) education and research in the Netherlands, and the National Education & Research Network. With a keen fascination for IT innovation in education and research, she explores in her role the potential impact of new technologies and emerging concepts on education and research. Her background in management studies provides her with the ability to approach developments from various angles.
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Area of Expertise
Future Campus workshop: what will the campus look like in 2040?
SURF, the Dutch technology cooperation for education and research, is on a futuring journey in 2023. Together with experts in Dutch education and students we are developing scenarios for the campus (online and physical) in 2040. In this session we will share our approach and what we have learned so far. In the workshop participants can experience a futuring session in which they contribute to our scenarios.
Reimagining Education: Scenarios for a Digital Future
What will education look like in 2040? This session looks into four alternative futures for digital education, as envisioned in our recently developed scenarios, outlined in a report titled “The Future Learner: (Digital) Education Reimagined for 2040”. From sustained economic growth and transformative technological integration to constrained regulatory frameworks and potential societal collapse, these scenarios explore the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Drawing on insights from horizon scanning and futuring methods, the report offers a peak into some of the trends shaping the future learner's experience.
Participants will gain valuable perspectives on personalisation, equity, sustainability, and the role of advanced technologies such as AI, XR, and neural interfaces. The session invites policymakers, educators, and innovators to consider how today's decisions can influence the trajectory of global education systems. Join us to explore insights and reimagine how we can collectively prepare for an evolving educational landscape that balances technology with humanity.
The report was written within the scope of the European Digital Education Hub. At the time of writing (January 2025) it is not published; it will be available in February.
A similar session was held last year. It was titled Navigating Tomorrow: The Importance of Futuring in Shaping Higher Education Together, see https://festival.hfd.digital/de/sessions-2024/?id=629498.
Navigating Tomorrow: The Importance of Futuring in Shaping Higher Education Together
This panel aims to make a case for the need of futuring in higher education and future-proof strategies to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape by exploring - together with the audience - innovative futuring approaches, sharing learnings and inspiring future scenarios & formulating clear positions on what is needed to move forward. This session is not just a discussion; it's a collaborative exploration with you, the audience! Be part of the conversation!
The fishbowl discussion / moderated spotlight conversation will be roughly divided into three thematic blocks: (1) Anticipating & Shaping Change as a Strategy, (2) Co-Creation & Stakeholder Engagement, (3) How to Design Future-Ready Education.
In the first segment, we want to focus on the importance of foreseeing and navigating change in higher education. Our panelists will explore innovative approaches and methodologies to proactively anticipate future trends, adapt to evolving educational needs, and address global challenges.
As collaboration is key to building a resilient and adaptive education system, the second part will focus on the significance of co-creation and stakeholder engagement in shaping the future of higher education. The discussion will highlight ways to actively involve students, faculty members, industry leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the decision-making process.
The third part of the discussion pays tribute to the fact that designing education for the future requires a thoughtful approach. Our panel will delve into the strategies and considerations involved in co-designing future-ready education drawing on experiences from collaborative programs conducted with higher education institutions by SURF, Hochschulforum Digitalisierung, and the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies*. The panel has thus a European focus bringing together perspectives from the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
Gül Akcaova
Lead futurist at SURF
Utrecht, The Netherlands
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