Societal Outreach Ideas and Practices for Cross-Border Initiatives During Meeting at NHH
At the beginning of April, Work Package 6 ENGAGED in Society gathered for a productive and inspiring meeting at NHH in beautiful Bergen, Norway. The event marked a significant step forward in the development of the work package, with meaningful progress made on several key initiatives. With this meeting, a solid foundation has been laid for the next chapter in the work package.
During the WP meeting in Bergen, we shared experiences from our pilots of our new activity formats (e.g., the Collaboration Circle) and collaboratively developed these formats further and scheduled their next iterations. We also clarified the links between WP6 and WP7 and how both WPs can mutually support each other better in the future. Another key topic was the development of our lifelong learning offers, particularly the practitioner programs, including the contributions of each partner to these programs and the potential integration of microcredentials. Lastly, we had a deep exchange with our associated partners to align expectations and strengthen future collaboration on joint initiatives and funding proposals.
Alongside the strong academic and strategic progress, there was plenty of opportunity to strengthen personal ties among participants. The breathtaking Norwegian fjords served as an apt symbol for the openness, ambition, and long-term vision that characterize this phase of WP6.
Sharing practices, ideas and visions ENGAGE.EU Labs
What made this meeting particularly special was the first-ever cross-pollination between several ENGAGE.EU Labs within the alliance. Representatives from the ENGAGE.EU labs at NHH, Hanken, and Tilburg discussed the practical implications of operating such a lab within an academic institution, as well as the strategy and vision behind the labs. Martijn Groenleer, Academic Lead of the ENGAGE.EU Lab at Tilburg University, the Academic Collaborative Center on Climate and Energy, delivered a keynote highlighting the importance of integrated, interdisciplinary approaches to governance and innovation. Additionally, Prof. Miriam Wilhelm from WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business) brought valuable insights from a legal and ethical perspective. These events showcased the richness and diversity of expertise within the ENGAGE.EU alliance, and underlined the potential of the network of ENGAGE.EU Labs to serve as catalysts for societal transformation.
This exchange of practices, ideas, and visions sparked new momentum and deepened the collaborative spirit that drives the ENGAGE.EU Labs forward. It marked a milestone in building more integrated, cross-border initiatives within the consortium.