The New Student: Flexible Learning Paths and Future Learning Environments
As part of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union a Higher Education Expert Conference about “The New Student: Flexible Learning Paths and Future Learning Environments” took place at the FHWien der WKW from 20th to 21st September 2018.
The classic full-time student does not reflect reality anymore. The “new student” is often confronted with a high stress level as they have to juggle university, work and family. The aim of the expert conference was to work out how universities can be more flexible so that the balance between education, career and family life can be guaranteed and the needs and requirements of “non-traditional students” can be met. Higher education facilities face a big challenge: They have to offer more flexible learning environments that adapt to the students’ needs, e.g. flexible admission requirements and learning environments, integration of modern technology such as blockchain, improved mobility and inclusion.
As part of the Higher Education Expert Conference new trends within the European higher education facilities have been discussed, various innovative solutions and examples have been presented and recommendations have been worked out. Many top-class renowned speakers participated in the conference. Amongst them Heinz Fassman, Austrian Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research, and Tibor Navracsics, EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, as well as Beate Huber, Chair of the Academic Board of FHWien der WKW.
You can find official pictures of the conference here.