(Digitally) transforming education in a large university

Abstract

The world is changing faster than ever and so is the context of higher education. Students need to develop an agile mindset and corresponding generic skills for the flexible workplace that awaits them and the many societal challenges they face. Pedagogical and technological change can no longer be postponed by higher education institutes. However, this (digital) transformation is not an easy task. This paper elaborates on the process of digital and educational transformation at KU Leuven (Belgium), one of Europe's oldest and largest research-based universities, from a meta-perspective. Through several examples, challenges and opportunities to trigger a shift in workforce, technology and culture are explained. The applied network-based model of educational development, pedagogical action research project methodology and informal initiatives definitely play a crucial role.