OpenEU, the European University alliance dedicated to advancing open, distance, and digital education, has launched a new podcast series entitled “Think and Do Tank Podcast”. The initiative forms part of OpenEU’s mission to foster innovation, collaboration, and excellence in higher education. The Open University of Cyprus (OUC), a member of the alliance, actively contributes to this shared European endeavour. The podcast series aims to stimulate dialogue on the future of digital education and contribute to ongoing European discussions on the digital transformation of higher education.
Through eight episodes, leading academics, researchers, and experts from across Europe examine the challenges and opportunities shaping teaching and learning in the digital age. Moving beyond technological developments alone, the series explores the pedagogical, institutional, and cultural changes required to ensure that digital transformation leads to meaningful improvements in learning experiences and the overall quality of higher education.
The inaugural episode, titled “Has Digital Transformation Changed Pedagogy?”, is hosted by Haline Maia of Universidade Aberta (Portugal). The discussion features Paquita Pérez Salgado, Professor of Online and Distance Education in Environmental Sciences at Open Universiteit (the Netherlands) and former UNESCO Chairholder, alongside Wim Van Petegem, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering Technology of KU Leuven (Belgium) and President of EDEN Digital Learning Europe. The episode examines key issues including the role of Virtual Mobility in fostering international and intercultural learning experiences, the institutional barriers that often constrain educational innovation, and the opportunities and challenges associated with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education.
OpenEU invites members of the academic community, policymakers, educational practitioners, and all interested stakeholders to follow the series and engage in the conversation on the future of European higher education.
The first episode of the OpenEU "Think and Do Tank Podcast" is available on OpenEU’s official YouTube channel https://youtu.be/mbcszGX0sOA?si=OgMldn5-3vx24u0h
