Education for Innovation?

Time: 8 November 2012, 10.00 - 17.00
Place: Auditorium "Egget", the Student centre, University of Bergen

Registration is open from October 1 to November 5

Over the last few decades the political and bureaucratic governance of universities in Europe and elsewhere have undergone dramatic changes. One of these changes – and one that is yet to be fully implemented – is the integration of universities into national as well as transnational research and innovation systems. While the integration of education, research and innovation has been framed as the response to persistent and recurring crises (i.e. climate change, equitable access to healthcare, sustainable economic growth, demographic changes, energy supply, food production, security, etc.), evidence that such a response will provide the answer to humanity’s present predicaments is highly uncertain. Even so, “innovation” has been introduced into politics as a panacea to “The grand challenges of our time”, ostensibly to which, “the only answer is innovation” (European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn).

But, if the only answer is innovation, the only answer to innovation seems likely to be even more innovation. Nonetheless, the momentum and scale of these proposals open up for a debate on a wide range of questions that so far have remained unanswered: Is innovation, in the way it has been framed by the EU and elsewhere, the only answer, or are there viable alternatives to the envisaged response? Should universities become kernels for economic growth? What will the proposed “modernization” of universities mean – for future educational designs, for the “health” of academic norms, and for basic research?

The current and persistent crises thus invite us to critically reflect upon what universities are for; not only in order to restate the values and ideals that universities are built on, but also as a way of orientation into an uncertain future, in which universities – as cultures for learning, audacity, inventiveness and thus as a critical corrective to society at large – may still have crucial and unprecedented roles to play.

The conference is part of the National Bildung Committee for Higher Education II’s (Det nasjonale dannelsesutvalget for høyere utdanning II) seminar series “The future of the university”, which is an annual event. This year’s conference will take place at the 8^th of November 2012 from 10:00 to 17:00 at the University of Bergen. The venue for the conference is Auditorium “Egget” at The Student Centre. This year’s conference will be moderated by Associate professor Jan Reinert Karlsen, Centre for the studies of the sciences and the humanities, University of Bergen

The conference is a public event, with especial relevance for academics, students, university administrators, politicians, public officers in the fields of education, research and innovation, people involved in research based innovation in academia or in businesses.

Registration is open from October 1 to November 5

PROGRAM

10:00-10:15 “Welcome!” Introductory address by Prorector Berit Rokne, University of Bergen

10:15-11:35 “If innovation is the only answer to The Grand Challenges of our Time, what is the question?” Lectures with Gorana Ognjenovic, philosopher,  Professor Bodil Holst, Department of physics and technology, University of Bergen,  PhD-candidate Kirsti Jensen, Norwegian university of science and technology, and Mattias Kaiser, Head of Department , Centre for the studies of the sciences and the humanities

11:35-11:50 Pause

11:50-12:45 Discussion with Gorana Ognjenovic, philosopher,  Professor Bodil Holst, Department of physics and technology, University of Bergen,  PhD-candidate Kirsti Jensen, Norwegian university of science and technology, and Mattias Kaiser, Head of Department , Centre for the studies of the sciences and the humanities 

12:45-13:45 Lunch

13:45-14:15 “Approaching The Grand Challenges with Universitywide Education” Introductory address with Prorector Inga Bostad, University of Oslo and Prorector Berit Rokne, University of Bergen

14:15-14:45 “Greening the University” Lecture with Bachelor student of International Economics Elisabeth Gebhard, Master student of Geoecology Nikolas Hagemann, Bachelor student of International Economics Loni Hensler and Bachelor student of Political Sciences Carla Wember, all from the University of Tubingen

14:45-15:15 “Crucial Issues in Science and Society” Lecture with Siri Fløgstad Svensson, MSc, Department of physics and technology, Master student Ole Magnus Mostad, Department of economics, Helene Nilsen, MA, Department of foreign languages and Master student Håvard Øritsland Eggestøl, Integrated master programme in aquamedicine, all from the University of Bergen 

15:15-15:30 Pause

15:30-16:45 “Education as an Answer to The Grand Challenges: What has been achieved? What needs to be done next?” Panel debate with Vice rector for education Kuvvet Atakan, University of Bergen, Chair of the Norwegian Bildung Committee for Higher Education II Odd Einar Dørum, and students from the University of Tubingen and the University of Bergen

16:45-1700 “Ways in and out of the Innovation Age” Take home message with Head of Department Matthias Kaiser, Centre for the studies of the sciences and the humanities, University of Bergen