KP International Week 2025 April 7-9
Strengthening our professions for a world of wicked problems
“A well-being crisis among children and young people”, “citizens and patients with multifaceted problems”, “rapid digitalization” and “an overarching sustainability crisis.” The world is full of wicked problems and more than ever our students are needed in their future professions to solve these through collaboration, innovation, purposefulness and engagement. But how do we engage students to take part in this important and meaningful journey? Especially in a time where we are witnessing a global shortage of professionals such as teachers, pedagogues and nurses combined with more and more students not thriving on campus? How do we infuse a sense of social belonging, community, and professional identity to our students as a foundation for their development and learning? – and can international collaboration support this process?
Join us in a discussion on how we as Higher Education Institutions can meet these challenges through collaboration and by sharing our ideas and best practices. At the yearly KP International Week, we celebrate international collaboration in relation to our various academic fields – and we also invite you to join us for an international debate on how to strengthen our professions for a world of wicked problems.
Welcome!
Program
Monday, April 7th
Keynotes + guest lectures in classrooms
Strengthening our professions for a world of wicked problems – open lectures and debates
9.00-10.00: Arrival and registration (KP reception and Atrium)
10.00-10.45: Opening reception – for those not teaching (Atrium W.1)
11.00-11.45: Departmental greeting – for those not teaching (Teacher Education at K3.18, Early Childhood and Social Education at K3.22, Nursing Education at K3.12)
12.00-13.00: Lunch
13.30-13.45: Welcoming guests and introducing to “A world of wicked problems” by KP’s Vice-Chancellor Anne Vang Rasmussen (W2.04)
13.45-14.45: Wicked Problems in the 21st Century – keynote by Dr Sigge Winther Nielsen, CEO of INVI – Institute for Wicked Problems (W2.04)
We, as a society, are facing wicked problems – problems that are cross-border, stubborn, and not easily defined or solved. Research suggests collaboration – but how to approach this across political and institutional levels? Institute of Wicked Problems helps developing vision and tools for everyone working with wicked problems and Sigge will introduce us to their work – including a brand-new Model for Wild Problems. When politicians try to solve wicked problems through reforms, we rarely know what happens in hospitals, schools, or nursing homes where the reform meets reality. The model attempts to inform us through continuous feedback made possible by using collective insights and AI. Is this a way forward?
15.00-16.00: Learning from the Margins – Participatory Processes as a Way of Addressing Wicked Problems – keynote by Ditte Tofteng Department, Associate Professor, Early Childhood and Social Education Department (W2.04)
This presentation will share insights from research projects in the welfare sector, with a focus on how participatory processes can contribute to finding innovative solutions to wicked problems. It will explore how we have engaged in applied research, grounded in an understanding of these complex issues, to develop new approaches to tackling such challenges.
Participate via Zoom
The keynotes can be joined online at:
16.15-17.15: Networking workshop on Wicked Problems (Atrium)
17.15-19.00: Campus Tour
Tuesday, April 8th
Staff sessions + guest lectures in classrooms
Tackling wicked problems by sharing ideas and best practices – Staff sessions
10.25-11.45 Future Classroom Lab tour (W2.01 – “first come, first served”)
13.00-13.50: PlayLab introduction tour (K2.01 – max. 20 participants “first come, first served”)
13.00-13.50: Campus Carlsberg Area Tour (meeting point at the reception)
Theme 1: Teaching Wicked Problems (room K3.18)
For detailed session descriptions please open this link
14.00-14.50: An Example of Interdisciplinary Collaboration Among Students on a Real-Life Practical Problem by Evelien Barbion and Elke Van Oyen, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences.
15.10-16.00: IDG Inner growth for outer change by Sophie Rudolph, Eastern Switzerland
16.20-17.10: Co-laborative Teaching: The Method of Feminist Neighborhood Development by Inga Haese, Katholische Hochschule für Sozialwesen Berlin & Empowering Professionals to Tackle Wicked Problems in Governance by Dato Shakarishvili, Klaipeda University.
Theme 2: Investigating Wicked Problems (room K3.19)
For detailed session descriptions please open this link
14.00-14.50: Building resilient communities in the Global South by Ida Harder, KP & Ari J. Olsen og Lykke Valentin, DIB
15.10-16.00: Democratization and illegal migration by Marco Hofman, Amsterdam UAS & Dealing with impactful geopolitical events in the classroom by Nick Schoemaker, Amsterdam UAS
16.20-17.10: AI in education? Something to embrace or to be afraid of? by Evelien Geurts, VIVES Zuid & The interpreter as Mediator. Threats of AI by May Akl, Notre Dame University
Theme 3: Wellbeing as a Wicked Problem (room K3.17)
For detailed session descriptions please open this link
14.00-14.50: Make Space for Girls! by Ann Decorte and Elia Wyverkens, Howest, de Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen
15.10-16.00: PERMA stands for 5 evidence-based elements of flourishing by Tamara Katschnig and Denise Hofer, Kirchliche Pädagogische Hochschule Wien/Krems
16.20-17.10: Navigating Multiple Crises in Education by Tobias Hoppe, Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg
17.30-20.30: Networking Dinner (Room K0)
Wednesday, April 9th
Partner meetings + guest lectures in classrooms
Strengthening international cooperation and knowledge exchange
12.00-13.00: International Poster Session (Atrium) Come visit KP international partners as they present their knowledge in areas such as wellbeing, psychology, AI, technology and language
For detailed session descriptions please open this link.
13.00-14.00: Closing ceremony (Atrium)
Registration
Deadline for registration was December 15, 2024. KP International Week 2025 is now fully booked.
(KP students and staff do not have to register. Events are open).
Contact
For further information, please contact international office at international@kp.dk or our international coordinator within your educational field:
We prioritize guest lectures/workshops as part of your program at KP international week. If you teach you can most likely receive Erasmus+ staff mobility funding. Please check at your home institution.