What is or should a university be in the 21^st century? Is it just a factory of knowledge, delivering professionals to the market? Or is it an institution of social and cultural value with a responsibility towards its students and society? In this series of lectures Studium Generale TU Delft organises three debates about the future of universities with speakers from within and outside TU Delft.

Online education has suddenly taken off as a result of the corona pandemic. It seems that long-cherished ambitions for alternative and more flexible forms of education have finally come to fruition. But now that everyone and everything has moved online, what purpose remains for the physical campus? How do students and teachers feel about the online equivalent of their studies? How will students flourish both as individuals and as a community during their time at university if physical contact is limited? How are motivation and the processes of learning, social relationships and wellbeing in general affected? What responsibility does the university carry for its rich and diverse community in a digital world?

Panel

Philosopher Toske Andreoli (1990) wrote the book De mooiste tijd van je leven? Een nieuwe kijk op studiestress (The best time of your life? A new perspective on study stress) in which she intends to unravel causes of stress among students, without making them responsible for solving it.

Seda Gürses is an Associate Professor in the Department of Multi-Actor Systems at TU Delft at the Faculty of Technology Policy and Management and outspoken on digital education.

Stella van der Meulen is policy advisor Teacher & Student support, Programme lead Study Climate programme.

Marijn Roelvink represents Lijst Bèta in the Student Council.

SG presents: the Future of Universities series

We currently live in an information-based society. This puts pressure on the university, since universities have a responsibility in the distribution and advancement of knowledge. The result is a work load going through the roof, emphasis on results and efficiency rather than the process and high demand for study places from all over the world. Next to that, there’s little extra finance from the government, and so universities start operating more and more like commercial companies. The current pandemic accelerates this process.

This calls for debate and discussion. Where do we stand, where are we going and is this desirable? Studium Generale, in co-operation with Delta, organises the series the future of universities. Three afternoon debates with managers, teachers, students and policy advisors from TU Delft and philosophers, sociologists, journalists and other from outside.

Prometheusplein 1, 2628 ZC Delft