The fifth edition of CZEDUCON was held between November 21 and 23 in the scenic city of Brno, Czechia. The conference, the biggest of its kind in Central Europe, is a platform for experts and practitioners in the field of internationalisation of higher education institutions. It is co-organised by the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS), the Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE), and the Slovak Academic Association for International Cooperation (SAAIC).
Amidst the thematic focus of “Digital Age,” a panel discussion centered on “Digitalisation and Sustainability in Higher Education: Enabling the Twin Transition”. Moderated by Angeliki Psychogyiou of the Academic Cooperation Association, the discussion welcomed perspectives from both students and universities. Rita Dias, President of the Erasmus Student Network, shared insights into the latest ESN Survey, and presented the outcomes from the Green Erasmus project, amongst others. In addition, Salome Dermati, Policy and Research officer at the European University Foundation, contributed by highlighting the long-term ambitions of the HIBLend project. Emphasising its role in institutional transformation and integrating blended learning into universities’ strategic development and digitalisation plans, the project aims to enhance staff capacity for ensuring the quality of new blended formats.
The discussion led to an engaging debate, with participants posing insightful questions about the potential and challenges of employing digital tools in education. The focus was on raising awareness about environmental topics, catering to students’ demands for streamlined access to online resources and platforms, and reducing the administrative carbon footprint throughout the mobility cycle.
Cover photo by Ignat Arapov on Unsplash