NextNormal – Podcast
Episodes
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About the Podcast
NextNormal – The Podcast
#WeStudyAtHome
In cooperation with the European Students‘ Union
Trailer
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation research group around Ulf-Daniel Ehlers at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
We want to know what changed for you and how studying works for you in times of a global pandemic. What works, what is annoying, what are your special strategies for learning and also – how are you during all of this? In our podcast we want to talk about all of this with students: For students, interested people and everybody who has to do with education and higher education.
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All Episodes
Romania - Challenges of Mobility and Digitalization in rural areas
Slovenia - From Lockdown Chaos to Digitalization through Solidarity
Belgium (1/2) - Visions for a new kind of European Mobility
Belgium (2/2) - Feeling disconnected from University: the students' view
Finland - Challenges in a country that has embraced online learning before the shutdown
Italy - The importance of Digital Literacy across generations
Malta (1/2) - How the Virus affects Students in a small Country
Malta (2/2) - Mental health as a Foundation for Future Higher Education
Austria - 2021: A year full of questions, hopes and optimism in Higher Education and beyond
Croatia - From efficient Teaching to good quality Teaching
Spain - Physical, virtual, inclusive: Mobility concepts for the future
Czech Republic - Emergency, Erasmus and Education: new ways of learning
The Netherlands - Student Wellbeing, Mental Health and International Students
Germany - Taking Stock and Envisioning the Future of Higher Education
Romania - Challenges of Mobility and Digitalization in rural areas
In this first episode, we are talking to Irina Duma (Vice President International Relations) and Tamara Ciobanu (Vice President Education) of ANOSR, the National Alliance of Student Organisations in Romania. Together, we are discussing topics such as mobility, inclusivity in digitization as well as ANOSR’s policy recommendations for the next academic year.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Slovenia - From Lockdown Chaos to Digitalization through Solidarity
In the second episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“, we talk to Tina Smonkar, Andrej Pirjevec and Kristjan Kos of SSU, the Slovenian Student Union. We are discussing the need for evaluating the past few months and the dynamics of digitization and social interaction – as well as the role of national politics in preventing university dropout.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Belgium (1/2) - Visions for a new kind of European Mobility
In this third episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“, which is also the first of two episodes with students from Belgium, we talk to Jens Matthé, Laura Remery and Ruben Janssens of VVS, the Flemish Union of Students. They are sharing perspectives and visions for a new kind of European mobility as well as on the need for student support – and the role of student participation in discussing the future of higher education.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Belgium (2/2) - Feeling disconnected from University: the students' view
In our fourth and second Belgian episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“, we talk to Manon Spérati, Arno Schrooyen and Kérian Clam of FEF, the Federation of the French-speaking students in Belgium. They explain why, in the past few months, it has become harder for many students to make sense of their studies – and how many institutions‘ one-way communication has left students with a feeling of being disconnected. However, many students have felt for the first time to share a common student condition that needs to be represented and articulated.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Finland - Challenges in a country that has embraced online learning before the shutdown
In our fifth episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“, we talk to Miisa Tervala, Clara Garcia Millan and Rico Martikainen, who are all studying in Finland. Even if some of their institutions have already embraced online learning before the shutdown, social distancing and isolation remain problems not yet resolved. They also ask us to make sure that, even in times of crisis, education remains a top priority.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Italy - The importance of Digital Literacy across generations
In this sixth episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“, we talk to Vittoria Messina and Lucrezia D’Annunzio from Italy who are also engaged in UdU, Unione degli Universitari. We learn that the difficult situation created challenges, such as staying motivated and focussed when studying at home, but also funny and positive experiences, such as beginning a new study programme without having to move to another city. However, they emphasise the importance of ensuring a good learning environment for everybody and of digital literacy across generations.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
University Future Festival
Malta (1/2) - How the Virus affects Students in a small Country
The seventh episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“ is the first one of two episodes featuring Edward De Gabriele and Nicole Galea from KSU (University Students’ Council) in Malta. We learn about the very specific situation and its impact in a small country where most students live with their families and the virus has always felt much closer than in other countries. We talk about mental health, studying in health-related domains and what it’s like to be graduating during these strange times – and there will be more in the next episode of „NextNormal“.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Malta (2/2) - Mental health as a Foundation for Future Higher Education
The eighth episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“ is the second one of two episodes featuring Edward De Gabriele and Nicole Galea from KSU (University Students’ Council) in Malta. In this part of the interview, they tell us how an international place like Malta felt during the shutdown, what important role student volunteers played in helping the country handle the crisis and in what way mental health has become a much more prominent issue of debate and concern. And of course their share their perspectives on learning from this crisis in order build a better future of higher education.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Austria - 2021: A year full of questions, hopes and optimism in Higher Education and beyond
This ninth episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“ is the first one in 2021, a new year full of question marks, hopes and optimism, not only when it comes to higher education. Facilitated by ESU and ÖH, we had the opportunity to talk to Asja Ahmetovic and Eileen Robiati from Austria. They tell us about jam-packed working and study days, when it is time for teachers to finish early, how to make friends online and how reducing things to the essential can sometimes be just more than enough.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Croatia - From efficient Teaching to good quality Teaching
For the tenth episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“, we talked to Pegi Pavletić and Karla Hrsak from Croatia. They tell us about the crucial role of support in hard times – Croatia not only being affected by Corona but also hit by earthquakes – and how universities must switch from efficient teaching to good quality teaching. This means involving students in the process of creating a good, inclusive, student-centered study environment – and Pegi and Karla have some ideas on this to share!
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Spain - Physical, virtual, inclusive: Mobility concepts for the future
With the eleventh episode of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“, we’ve set a strong thematic focus to our conversation with Ángel Canal Alonso and Francesc Almentros Viladerrams from CREUP, the Public Universities‘ Students Union in Spain. In addition to insights into their Corona study experience, they provide us with some expertise on the subject of internationalisation and mobility. One might think that there hasn’t been much international exchange and mobility happening in the last year – but there has! It just looks different than the classical Erasmus semesters we know best! Angel and Francesc share their mobility concepts for the future in order to create an even better higher education experience for all students.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
Czech Republic - Emergency, Erasmus and Education: new ways of learning
One year of „NextNormal – WeStudy@Home“ – many stories and ideas have been shared. For our twelfth episode, we’ve talked to Damir Solak, Jan Bavlovič and Lukáš Lang from Czech Republic, facilitated by SKRVS, the Student Chamber of the Council of HEIs in Czech Republic. Each one of them has studied under very different circumstances in the last year and experienced different ways of higher education teaching and learning whoch we want to discuss: from a teaching student, an Erasmus student and a PhD student working in health emergency services point of view. Together, we talk about different ways of involving students in higher education – and how to do even better in the future.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
0:32 – Introduction
3:29 – the student situation in the last months
5:22 – What does it mean to study?
6:44 – Does studying work right now?
8:58 – Are you being as well prepared as before?
10:25 – Going back to university – how to make sure nobody is left behind?
11:20 – How can students be involved in teaching and learning?
15:20 – mental health
16:22 – Erasmus and emergency service during the shutdown
18:56 – learnings and challenges for the future
20:23 – the university of the future
The Netherlands - Student Wellbeing, Mental Health and International Students
Since the first episode of „NextNormal“, it has become very clear that student wellbeing and mental health are subjects that matter and that should be talked about – especially during this time of uncertainty, isolation and anxiety. Nina Ruijfrok and Antonia Vegt are both studying in The Netherlands and working at ISO, The Dutch National Students‘ Association – and they proposed to focus on mental health in this „NextNormal“ episode, especially from a perspective of international students. What makes students and international students especially vulnerable when it comes to mental wellbeing, why is it so difficult to change the complex situation for the better – and, most importantly – how can we still try? Listen to Nina, Antonia and Laura discuss a more caring future of higher education in Europe.
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
0:28 – Introduction
3:23 – the student situation in the last months
4:14 – the Covid situation in the Netherlands in the past months and now
7:29 – biggest challenges and learnings
9:39 – What is mental health about and what’s the public narrative?
14:14 – Are (international) students especially vulnerable?
16:30 – impact of the Dutch educational and health system
20:41 – (mental) health on a European level and challenges for international students
25:06 – making higher education more inclusive
27:39 – the role of student organisations and the Caring Universities
30:30 – What could universities and teachers do?
33:39 – envisioning future higher education
Germany - Taking Stock and Envisioning the Future of Higher Education
Germany – Taking Stock and Envisioning the Future of Higher Education
Since we started our podcast series in 2020, we’ve talked to students and student representatives from all over Europe about the present and future of higher education. With this final episode of “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home”, we want to look back and forward, to take stock of the past years, but also to formulate a vision for future higher education. For this, we have talked to Lilith Diringer and Paul Klär from Germany who both are and have been engaged in several student initiatives such as the DigitalChangeMaker initiative and fzs (freier zusammenschluss von student*innenschaften). While discussing the potentials and take-aways from digital teaching and learning approaches, we also come back to what higher education and learning are all about and ask: is if there actually still such a thing as „normal“ higher education?
What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.
00:26 – Introduction
04:51 – Social presence in online courses – has it worked?
07:37 – The Corona student generation – what is it like?
15:17 – inequality of studying during and after the shutdown
20:19 – positive experiences
28:02 – Where should we not go back to normal?
38:10 – Has the student voice been heard – and how can it be heard in the future?
42:38 – mental health – consequences of the pandemic
50:45 – wishes for the university of the future
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