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Facilitating entrepreneurial learning in Malaysian Higher Education

Following my wonderful experience of supporting ten faculty members drawn from biotechnology, biology, business, media, literature, and advanced technology at the International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW) to become EntreCompEdu's first Global Cross-Faculty EntreCompEdu Pioneers, I received a fantastic invitation to co-ordinate a panel workshop at IUMW's International Academic Conference (IAC 2021). An opportunity to share the …

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Emergent Thinkers.com 3rd birthday – celebrating in Lapland

Felicity & Lea, Yrittäjyyskasvatuspäivät 2021 Woke up to Emergent Thinkers.com 3rd year birthday embracing a warm feeling that embodies all the wonderful people I have connected with through this space. Emergent Thinkers.com is a shared journey, documenting lives and stories, drawing attention from 140 countries; people like you, dropping by with open hearts and minds. …

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Principles of Harmonious Entrepreneurship MOOC

As co-founder of the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society, alongside Professor David A. Kirby, I am really proud to share that we have just this morning launched the first iteration of our foundation level online course ‘Principles of Harmonious Entrepreneurship' at the 15th Enterprise Educators UK International Entrepreneurship Educators Conference at Aston University. Part-funded by Enterprise Educators UK's …

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Falling in Friendship

credit: simon maage, gross gasteiger, olia danilevich,helena lopez "Happy International Day of Friendship......".....shares the radio presenter... News to me, but the 'International Day of Friendship is observed on July 30'... a day to mark the significant contribution of friendship to our lives. Not that we should need a ‘marked’ day to recognise or embrace the value …

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Nexus + 21: a binding together for resilience

NEXUS: mid 17th century: from Latin, ‘a binding together’, from nex- ‘bound’, from the verb nectere Nexus +, the UWTSD’s annual teaching and learning conference is a favourite of mine. I always have a lot of fun with my co-presenters and fellow educator attendees; completing the sessions nourished with new ideas and new contacts. This July, the conference …

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Dafen School educators share detail of their entrepreneurial journey on project supported by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language

Dafen Primary school: Head teacher: Mrs Iolan Greville Hot off the press, Tracey Singleton, Faith Muldoon and myself share the entrepreneurial learning journey story behind the Dafen Primary School's EntreCompEdu Global Pioneer School Award. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLXB-gPiONQ The first EntreCompEdu Pioneer School: Dafen Primary, Wales Jeremy Miles, Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg/Minister for Education & the Welsh …

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UWTSD press release: Dafen School Award Ceremony

I covered the Dafen School Global Pioneer School award event briefly last week, as it unfolded, but pleased to share the full UWTSD press release with detailed quotes from the lovely guests that the Head Teacher, staff, and governing body representatives welcomed in, to the scaled down covid-safe entrepreneurial learning showcase celebration with the children: …

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My EntreCompEdu Cafe ‘Vlogging as an assessment device’ VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tponlecAWk0 Really pleased to share my time in the EntreCompEdu cafe last month pitching my vlog summative assessment, or quite specifically, PCV (Professional Context Vlog) as an assessment device. Really had a lot of fun making this one, especially the taking of the great questions from some of the participants at the end! Some earlier …

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Birthday Pirate Repledge

Tickled ‘Be More Pirate’ pink for my birthday card from my Mum today. Maturing birthdays bring all sorts of reflections, stirring and amplifying aspirations. And to be fair, my pirate-self spirit powerfully stirs. Well timed, given my pirate parley in less than 48 hours in Lincoln at Bishop Grosseteste University. Pirate Mindset Being more pirate …

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The Uncertainty Experts: turning uncertainty into opportunity

From fear to resilience in the face of uncertainty If Sam Conniff and Alex Barker are involved, I know that’s there’s good trouble and positive discomfort ahead…which is why my Pirate self-jumped at the opportunity to further explore dealing with fear, change and uncertainty!. 'The Uncertainty Experts' - has been created up by multi-talented author, …

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Supporting the 1st Global Cross-Faculty EntreCompEdu Pioneers

Excited to share another thoroughly rewarding adventure with the EntreCompEdu project, from the recent phase 2 with participants drawn from over 50 countries - one journey, representing UWTSD, with the multi-discipline faculty team at the International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW). After three months of the phase 2 CPD, ten faculty members drawn from biotechnology, biology, …

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HES: sharing & celebrating entrepreneurial endeavours

As you know my philosophical, phenomenological, piracy, planet and people endeavours spread out from EmergentThinkers.com into The Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society (HES) and hanfod.NL amongst other online spaces. I am proud to draw attention today to a recent HES post sharing the work some inspirational ladies who drive key entrepreneurial and sustainability work from their Celtic …

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Embracing sandcastles: rekindling Imagination

Picture: Vishal Shah: Castles in the Sky Imagination, the engine of my creativity Ian Van Dahl’s millennium classic ‘Castles in the Sky’ conjures strong memories of my youth. Interpreting the lyrics as dreams of visionary projects or the impossible, few can deny the deep neural connections between music and imagination (Kaufman, 2000; Fries, 2009) or …

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hanfod.NL phenomenology goes online – June 2021

Last Autumn I shared the share the birth of a new society with Dr Mike Johnson and Morten Kure Kattenhøj. At hanfod.NL, we aim to build a community of phenomenological enquiry within networked learning. Despite all our positive thoughts and finger-crossing we were timed out with the continuing covid restrictions for our 2-day event and gathering …

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My ‘Value creation through the SDGs’ VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBY4SpXRoWc Picking up on my time last month sharing how entrepreneurial value creators are uniquely poised to support the SDGs, I share the video link hot off the press. Sustainability provides limitless opportunities for value creation for learners. The SDGs provide the ideal canvass to inspire creativity, problem-solving, and action- and encourage teaching practices that …

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Urgent: a rushed in bill that threatens social justice & liberties

Whether you agree with the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill or not, RUSHED IN legislation will NOT be subject to the serious scrutiny that is required. The UK's new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will effectively make all protest illegal in the UK. This Bill not only cracks down on Non Violent …

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The Lost Pirate Kingdom – behind the scenes with ‘the mind behind 21c pirate rebellion’

In line with Netflix's release of 'The Lost Pirate Kingdom' 15th March, featuring the 'Be More Pirate' Sam Conniff Allende, who recruited me at the Urban Foundry 51.6 event [21st century pirate: the rebel with a cause].... I share the 'mind behind 21c rebellion' interview... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOC7EImJ3OU My interview with Sam Conniff Allende. Social Entrepreneur. Innovator. …

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SIEF webinar #4: Universities as partners for change

A finale to the energetic and insightful first series of webinars to celebrate the ideas of Professor Allan Gibb hosted by the Societal Innovation and Enterprise Forum (SIEF), attention turned to the topic of stakeholder engagement and trust-based partnership working as a means of developing universities as entrepreneurial learning organisations. A key contribution of Professor …

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‘Adagio For Strings’ – an embodied answer to a question

Last week I was asked "why do you commit so much time and energy on talking about harmony, the SDGs, and the state of the planet, when it's all surely beyond your influence and control?" - the implication my time be best focused elsewhere... I supplied my usual impassioned answer.. scanning for the intended response. …

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International Women’s Day – why I ‘roar’ for my lady rebels

Yesterday I read a post on LinkedIn that made me roar. It is attracting much commentary – from many women like myself. Does it always have to be CEOs/founders? If the rebellion has to begin with an already seen progressive leader and go top down, how much of a workplace rebellion is it? There are many, …

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From pitch to published: new heights for the ‘vlog’ as an assessment device

It's two years to the day I blogged about my first 'call to action' VLOG! In that time, I have experimented with my students on vlogging assignments, creating various iterations, and developed criteria for adoption for wider share and application by various education stakeholders across the globe. Distinguished from the more common 'reflective design' used …

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Educators facilitate ‘value creation’ through the SDGs

Yesterday I had the good fortune to lead an educator-centric multi-country webinar on three of my favorite themes: change agency, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Invited to contribute to an EntreCompEdu café webinar series, I detailed the why, the how, and the what next for educators ‘Creating value through the Sustainable Development Goals’. Important when embarking upon …

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SIEF Webinar No. 3: Creating entrepreneurial universities: the new frontier

With generous support from the OECD and St Aidan’s College at Durham University the Societal Innovation and Enterprise Forum (SIEF) webinar series turned its focus to the ability of universities to become more entrepreneurial in order to respond to, cope with, and indeed potentially benefit from significant change, volatility and uncertainty. This third webinar was …

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How Technology and Sustainability Can Work Hand-in-Hand (Guest contributor)

Emergent Thinkers.com welcomes guest blogger, Alyssa Jane Clarkson With climate change concerns becoming increasingly alarming each day, more and more organisations, communities, and households have become more conscious about sustainability. In response, different technologies have also started to cater more to this need. And while technological waste is often seen as part of the problem, …

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100th blog from Emergent Thinkers.com!

Type image: Cliff Johnson A milestone for Emergent Thinkers.com - one hundred pieces published. It feels both special and surprising today, as I succumb to brain strain and cabin fever in my nth lockdown. 'WFH whilst homeschooling' back in play, raising stress levels somewhat. Enforced isolation more akin to an ‘institutional lock-in’ with the loudest …

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Strengthening mindset for 2021: vulnerable, capable, interdependent

International Flower of Hope: The Cornflower (credit: Birger Strahl) I’ll dispense with the new year goal-sharing this year. In times of heightened uncertainty, I share two recent mindset influencers: Martha Nussbaum, a philosopher focused on human emotions, and poet and naturalist, Diane Ackerman. Photos: Martha Nussbaum (Harvard University Press); Girl, Christopher Sardegna (Unsplash); Diane Ackerman(World …

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Emergent Thinkers 2020 reflections

2020 is the year coined as 'one to forget but all will remember' - challenge, distress, grief and pressure, alongside resilience, adaptability, compassion and dedication.As Christmas day draws nearer, I reflect on the key themes of the second round of seasons of 'Emergent Thinkers.com' - change agency, sustainability, entrepreneurship & philosophical thinking, with a portion …

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Systems Thinking: a practice and mindset

Adapted image (JJ Ying) I have been asked many times, 'what do you mean by systems thinking?' A concept which influences my work, doctoral research and day-to-day thinking, my relationship with 'systems thinking' spans two decades. Its most recent emphasis in the principles of 'Harmonious Entrepreneurship', as promoted with my co-founder Professor David A. Kirby. …

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Intergenerational Entrepreneurship: for harmony, for success

The Professor & the Pirate (image designed by Vanessa Randel for HES (c) 2020) Recently, I joined up with Professor David A. Kirby to create an intergenerational change agency – the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society. In our view, the harmony, sustainability and stability of society is seeded in such working groups. An intergenerational collaboration, we have …

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The mind behind kindness and support in entrepreneurship

Gabrielle (Gay) Haskins has worked for forty years in the field of leadership and management development. Her key roles have been threefold: building networks (she was the first woman appointed as Director-General of the European Foundation for Management Development); leading the growth of Executive Education (at London Business School, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford …

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EntreCompEdu Pioneer School ‘Into Action’ for GEW2020

Embracing its EntreCompEdu Pioneer school status, Dafen Primary showcased its growing entrepreneurial vison and competences in Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW2020 : 16-20 Nov). Their EntreCompEdu online graduation is a pleasant summer memory, but the staff at Dafen Primary School, not resting on their laurels, have leapt into action to embed their enhanced entrepreneurial principles and …

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SIEF webinar #2: Re-designing entrepreneurial learning around problems and issues

Learning Reframed? On the October 23rd, the topic of the second Societal Innovation and Enterprise Forum (SIEF) webinar was the need for entrepreneurial learning to focus on problems and issues. Moderated by Professor Andrew Atherton, Global Director of Transnational Education, Navitas, the international panel included: • Professor Suzi Jarvis, Founding Director, UCD Innovation Academy, University …

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GEW2020 – the welsh dragons roaring with creative spark

This week excites me. Out of the COVID drama, springs hope eternal, a new thirst and growing energy to create and innovate. This is Global Entrepreneurship Week, the world's biggest celebration of entrepreneurship. Some space set aside to celebrate and inspire. An opportunity to showcase and reflect on 'entrepreneurship' as effective means to guide, inspire, …

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Addressing elitism, exclusion, prejudice, greed and despair in 2020

Image: Adapted Camel pic (skitterphoto) with Felicity-the Pirate (Vanessa Randel, 2020) We are subsumed by challenge and change, at micro, meso and macro level. The implications and the importance amplified by our tumultuous political, economic, and social landscape. There are transitions in world leadership, and newly mobilised and channelled energies. Voices of the disenfranchised and …

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Motivational Maps – my journey back to ‘self’

Three months into lockdown. COVID blues mixed with a cocktail of missing my Dad, health worries, increased workload, and back-to-back video calls. Broken routines from WFH whilst home-schooling three. I was fast losing purchase on day-to-day living. And then some magic dropped into my inbox. From a trusted colleague and friend. The opportunity to engage …

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World Teacher’s Day 2020: recognising education’s heart

Image Credit: Hush Naidoo Today is World Teacher's Day 2020. A perfect opportunity to pay homage to the quiet, introspective, absorbed patience of the teaching profession (Rilke, 1958). People who have, through their competence, commitment and compassion, surmounted all manner of challenges throughout the pandemic. Professionals with the power to transform individuals and society at …

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hanfod.NL, new phenomenological society and event

Thanks to Vanessa Randle - thinkingvisually.com for the new logo Phenomenology has become my passion since starting my doctorate. Enveloped by its underpinning philosophy, I have worked to develop my practice of phenomenological method and attitude. It's already been quite an adventure, opening up new networks, friendships, ways of seeing. I believe it will continue …

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New visuals for Emergent Thinkers 2nd birthday

About Felicity © 2020 Graphic created by Vanessa Randle, www.thinkingvisually.com – Click to Enlarge Excited to reveal a new ‘site banner and logo’ to celebrate Emergent Thinkers.com's 2nd birthday! There’s been quite a lot to share over these last couple of years, from vlogging to pirate voice, and entrepreneurial, sustainability and phenomenological endeavours. I have also had …

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In celebration of ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’

Felicity Pirate image: Vanessa Randel  www.thinkingvisually.com  Today is ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’. My name is Felicity, and I’ve been a pirate for 531 days. Evocative memories of the evening I claimed this mantle firmly cemented. A potent mix of shared values, a collective consciousness of grievances, powerful stories shared by author, social entrepreneur …

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Re-imagining university futures: building upon Professor Allan Gibb’s legacy

Reporting on the first 'Reimagining Our Futures' webinars organised by the Societal Innovation and Enterprise Forum (SIEF) - Friday 4th September 2020. Reimaging futures amidst and beyond Covid-19 At the start of the webinar, a collection of photos of the late Professor Allan Gibb curated by Marju Unt (Founder and CEO, Estonian Euromanagement Institute) and …

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COVID-19 fails to halt CPD: Online celebration of Welsh entrepreneurial school

Image adapted: Guille Álvarez Following this blogspace, you’ll know I work on the Erasmus+ funded ‘EntreCompEdu’ project. It is with much delight I update with phase one celebratory news, specifically the culmination of Dafen School’s entrepreneurial CPD endeavours through lockdown. An online graduation. We didn’t start out with a pandemic context in mind, but what …

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I spy with my little eye…something to do with ‘being’

Image: Sarah Trummer I'm used to falling down rabbit holes in my doctoral research, and do so quite deliberately, enjoying and valuing the adventure. The process satisfies 'wonder' through access to the new, the forgotten, the unnoticed or uncharted. Challenging thinking and cultivating insight, it can produce or trigger deliciously rich memorabilia [data] and new …

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In celebration of ‘Pathic Writing’: a personal journey

Image: Pompeo Batoni (1708–1787) National Trust, The Public Catalogue Foundation It is 'National Book Lovers Day', deliciously coinciding with my wonderful in-depth conversation with Kevin Watson of 'My Own Coach Ltd'. Recently, Kevin had invited his network to engage in his upcoming podcast series 'Words Matter'. An invitation for a one-to-one to discuss quotes, poems …

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A COVID-19 driven paradigm shift: ‘disrupting Porter’s Forces’

Through a COVID-19-context lens, it is possible to glimpse the formation of a new economic order. While for some COVID was a 'known unknown' and referred by some as a black elephant (Kemp, 2020), the pandemic has been the Neoliberal's Black Swan (Taleb, 2008), an object lesson in complexity. A difficult situation has unfolded, and …

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The mind behind curious & reflective entrepreneurship

Art Credit: 'Nyntastic', Gail Troth, 2006 Dr Kelly Smith, currently based at the Birmingham Business School, is an influential enterprise and entrepreneurship educator with a strong portfolio of graduate venture creation. Here I spend time with one of the key architects of Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Educator networks in the UK. Contributing to education research and …

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Philosophical unbundling

I am experiencing data overload. The constant state of being plugged in, tuned in, updated. There is a heavily disorientating aspect to the Age of Distraction, as penned by Richard Wurman in ‘Information Anxiety’ and revisited in Nicholas Carr’s ‘cri de couer’ ‘The Shallows’. My tension, fully embodied (Francis, 2018), requiring unbundling beyond this blog-space. …

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Education, Biomimicry and becoming better beings

An education with nature: Lao Tong and I in 2005, Thailand It's my birthday so I'll re-share if I want to ;-). Just watched 'Disney Nature's Elephants'... The development of critical thinking, creativity and complex problem-solving are long standing goals of education. Recently I’ve been exploring the potential of Biomimicry to support critical and creative …

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Entrepreneurial spirit unleashed

In an update this week for 'EntreCompEdu', the multi-country project aimed at strengthening teacher competences for entrepreneurial learning, I reported on the magnificent commitment of our teachers and support staff to our learners and families through our global crises. "Covid-19 has hit education hard, pushing the ‘brick and mortar’ school into uncharted territory. Placing unprecedented …

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The mind behind pragmatic and innovative entrepreneurship

An interview with Dr Simon Brown. From security hologram innovation, pioneering education research and practice, to high impact roles shaping the academic, graduate and business enterprise landscape, Dr Simon Brown is a leading figure in enterprise and entrepreneurship business incubation and education in the UK. You have a multi-sector background Simon, which includes the study …

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Guest: A student advocate for the professional context vlog assessment

For those who follow my posts you will know I am a strong advocate of what I term the 'professional context assessment vlog'. Here, guest contributor, Kieran Hughes, reflects on the skills development achieved from the VLOG assessment integrated into one of my online Human Resource Management graduate modules. A newer assessment model helps equip …

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A Dahlesque COVID-19 state of mind

On being, and managing change while working from home (WFH) To share one experience of a working mum’s ‘COVID-19 state of mind’, I turn to Roald Dahl’s lesser-known sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Dahl, 1962). Charlie’s Great Glass Elevator adventure (Dahl, 1972) starts with Charlie Bucket and chocolatier Willy Wonka squeezing Charlie’s entire …

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The mind behind authentic entrepreneurship

Multiple-award winning educator and author, Dr Colin Jones is committed to the development of authentic and transformative entrepreneurship and enterprise education. Here I gather Colin’s reflections on entrepreneurial education, and garner insight into how his personal journey shapes his students’ authentic learning environments. On Entrepreneurial Education What do you say to those who argue entrepreneurship …

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EntreCompEdu supporting new national curriculum challenge

An enthusiastic and forward-thinking Carmarthenshire primary school (South Wales) has taken steps to increase its ‘entrepreneurial learning’ curriculum content through engagement in the ‘EntreCompEdu’ pilot, the Erasmus+ funded skills framework that aims to build educator creative and entrepreneurial mindsets. Identifying the value of entrepreneurship education, Dafen Primary School Head Teacher, Mrs Iolan Greville with full …

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In pursuit of Harmony: we can thrive again

‘Harmony principles’ in practice For the delegates and presenters drawn to the UWTSD's Harmony Institute Student Conference 2020 last week, this translated into crossing silos, addressing diversity, adopting integrative thinking, moving beyond analysis to synthesis, and empowering with narrative. To the representations gathered from, and for, the business, interfaith, theology, social justice and inclusion faculties, …

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‘EntreCompEdu’ embraced by teachers in Wales

Piloting of the Erasmus+ 'EntreCompEdu' is underway in Wales, with primary teachers and PGCE Post Compulsory Education Teachers in training, currently being immersed into the new CPD framework that envelopes EntreComp (the Entrepreneurship Competence Framework). EntreComp Today’s I report on the PGCE PCET engagement led by Mark Flagg, the UWTSD’s Programme Director PG Cert HE. …

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Creativity, Curiosity, Challenge with Fun, Fire & Focus

Creativity, Curiosity, Challenge with Fire, Fun and Focus. That was my morning yesterday, joining Professor Andy Penaluna, as he inspired educators and leaders from a breadth of Swansea primary schools. Delegates gathered together, as agents of change in the development and implementation of the new Curriculum for Wales 2022. A collective of focused professionals working …

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Pirates in Education: championing challenge & innovation

I stand proud as a ‘Pirate in Education’, pledged to facilitate ‘positive disruption’ in the education system.  Embracing a shared vision with other ‘rebel’ educators and parents, I commit to shape an education system that maximises the innovative potential of all learners; one purposed to social, cultural, environmental and economic value creation. Subscribed to the …

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EntreCompEdu

Immensely proud to be part of the EntreCompEdu project, a policy reform project funded through Erasmus+ Key Action 3, to assist educators with the development of EntreComp competences. EntreCompEdu seeks to empower teachers to rethink the skills they have and how they can be used to foster entrepreneurial skills in their learners. The vision being …

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Beautiful questions: creating a culture of curiosity

At 'We are Curious' Last weekend I spent the day in Bristol's 'We are Curious' science discovery centre with my young children. Amongst the interactive exhibits, activities and labs, I was particularly inspired by their ‘question’ installation. Collecting since 2017, ‘We are Curious’ aims to gather 10,000 curious questions from across the city of Bristol …

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The fireflies delivering EntreCompEdu

Some of the EntreCompEdu Steering Group who met in Swansea Last week, in the heart of the UWTSD’s SA1 technium centre, EntreCompEdu’s pioneering team met to drive forward the implementation of the professional entrepreneurship competence framework. A team drawn from Spain, Belgium, Sweden, North Macedonia, Wales and Finland, brimming with expertise and enthusiasm. An international …

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Ponder, Puzzle, Pose: the case for curiosity revisited

In light of today's [28/01/20] discussions generated by the Guardian's article on 'Schools Killing Curiosity' - a revisit to one of my 'hot topics' of 2019. Questions, a kindling for curiosity For many babies, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ is one of the first literary introductions to the concept of wonderment, contributing to the foundation ‘inquisitive …

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EntreComp: the tool of choice for resilient VUCA*-proof change agents

2020. The time has come to ditch broken paradigms, and unleash the power of 21st century 'EntreComp' skilled change agents. As global citizens, we live with constant change and challenge. Issues seeded from an era of unrestrained greed and competition, and an over-zealous drive for growth. All against the backdrop of rising populations, depleting resources, …

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I’ll do my thinking with a spot of ginger and bacon!

As a founding figure of ‘positivism’, Francis Bacon is very well-known for his promotion of the scientific method. This contrasts with my own researcher position as a phenomenologist. Subscribing to the belief that knowledge is obtained through both experience and observation, I adopt the view “science is useful for understanding many things, but not literally …

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My 12 ’emergent’ themes for yuletide

Beginning with the Winter Solstice celebration this Sunday, then enveloping Christmas, Yuletide starts with a celebration of the lengthening amount of light we experience in the day. This provides a welcome moment to reflect on the first four seasons of ‘Emergent Thinkers.com’. A chance to illuminate the themes that have emerged over the year. Rebellion …

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‘who will account for will?’ – raising awareness of value creation through time gifted to orgainsations by employees

This post focus on the value of motivation, in relation to additional hours worked by employees in organisations. Through the contents of an article co-authored by Dr. David Griffiths, the late Dr. Rob Lewis, and myself a few years ago, I appeal to revive discussion on motivation, and HR’s awareness of value creation through voluntary …

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Coaching, and creating spaces for unlocking intrinsic responsibility and liberating talent

Today I attended the Wales Academy for Professional Practice and Applied Research (WAPPAR)'s ‘Coaching Today for a Better Tomorrow: Flourishing Communities and Organisations’ Conference. A room packed with people, irrespective of coaching expertise who fundamentally believe in people and the transformative power of coaching. Underpinned by a range of disciples and areas of knowledge there are many …

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Fast track to a circular economy through intergenerational exchange

Intergenerational exchange (image: pixabay) Globally connected, locally rooted It was my first Circular Economy mapping event [20/11/2019]. A breadth of industries and contexts were represented in the room, from farming to engineering, goods repair through to artisan glass manufacture, student, sole trader, SME and large corporation. All ready to access and share, ideas and opportunities …

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WCOL2019: new pathways to hope and light in a digital world

My 'lived experience reflections' of the ICDE's 28th World Conference on Online Learning, Dublin, 2019 (4-7 November), hosted by Dublin City University (DCU). Sense of place WCOL2019 was well situated in the unique glass-fronted futuristic Conference Centre Dublin. Interaction, innovation and inspiration were first impressions as I rose the heights of its atrium of crisscrossing …

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Lifeworld and Lifelong development: The transformative power of ‘Entrepreneurial Learning’

Image: Entrepreneurial competencies (EntreComp) The Global Skills landscape is morphing quickly. In the educational context, the spaces and silos built up between disciplines are collapsing under the weight of 21c connectivity and the appetite for transversal competencies. There is a growing collective impetus for curricula reform, that which will robustly prepare learners for life beyond …

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WCOL2019: the power of voice and story unveiled [repost]

An abridged re-post from earlier in the summer when I marked one year to the day I last held my father’s [an Irish-man] hand. Reflections on loss that triggered a deeper reflexive insight, on being, life perspective, and identity, including that of a ‘researcher’. Feelings resurfaced, as I make an emotional return journey to Ireland. …

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Going Dutch: Experiencing Dutch interiority first-hand

my Dutch window-shopping I return home from a week in Holland further persuaded sustainability isn’t a goal but a mindset. One that is predisposed to being healthy, playful, smart and community-focused. In my view, exposing the important role of cultural worldview in addressing sustainability issues Various studies have for a while listed awareness, compassion, empathy, …

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Rebel Call: sustainability-based ethics in a technological world

Image: Markus Spiske Three words have tumbled around my head repeatedly, almost prophetically for the last 12 months. Sustainability. Ethics. Technology. Three lenses through which to address the urgent interlinked societal issues: from the environment through to education and the economy. Sustainability: as it balances economic, ecological, and social values in the pursuit of long-term …

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World Teachers’ Day 2019

Saturday (5th Oct) is World Teachers' Day, also known as International Teacher Day. Established in 1994, it celebrates the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, to "acknowledge, evaluate and enhance the instructors of the world" and to "consider the issues identified with educators and the teaching process in general". Over …

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Nature in Education

Picking up from earlier blogs embracing-sandcastles-rekindling-imagination and cyborgs-part-1-world-without-mind a brief share on an incredibly invigorating induction with sand, soul, and sustainability in mind with the Carmarthen Business School (UWTSD) freshers today on Tenby beach. "The future will belong to the nature-smart—those individuals, families, businesses, and political leaders who develop a deeper understanding of the transformative …

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Embracing sandcastles: rekindling Imagination

Picture: Vishal Shah: Castles in the Sky Imagination, the engine of my creativity Ian Van Dahl’s millennium classic ‘Castles in the Sky’ conjures strong memories of my youth. Interpreting the lyrics as dreams of visionary projects or the impossible, few can deny the deep neural connections between music and imagination (Kaufman, 2000; Fries, 2009) or …

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The fourth industrial revolution, really?

4IR ? In the words of the Word Economic Fourm (2018) ‘the fourth industrial revolution is already here! ‘ “Emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies are rapidly changing how people, business, society and nations interact. Universities have a pivotal role to play. Their ability lies in three main dimensions: developing new technologies; grappling with the broader …

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The mind behind harnessing technology for learning

Steve Wheeler is a Learning Innovations Consultant and former Associate Professor of Learning Technologies at the Plymouth Institute of Education. Here I interview the global educator, author, edublogger, and disrupter activist whose work on technology-enabled learning attracts millions of followers. You have a rich career path Steve, from artist and musician, psychologist and lecturer, to …

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Unplugged in the Golden Hour (with Matthew Pinder)

It’s the golden hour. I’m finally winding down with my children for the summer, forcibly ‘disconnecting’ for a while. I sit outside, overlooking nature. The magic of this unique ethereal light envelopes the landscape, my soul, evoking strong memories of a childhood spent in open spaces, open arms and lengthy conversation. Cherished days gone, of …

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Can the oldest tree in the world teach us to build a resilient brand? (Guest contributor)

Pando, the oldest living tree in the world celebrates an estimated age of over 80,000 years In my post Education, Biomimicry and becoming better beings I shared my thoughts on nature being the perfect model to support the of address of societal challenges. A common and crucial issue for the individual, the organisation, or the system …

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Nexus: the trigger for collective transformation

As featured in UWTSD Press Release 25.07.19 https://uwtsd.ac.uk/news/press-releases/press-2019/wales-nexus-conference-2019-1.html Awakening Days ago I attended the Wales Nexus Conference 2019 to deliver 2 papers. No ordinary event. This was special. Inter-disciplinary in purpose, but able to facilitate beyond the overlapping of ideas at discipline boundaries. At a time when we are subsumed by online connection, socially and …

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Taking on the machines: the rise of the Educator

Yes, I am picking a fight with robots and the organ-grinders! Automation is not the end of the road for Educators Yes, you know too, ‘the robots are coming for our jobs’! Cue to some collective eye-rolling, this statement has fast morphed into a ‘future of work’ cliché. Arguably, there’s little to prevent automation’s continued …

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The mind behind ‘Socelor’: home to ‘learning how to think’

Emergent Thinkers 5 minute Spotlight: with Dr. Jesse Martin, the mind behind ‘Socelor’ – the digital home to ‘learning how to ‘think’ 1. Jesse, congratulations on the relaunch of Socelor’s website https://socelor.com, an accumulation of a two-decade mission to unlock thinking for the masses, where did it all begin? Socelor was birthed from the collision …

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Philosophy vs. Google: The Value of Philosophy to Business and Education 4.0

For the love of wisdom, photo by Pixabay With jobs being automated and knowledge being devalued, business and education need to prioritise proven tools that support flexible thinking. In the words of Charlotte Blease “we need people who are prepared to ask, and answer, the questions that aren’t Googleable.” Of ancient Greek origin, the word ‘philosophy’ …

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Ponder, Puzzle, Pose: the case for curiosity

Questions, a kindling for curiosity For many babies, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ is one of the first literary introductions to the concept of wonderment, contributing to the foundation ‘inquisitive period’, the preschool years.  Anyone who wants a crash course or trip down memory lane in viral questioning, I’ll happily signpost you to my three young …

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Join me at Wales Nexus Conference 2019

Conference Time! Photo by Nacho Capelo on Unsplash Pleased to share my inclusion in the forthcoming Wales Nexus Conference, an Annual Learning and Teaching Conference . Will be presenting my research: 10th July 2019 Symposium 3: 11.05am: To VLOG or not to VLOG? Skills for Industry 4.0 11th July 2019: Symposium 9: 10.00am: Influence of Online Discussion Design for …

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Education, Biomimicry and becoming better beings

An education with nature: Lao Tong and I in 2005, Thailand The development of critical thinking, creativity and complex problem-solving are long standing goals of education. Recently I’ve been exploring the potential of Biomimicry to support critical and creative thinking through the unique blend of biology, creative problem solving, design, STEM and systems thinking. Biomimicry …

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21st century pirate – the rebel with a cause

Photo by Cezary Kukowka on Unsplash “Pirates didn’t just break the rules; they rewrote them. They didn't just reject society, they reinvented it. Pirates didn’t just challenge the status-quo, they changed everyf*ckingthing” (Sam Conniff Allende, 2018). This quote from the author of the 2018 best-selling book ‘Be More Pirate’ embedded in an email invitation to his workshop stole …

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Statistics in the dock

Statistics have been manipulated since time immemorial. Today, in a business context alone, whether its research to advance management knowledge or address policy concerns, or bad statistics feeding Fake News or political campaigns, data is employed for high impact.