Connecting ideas, sharing strategies, fostering innovation, exploring boundaries - on November 29th, 2023, the fourth Crossroads in Academic Continuing Education (CACE) virtual event took place.

Thematic focus:

• Academic continuing education and competences for uncertain futures.
• Stackability of lifelong learning - perspectives, developments and learnings.
• The role of Artificial Intelligence in academic continuing education.
• Societal impact of academic continuing education and its third mission.

International Think Tank
for Academic Continuing Education  

What is the right way to deal with uncertainties and current global crises, such as the climate crisis? What role will artificial intelligence play in the future? The "Crossroads in Academic Continuing Education" (CACE) event series is dedicated to current trends and their significance for continuing education institutions. The event, which was initiated by the University for Continuing Education Krems, entered its fourth round on November 29, 2023. Once again it took place virtually, with experts and interested parties from a wide range of countries joining in.   

"In times of great uncertainty, as we are currently experiencing, education and science play a very central role," emphasized Rector Friedrich Faulhammer in his opening speech. In it, he provided an outlook on what awaits the participants on this day. He noted that the era in which many things seemed predictable was coming to an end. However, facing developments with fear is the wrong approach, according to Faulhammer. We need a better way of dealing with uncertainty and complexity. 

Finding solutions to social challenges is also the task of educational institutions. They must recognize the problems of the present and the future and adapt their study programmes accordingly. Faulhammer says of the University for Continuing Education Krems: "Our transdisciplinary approach, which combines knowledge from society with knowledge from academia, enables us to be highly effective in society." In this way, the complex challenges of our time can be met. "Finding solutions requires new knowledge, new expertise." As one of the leading universities for continuing education in Europe, the University for Continuing Education Krems plays an active role when it comes to shaping the educational landscape of the future. One example of this is CACE.   

The continuing education landscape must be open to technological developments, such as the emergence of artificial intelligence. According to Faulhammer, the University for Continuing Education Krems encourages this debate. It is important to see technology as an opportunity instead of fending it off. The Rector referred to the importance of an adequate legal framework, stating that Europe needs the best AI, not the best-regulated one. "New skills are needed to work with AI."   

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The opening speech was followed by five exciting keynote speeches by experts. Helga Nowotny, science researcher and professor emeritus at ETH Zurich, spoke about education in times of increasing uncertainty. Philippa Hardman, lecturer at the University of Cambridge, devoted her presentation to innovative learning designs. She described how AI can be integrated into teaching and enrich it. Elmar Kutsch explained the forms of "stackability", the merging and combining of learning content and programs, at the Cranfield School of Management. Susanna Leong familiarized the participants with the advantages of "micro-credentials". She is responsible for lifelong learning at the National University of Singapore. Finally, Séamus Ó Tuama addressed the five so-called capitals of every person that play a role in learning. He is Director of Adult Education at University College Cork in Ireland.  

Once again this year, CACE offered interactive components with surveys that allowed participants to contribute their opinions. Breakout sessions provided an opportunity for professional exchange.   

The keynote speeches were followed by a panel discussion moderated by David Campbell, Center for Higher Education Governance and Transformation at the University for Continuing Education Krems. Rector Faulhammer said that universities needed motivation to focus not only on young students, but also on professionals and to take a closer look at lifelong learning. The University for Continuing Education Krems, which was founded specifically for this purpose, has a high level of expertise in developing such continuing education programs. Cooperation with practitioners plays an important role in the continuing education of the future. In this way, mutual learning can take place and this knowledge can be passed on to the outside world. This also promotes mutual understanding.   

Kutsch appealed for learning to be taken further so that it is not simply a matter of ticking off more and more knowledge and skills. Learners should also be able to have a say, said Kutsch. Horizontal learning is the foundation, but this must be expanded to include vertical learning. It is crucial that students are able to critically reflect on what they have learned and create something new from it. The aim should be to shape the learning process together. This would make it easier to respond to current social challenges. The task of educational institutions is therefore to orient themselves to their environment and adapt the learning opportunities to relevant problems. 

For Susanna Leong, it is crucial that universities offer courses and programs that are relevant. Her university achieves this by working closely with companies and public authorities. This makes it possible to find out which skills are particularly in demand, which are lacking and what problems exist. On this basis, high-quality educational programs must ultimately be developed. Big data can help to determine the extent to which the offer already meets the requirements and needs of the world of work.   

Ó Tuama emphasized the special responsibility of universities for society. In this respect, they must also take care of lifelong learning. His university tries to appeal to as many people as possible. The level of complexity is very high these days. In times of climate change and artificial intelligence, it is about collective knowledge for survival, for living together. Universities in particular need to get involved here because they have the necessary resources.   

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A summary of the presentations and an outlook was provided by Peter Parycek, Vice Rector for Teaching/Academic Continuing Education and Digital Transformation (CDO) at the University for Continuing Education Krems. According to him, thought needs to be given to how all these aspects - dealing with uncertainty, AI, flexible learning, stackability and the social effectiveness of education - interact. With regard to stackability and micro-credentials, Parycek emphasized their global significance. The new way of organizing teaching represents an important transformation. It makes teaching more flexible, personalized and inclusive. Inclusion in particular is an important lever for the social effectiveness of universities. Parycek agreed with the previous speaker, Helga Nowotny, on how to deal with uncertainty and emphasized the need for a positive attitude. He said that it would be difficult to meet future challenges if we were guided by fear. The next step must be to think about how human capabilities interact with those of machines.   

In the digital age, the social impact of universities is greater than ever before. Educational institutions need to ask themselves how they can further increase their "social footprint", says Parycek. One answer may lie in focusing even more on students and their respective needs and goals.