FOQUS MAGAZINE
As a university of applied sciences or a research university, how do you achieve co-creation with the professional field? What is the added value for all those involved, and what practical aspects require sufficient attention?
Continuous innovation of education through participation and involvement of the professional field is not evident but can produce impressive results. Involvement of the professional field in consultative groups and educational committees has evolved into a common practice that fosters the generic quality of higher education. However, co-creation with the professional field can be taken considerably further. For example, the professional field and the university programmes may collectively substantiate programme components, working formats, and assessment formats that encourage students to learn and to prepare for their future jobs. Or, a business may have students work on a solution to a specific challenge, acquiring a range of skills and knowledge in the process, which will also be of benefit to the professional field, teachers, and fellow students.
Finding one’s way through the many forms of co-creation and co-creation initiatives may be difficult. How can the various learning pathways of all the partners involved be combined into a collective, common goal? What is required to encourage creativity? How can co-creation with the professional field be evaluated?
In the “CO-CREATION WITH THE PROFESSIONAL FIELD”FOQUS magazine, several (international) hands-on experts share their insights and present frameworks illustrated with good practices from higher education in Flanders. The practices and recommendations can serve as inspiration and thus create added value for, e.g., other higher education establishments and programmes embarking on or intending to embark on co-creation. In short, a magazine filled with tips and tricks for both professionals who are already engaged in intensive co-creation with the professional field and those intending to embark on co-creation. Each chapter commences with a theoretical background and subsequently draws increasingly closer to actual practice, with specific examples and projects.
The magazine has been compiled in a co-creation process involving Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts, PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Antwerp Maritime Academy, LUCA School of Arts, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, and NVAO.
This publication constitutes the first in a series of theme-based analyses within the Flanders higher education sector. Every year, a group of higher education establishments will analyse a specific theme and compile a useful publication sharing good practices. These “system-wide analyses” constitute a cornerstone of the new quality assurance system in Flanders. By sharing good practices, institutions learn from one another, particularly with respect to themes relating to educational policy and programme quality. Next summer will see the publication of a second edition, focused on “internationalisation in the curriculum”.
Structure of this report
This overview report is structured as a non-linear text; readers are free to decide on their own dynamic reading paths. In other words, this publication is open to multiple reading paths, depending on the interest of the reader.
For those who wish to gain a quick impression of the contents, the first level of this overview report contains a concise overview of the theoretical frameworks, the broad insights, and key takeaways. These pages serve as a starting point and gateway to a particular theme; they provide an introduction to the various topics addressed in the system-wide analysis. Clickable links provide access to more specific information: a first-level theme will contain links to access a second level, containing further details and an in-depth explanation of the theory. At a third level, the output of this system-wide analysis is illustrated with actual examples, based on selected good practices.
The overview report is aimed at several target groups:
- staff in the (higher) education landscape who are interested in the theme;
- policy staff of higher education establishments;
- all other external stakeholders of the higher education community (such as the professional field) in Flanders;
- representatives of the professional field who are looking for approaches to co-creation with higher education institutions;
- staff of intermediary organisations who are involved in education-professional field partnerships.
AUTHORS
- Tine Aelter, education staff, PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts;
- Ilse Bogaert, education coordinator and HSQE staff, Antwerp Maritime Academy;
- Aina Callaert, head of quality assurance department, Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts;
- Pieter Soete, NVAO policy advisor;
- Hilde Sels, quality policy advisor, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences;
- Hellen Van Berlo, head of education & quality department, LUCA School of Arts;
- Els Van de Walle, policy advisor, Odisee University of Applied Sciences.
Systemwide analysis
This overview report is the end product of the Co-creation with the professional field system-wide analysis and presents the output of this specific analysis, linked to a selection of good practices.
In 2019, the Flanders government approved a new higher education quality assurance system. In addition to programme assessment and institutional review frameworks, the 2019-2025 quality assurance system also comprises an annual system-wide analysis (SWA). Every year, different higher education establishments collectively focus on one aspect of educational policy with a view to mapping good practices. They share experience and expertise in order to learn from one another and to gain new insights. Over a six-year period, every research university and university of applied sciences will participate in (a minimum of) two system-wide analyses, either as an institution or via one or more of its programmes.
The first system-wide analysis commenced in the 2020-2021 academic year and was focused on the theme of Co-creation with the professional field. Rather than presenting academic statements on the topic, the analysis was intended to facilitate mutual learning from the experience gained in co-creativity aimed at the professional field. Six higher education institutions participated in this system-wide analysis: Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts, PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Antwerp Maritime Academy, LUCA School of Arts, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, and Thomas More University of Applied Sciences. They exchanged good practices, shared expertise, and organised an international peer-to-peer event. All the activities were supervised and supported by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).
This overview report is the end product of the Co-creation with the professional field system-wide analysis and presents the output of this specific analysis, linked to a selection of good practices. The participants have shared their insights with the professional field at large and have provided frameworks illustrated with cases from the Flemish higher education sector. The practices and recommendations can serve as inspiration and thus create added value for other higher education establishments and programmes embarking on or intending to embark on co-creation. The options and results of this system-wide analysis have no bearing on the approach adopted in future system-wide analyses.