Vienna Open Space

(eucu.net meeting in Vienna from 6th to 7th November 2023)

The recent eucu.net Open Space event in Vienna, held on November 6th and 7th 2023, gathered nearly 50 members representing 13 countries to deliberate crucial aspects facing Children’s Universities in Europe and globally. The meeting commenced with a project showcasing session for new initiatives and new partners in the network. Six new members, starting with the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels (BE), to the University of Technology in Lappeenranta-Lahti (FI), the Children´s University JYUniorit as joint initiative in the city of Jyväskylä (FI), the Tbilisi State University in Georgia, the Kokshetau Children’s University in Kazakhstan and the Colorful University of Poznan (PL) presented their Children’s University programs spotlighting new initiatives and partners joining the network. Furthermore, the University of Vienna’s Children’s Office introduced the SHORE project, offering funding opportunities for CU initiatives collaborating with schools. Another notable presentation came from Sissa Medialab on the COALESCE project under Horizon Europe.

The Monday afternoon was devoted to thematic workshops. Two workshops focused on new methods of cooperation and participation of children and young people. İnformel Eğitim-çocukistanbul introduced the innovative concept of Child Led Surveying with a case study from Istanbul. In a workshop on the DOCK for Change co-creation climate-lab project, the Children’s Office of the University of Vienna showed participants how children and young people can be involved in decision-making processes and design their own research agenda.

A third workshop explored the tool of social simulations. Participants were invited to take on the role of different ministers in charge of three countries in the social simulation “Up to You”. The aim of the simulation game is to learn about decision-making processes and to understand highly complex systems – in this case related to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The second day was entirely dedicated to an open space format. Here are the discussion topics that were brought forward by the participants: “How to get money for the action?” “How to activate kids in rural areas?” “Are CUs Open Schooling or Open Learning activities?” “Quality vs. Quantity” “EUCU.NET Past – Present – Future: Insights from the newcomers” “How to get students/PhD students/scientists on board?” “EUCU.NETs future for teenagers 12+” “An International CU Day” “Evaluation and Impact of CUs” “A joint proposal for the EUSEA conference?”
The results of the Open Space will be included in our future planning of meetings and activities. If beneficial and possible we will share also interesting results step by step on our website.

Once again the format of Open Space proofed as very useful tool to provide ample space for the exchange of experiences and challenges. It perfectly reflects the diversity of the Children’s University ecosystem around the world.

On Monday, the 6th November, the eucu.net General Assembly covering the last year 2022 was held. The eucu.net board was exonerated and a change of the statutes regarding a general option to suspend the membership fee in cases of extraordinary hardships passed the vote. The changed statutes will be sent out after the legal confirmation.