The conference brought together students, academics, and stakeholders from across Europe to explore how higher education can unlock student potential and foster agency in tackling complex, real-world challenges. Honours programs and interdisciplinary education were at the heart of the discussions. Participants shared ideas and methods for developing problem-solving skills and empowering students to recognize their own capacity for shaping the future. Students also showcased projects and engaged in workshops designed to build a cross-European network of peers.
Keynote Highlights
Anders Malthe-S?renssen opened the conference with an introduction of INTED – the Centre for Interdisciplinary Education – a national initiative with a mandate to actively support the development of interdisciplinary education, as well as reflections on the increasing need for interdisciplinary competence. He introduced INTED’s goals and vision, and how we work to develop methods, pedagogies, and frameworks for interdisciplinary education, and the ongoing research projects. Link to presentation here.
Following the opening, Malthe-S?renssen introduced the keynote speakers, who offered rich perspectives on the value of interdisciplinary thinking in education, research, and professional development. Their insights emphasized the importance of working together across disciplines and embracing different perspectives to tackle today’s challenges.
? Idar Kreutzer, Director at NHO, spoke about the need for developing mindsets to meet today’s challenges and the critical role of interdisciplinary skills in the future workforce. Link to presentation. Link to presentation here
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? Michael O'Rourke, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative at Michigan State University, shared insights on interdisciplinary theory and communication in collaborative research.
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? Marca Wolfensberger, Professor of Transdisciplinary Collaboration in Education at Avans UAS and Chair of the European Honours Council, reflected on her pioneering work in honours education and the transformative power of talent development.
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? Machiel Keestra, Central Diversity Officer at the University of Amsterdam and past president of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies, discussed embedding honours education and fostering diversity in academic culture. Link to presentation here
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Student Voices
The program also highlighted the voices of Honours students, bringing valuable perspectives into the conversation. Mina Haaheim, Norway, and Nik Waldram, Netherlands, shared personal reflections on what it means to be an Honours student today, and how education should evolve to meet the needs of society. Their contributions set the stage for a dynamic panel discussion, where students from different countries spoke about their experiences, challenges, and successes in Honours education.
The conference included a student panel that brought together voices from different countries and educational contexts. The panel featured Ephraim Mortenson (University of Montana, USA), Kiara Luk (Hogeschool Utrecht, the Netherlands), Simran Sahajpal (former student of the Norwegian Honours Program), and Stef Vermeiren (University of Ghent, Belgium). It was a great opportunity to hear directly from students and engage with their insights on interdisciplinary learning and personal development.
Poster Session
The poster session offered a lively space for sharing projects and experiences in Honours education. It showcased the creativity and dedication of educators and researchers working to bridge disciplines and foster collaboration. Posters were grouped into three main themes, making it easy to explore different aspects of the field:?
? Teaching Honours Courses & Interdisciplinarity/Transdisciplinarity
? Organizing Honours Education & Inter-/Transdisciplinary Education
? Student Projects
Read more about the posters here
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Opening Day Two – Connecting Thoughts
The second day of the conference began with a welcome from Anders Malthe-S?renssen, who opened the stage with reflections that helped connect ideas from the previous day. After the opening, participants split into two parallel tracks: one designed for academics and the other for students.
Student Track - Establishing a European Student Network?
The student track began with an engaging workshop led by Michael O’Rourke from Michigan State University. Using the Toolbox Dialogue method, students explored interdisciplinary communication through structured dialogue—an approach widely used by institutions like NASA and the US National Science Foundation. The workshop helped students strengthen their ability to communicate across differences in expertise and experience.
Later, INTED facilitated a hands-on workshop focused on Establishing a European Student Network. Here, students collaborated using interdisciplinary methods, supported by INTED facilitators, to develop a proposal for a student network. The session encouraged creative thinking and cross-cultural exchange, laying the groundwork for future collaboration across borders.
Academic Track
Meanwhile, the academic track offered participants a choice between a hands-on workshop and a series of thematic presentations. The workshop provided academics with practical experience in interdisciplinary collaborative teaching, while the presentations showcased diverse practices from across Europe. These presentations were organized around three key themes: teaching honours students, organizing honours education, and supporting inter- and transdisciplinary learning.
Plenary – Building Student Networks
Later in the day, Hannah Mülder—former interdisciplinary and honours student, now a PhD candidate—shared insights from her journey of co-creating student networks. Drawing on both personal experience and research into student-staff partnerships, she offered thoughtful reflections on how meaningful collaboration can empower students and strengthen academic communities. Her talk emphasized the value of grounding student initiatives in both lived experience and academic inquiry.
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Proposal of Student Network
The student groups proposed a range of ideas to strengthen and sustain a European honours student network. Suggestions included creating platforms for collaboration, networking, and project development; organizing annual meetings, honours camps, and university visits; and establishing elected boards, advisory councils, and supervisory structures. Many emphasized the importance of student-led initiatives, regular communication through newsletters or websites, and diverse funding sources including universities, companies, and European grants. Proposals also highlighted the value of social media for outreach, career support, and connecting new honours students. Across the board, there was a shared focus on fostering interdisciplinary engagement, personal growth, and long-term sustainability.
Looking Ahead – Developing the European Student Network
Building on this momentum, a working group has now been formed to continue developing the network. This group will meet in December to further shape its structure, goals, and activities, ensuring that the ideas generated during the conference evolve into a lasting and impactful initiative.
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