Conference Program

Keynote Speakers 

Idar Kreutzer

Idar Kreutzer is a director at NHO, working with processes related to international affairs, digitalization and sustainable development. Director Kreutzer will explain the needs for developing minds and mindsets to meet today¡¯s challenges, and how important interdisciplinary skills is for the future workforce.

Michael O'Rourke

Michael O¡¯Rourke is Professor of Philosophy and faculty in AgBioResearch and Environmental Science & Policy at Michigan State University. He is Director of the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative, an NSF-sponsored research consortium that investigates philosophical approaches to facilitating interdisciplinary research (http://tdi.msu.edu/), and Executive Director of the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative Center, a service center at MSU that is the principal locus of Toolbox work. His research interests include interdisciplinary theory, epistemology, and communication and epistemic integration in                                        collaborative, crossdisciplinary research.

Marca Wolfensberger

Marca Wolfsenberger is a Professor of Transdisciplinary Collboration in Education at Avans UAS, and chair of the European Honours Council (ECH). Marca has been involved in various trans- and interdisciplinary education modules at the Faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University. She co-wrote more then 150 articles about higher education. Her passion for education contributed to her becoming one of the pioneers of honours education in Europe.

Machiel Keestra

Machiel Keestra is Central Diversity Officer and (tenured) assistant Professor at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of the University of Amsterdam. He has been elected President of the international Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (2014-2016) and founding board member of the global Inter- and Transdisciplinary Alliance. He has worked on embedding and developing honours education at the University of Amsterdam, both as philosopher and also as coordinator of its Honours platform in the period 2005-2010.

Friday 31.10.25

On Friday the conference will present what is needed in today¡¯s society and give a status for honours- and interdisciplinary education in 2025.  

Friday will be held at the University of Oslo, Kristine Bonnevies hus, in the Lobby and Auditorium 3.

Saturday 01.11.25

On Saturday, the conference offers experiences that showcase how education can harness students' potential through workshops, presentations, and discussions.

The program for Saturday is divided into two distinct tracks:

1. Student Track: All students attending the conference will participate in this track, engaging in collaborative workshop activities designed to enhance their learning experience and develop a student community.

2. Academic Track: All academic participants will join the academic track, which is further divided into two parallel sessions: one focusing on workshops and the other featuring presentations and discussions based on the posters from Friday.

The event on Saturday will be held at Voksen?sen Hotel.

Throughout the conference, poster sessions and presentations will foster shared knowledge and inspiration. The venue will create a space for meaningful conversations about education, emphasizing student agency and its role in shaping dynamic learning experiences.

Program Schedule