European Bildung Day 2024 speakers page

Speakers at EBD2024 in alphabetical order by first name

You will find the program here:
https://www.globalbildung.net/ebd2024/


Armin Sieber

Armin Sieber has been passionately involved in education for over 40 years. His enthusiasm for co-created, innovative forms of education has repeatedly led him to participate in school development projects and conferences at home and abroad.

Sociocratic inspiration for co-creating schools

Discover how the fractal approach of Sociocratic Children’s Parliaments can powerfully reshape education systems towards «Bildung». Both aim to empower students, promote active engagement, and cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and personal growth, emphasising the importance of democratic principles and individual agency in learning.


Audun Reithaug

Audun Reithaug leads the NGO-project Music in custody and liberty. He has experience as a music teacher from behind the bars of Oslo prison, and have visited more prisons in Norway than an average criminal offender. His main task is to promote music as a way to recidivism through empowerment. 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/audunreithaug/

Music in custody and freedom

Scandinavian exceptionalism is a term for high standards of treatment and respect for human rights within correctional services. In Norway, i.e. resocialisation is the goal of imprisonment. Playing in a band and working with music fits in this strategy, but what are the key factors to obtain good results?


LtCol (ret.) Bert Meeuwsen MBA MEd PGCHE FHEA

Career in international business, military, non-profit and education. Specialised in cross-cultural behavioural influencing. Lived and worked as Marketing Director Asia/Pacific. On return home, concentrates, lectures, studies, and publishes on interaction of people from differing worldviews. He concentrates on ethical leadership in international business studies, touching on self-development of common virtues.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertmeeuwsen/

Worldviews, Virtues, Ethical and Educational Leadership, and Bildung

The message, like a paradigm, is on the importance of understanding connecting worldviews, taking into consideration decolonising the knowledge, by actively touching on the common denominator of virtues, while having a safe and inclusive learning environment, thus, to assist self-development of learners, and create a better world.


Bi Puranen

Bi Puranen, Secretary General World Values Survey Association (WVSA), Sweden and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Future Studies in Stockholm. She is Associate Professor in the History of Economics at the University of Stockholm and earlier professor of Future studies and Communication strategies at Sophia Antipolis, France. Her research focus on values, social norms and competence development.
ORCID: 0000-0002-0751-2928.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bi-puranen-4509431b/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bi-puranen-4509431b/

Migration: Social norms and demographics; new research from World Values Survey

Bi Puranen will present her latest reseach on integration and competence development concerning non-European migrants in Sweden and Europe with a focus on communication strategies and common European values.

Wednesday, as part of “What is a people? Collective meaning-making,” Bi will present a study where Non-European migrants have been interviewed about their values: “Conflicting Values, the Swedish Experience; How Bildung improves migrant transition.”


Claudia van Werkhoven

Claudia van Werkhoven is a teacher trainer and coordinator of the bachelor’s program in Dutch at Fontys Teacher Training in Tilburg. For many years she has been involved in the research group ‘Professional Ethics of the Teacher’ led by Dr. Wouter Sanderse. Her research area focused on the formative value of literature education.

Becoming human; Learning practices in Bildung in Education at Fontys Hogescholen

For a long time, the main focus in (higher) education was to qualify a student in a specific professional role and setting. As Gert Biesta – professor at the Centre for Public Education and Pedagogy Maynooth University – showed, this is not enough to flourish and become full members of society. Education therefor should also aim for socialization and subjectification.


Elena Tochilina

As a co-founder of the Ukrainian Bildung Network Elena has dedicated 6 months to the field research of the folk high schools approaches in Denmark to integrate them into the Ukrainian systems.

As a coach and consultant, Elena provides a deep insight into human and organisational systems, finding healthy and aligned way for them to function drawing expertise from communications, mental health and life coaching, business model design, strategy and marketing.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenatochilina/

Bildung and migration: Educational needs

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Elena became a refugee in Denmark and made some interesting observations about the need for better bildung.

What Denmark should have done: Input from a Ukrainian refugee

Western Europe may not be so clever after all…

Mental resilience during air raids

In her keynote she will address her experience of being under missile strikes in Kyiv due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and will bring in a perspective on how Bildung helps build healthy societal structures that maintain mental health of their members.


Eno-obong Etim

More info is on its way…

Bildung and migrant communities: towards more inclusive folk high schools

More info on its way…


Ginie Servant-Miklos

Ginie Servant-Miklos is an Assistant Professor of behavioural sciences at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences in Rotterdam. She is spearheading the Bildung Climate School initiative in Rotterdam, an educational program which brings together vocational, applied sciences and university students around themes of sustainability and bildung. She is the author of the forthcoming book “Pedagogies of Collapse: a Hopeful Education for the End of the World as we know it”.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginie-servant-miklos/

Connecting bildung with sustainability

Morning worshop: This two-part presentation be introduce the Bildung Climate School, the Experimental Pedagogics framework, and a systemic approach to measuring the outcomes of Bildung through a mixed methods Action Research program. The Bildung Climate School is a 9-week sustainability education program launched in 2024 in Rotterdam for 30 students from vocational, applied sciences and university backgrounds. The aim is to develop this into a fully-fledged six-month bildung gap-year program by September 2025.

Afternoon talk: This presentation makes the case for bildung in The Netherlands at a time where its highly segregated educational system is being questioned from all sides, from grassroots activists to government levels. It is increasingly clear that the hermetic separation between vocational, applied sciences and university education does not serve the transition to a post-carbon economy well. The Netherlands needs new educational models – bildung could offer some answers, but what challenges do we need to address in order to adapt something that works well in Scandinavia to the Dutch cultural and social context?


Gnanasekar Danapal

Gnanasekar Danapal is an International Trainer, the youngest Director of the Children’s Parliament, and a Child Rights advocate. At 18, he became the Global Convenor for the World Parliament of Children, promoting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and fostering global peace.

Sociocratic inspiration for co-creating schools

Co-presenting with Armin Sieber:
Discover how the fractal approach of Sociocratic Children’s Parliaments can powerfully reshape education systems towards «Bildung». Both aim to empower students, promote active engagement, and cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and personal growth, emphasising the importance of democratic principles and individual agency in learning.


Inge van de Vorst

Inge van de Vorst is an expert in (re)connecting people. For more than 30 years she is involved in higher education at Fontys where she has been offering learning experiences to students and teachers in connecitng, coaching and relational skills. Her courses ‘Wacko Wednesday’ and ‘Relationships of the Future’ are a playground for bildung in education.

Becoming human; Learning practices in Bildung in Education at Fontys Hogescholen

For a long time, the main focus in (higher) education was to qualify a student in a specific professional role and setting. As Gert Biesta – professor at the Centre for Public Education and Pedagogy Maynooth University – showed, this is not enough to flourish and become full members of society. Education therefor should also aim for socialization and subjectification.


Irena Pranskevičiūtė

PhD in the field of socio-economic resilience, social entrepreneur, adult developer, somatic therapy practitioner, and facilitator of systemic changes, co-founder of social change incubator “Dous solis”. Irena created number of educational programs for development of resilience on individual, community, and organizational levels. With the outburst of the war in Ukraine, she organized migration for the whole school community from Kharkiv to Vilnius and started a program for development network of psychosocial resource groups in local areas of Ukraine “Re:silientica”.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/irena-pranskevi%C4%8Di%C5%ABt%C4%97-bla%C5%BEevi%C4%8D%C4%97/

Resilience: When are societies robust?

Collective trauma unveils two life forces: viciousness and vitality. Today in different parts of the world witness incredible human capacity to restore from ruins, to grow from the pain, to create beauty while facing the threat. The presentation will share the insights of human beauty and resilience from Ukraine and will open inquiry on what makes societies robust?


Jesper Garsdal

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesper-garsdal-31318639/ More info on its way…

Bildung in formal teachers’ education

More info on its way…

Reflections regarding Grundtvig’s idea of peoplehood

More info is on its way…


Jos van den Broek

Jos van den Broek (1951) is a retired Professor in Science Communication at Leiden University. He wrote several popular-science books for kids. He teaches a ‘plus class’ at a primary school and gives tinkering workshops in community centers. He recently finished a book on education for head, heart, and hands.

Head, Heart, and Hands; Bildung in Primary Schools

For his farewell symposium at Leiden University, titled ‘Education for Head, Heart, and Hands’, Jos van den Broek wrote an educational manifesto with the core values ​​for the 21st century. Our rapidly changing society calls for education that considers the intimate interplay of the three. A textbook on the subject awaits publishing.


Józefa Fawcett

Józefa is an award-winning independent learning consultant and podcast host with pracademic expertise in the professional and organisational learning space. She brings a deep understanding of cross-cultural human diversity through her research and client work across 38 countries, 19 industries in all 5 economic sectors, on 5 continents.

Facilitator Conference Papers (DIT 2) 

Facilitating the presentations and subsequent discussions arising from the topics presented by our speakers. 

Podcast Host (JFI Radio)

Capturing the energy and insights from European Bildung Day 2024 in a captivating podcast series of targeted interviews that highlight key messages and complement the event, extending the reach and value beyond attendees.


Kees Spijker

Kees Spijker has been working in higher education and numerous profit and non-profit organizations as a consultant, trainer and manager for almost four decades. Last October he stopped working as the director of The New School for Information Services in Amsterdam after 16 years. In this last capacity he was responsible for giving bildung the central role it should have in (higher) education. He now again works as an independent consultant and interim manager. He is also involved in the Economy for the Common Good movement.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keesspijker/ Mo

You’re Never Done: Towards bildung in higher education

The presentation will give insight into the process of introducing bildung at The New School for Information Services, resulting in the Distinctive feature Bildung as part of the 2019 re-accreditation by the Dutch government. Further more, my talk will focus on the steps taken over the past few years to involve students and professors and adapting the curriculum further to bildung, using the motto ‘You’re never done’. I’ll conclude my presentation with some thoughts on the relationship bildung-education-influx of students from other countries.


Kjell Helge Kleppestø

Kjell Helge Kleppestø was the initiator and head of Vestland public career centers, and is now part of the national cross sector professional environment, which developed Norway’s new career guidance system, part of working groups creating the national quality framework. Master in Education, currently independent advisor and developer. Co-author of a textbook for teachers, and Norway’s most sold pupils workbook in secondary school about career learning.
linkedin.com/in/kjellhelgekleppesto

Career development for students in Norway

Norway’s new national framework for career development introduces career learning and careercompetance into school curriculums and lifelong learning in Norway. The aim is “the individual being better able to manage their life, learning and work, also through change and transition”. It’s an open invitation, should we take it?


Kjetil Aamann

Kjetil Aamann is a musician and music teacher for adults, and he is currently the coordinator of the international development project SWAN – Singing With Additional Needs, which seeks to find models for including people with special needs in musical life. Kjetil has worked as a conductor without borders, and taught at music academies in Europe and Asia.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kjetilaamann/

What is a people, and what role does music play?

What does music mean for people’s cultural belonging? In recent decades, many refugees from other countries have come to Norway because they have left regions of armed conflict. Music can make us proud, help us connect and build bridges. Bring your singing voice to the presentation.


Kåre Wangel

Kåre works as an organizational consultant with sociocratic co-leadership and conflict resolution. He is engaged in different meta-political environments trying to grapple with our different (meta)crises. He holds a master in Philosophy of Education.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaare-wangel

Reclaiming the Commonity

Is it even possible to approach problem solving at a complexity level corresponding to the complexity of the problems we face? This article offers an attempt at locating an anchor that can allow us to navigate in an increasingly fragmented world without taking sole responsibility for understanding it.


Laurens van de Vijver

Laurens van de Vijver, a Rotterdam native, helms PVNL as CEO since 2022, transforming over 300 salons with a human, growth-centric strategy. With a rich marketing tenure at Tetra Pak and GANT, he’s revolutionized salon operations in the Netherlands and steered Ajax’s digital shift. Committed to enhancing social cohesion, Laurens marries sharp business acumen with a societal touch.

Employee bildung seen from an employer’s perspective

Promoting self-awareness among hairstylists is vital for recognizing their societal role and value, enabling them to confidently charge what they’re worth. This initiative strengthens their self-esteem, highlights their contribution to individual well-being, and fosters a deeper societal appreciation for their profession.


Lene Rachel Andersen

Lene is a full member of the Club of Rome, and one of the founders of European Bildung Day, European Bildung Network, Global Bildung Day, Global Bildung Network, and Nordic Bildung, which is the organization behind the networks.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenerachelandersen/

Migration, Bildung, Resilience; European Bildung Day 2024

Why and how we need bildung in a time of immense and fast changes.

Circles of Belonging

How can we relate to the groups we belong to and how do they shape us and give us bildung?

What is bildung, and why do we need it now?

At the public event, Lene will introduce bildung and why it is so crucial in our time.


Lisa Praeg

Lisa Praeg is a highly active enthusiast for collaboration, inner development and leadership towards the future. She brings innovation into education with the sociocratic open election of class representatives, hosting communities of practice of teachers and facilitating school development.

Sociocratic inspiration for co-creating schools

Co-presenting with Armin Sieber:
Discover how the fractal approach of Sociocratic Children’s Parliaments can powerfully reshape education systems towards «Bildung». Both aim to empower students, promote active engagement, and cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and personal growth, emphasising the importance of democratic principles and individual agency in learning.


Martijn Derksen

Martijn Derksen is a teacher trainer, film maker and creative at Fontys Teacher Training in Eindhoven. He is a creative generalist with a broad perspective and interests. He is passionate about learning, filmmaking with regards to the new times we are entering. Examples can be found at are monatisa.com, wonderwhynot.com and madnez.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michiel-tolman-b0b14254/

Bildung and teachers

In this presentation you will learn about how Bildung is part of the teacher training program, what activities and insights students that participated have had, and why differences increasingly matter.


Michiel Tolman

Michiel (33 years) is current director and educational developer at De Bildung Academie. He thrives on developing Bildung programs integrating different stakeholders, from the Catholic University of Montevideo to vocational institute ROC van Amsterdam, in that process. His dream? Building the university of the 21st century. How? By scaling up Bildung programs for young-adults and teachers while creating an world-wide network of stakeholders and alumni. 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michiel-tolman-b0b14254/

De Bildung Academie

De Bildung Academie is an education organisation in Amsterdam, founded bottom-up by students and teachers in 2015, aiming to realise contemporary Bildung education for young-adults. To do this, they partner up and collaborate with organisations from education, business and the social domain.


Mihail Krikunov

I am an educator and researcher interested in everything new which could change the life of adults to better and them be more efficient. Now I am President of Ukrainian Bildung Network, Professor of strategy, Dean at Kyiv Business School, desperately trying to help my country to win and prosper. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mihailkrikunov/

How the war has affected the Ukrainian sense of peoplehood

I will try to draw a picture of how the “we” versus the “Others” line of self-identification of the “Ukrainians” have changed in a last 20 years affected by constant cruel confrontation with Russia. It will be based both on my own observations and a data from recent research

Mihail will be speaking both at the conference and at the public event.


Peter Scholten

More info on its way…

Migration, mobility, and bildung

More info on its way…


Rutger Engels

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rutgerengels/ More info on its way…

Designing for resilience

More info on its way…


Tessa Dool

More info on its way…

Bildung and migrant communities: towards more inclusive folk high schools

More info on its way…


Tim Logan

Tim Logan is Co-Lead of Festival of Hope, a strategic youth initiative of the International Baccalaureate working to create spaces for millions of young people to speak up and turn complex challenges into positive action and hope. Tim is a former teacher and senior leader in schools and is host/producer of the education podcast, Future Learning Design.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/teblogan/

Host

Understanding the role of bildung (and related deep traditions around the world) in helping us respond to the complex challenges we are facing as a species is one of the most important projects of our current age. It is my great pleasure to be part of this work and to host and guide us through the two days of the European Bildung Day.


Vladan Lausevic

I am a social entrepreneur based in Stockholm. I have an educational background in history and political science, including lecturing about EU Governance. I work with ideas about democracy, civic engagement, and technological decentralization. I am a member of Democracy Without Borders and co-creator of the think tank Syntropi as part of the Social Systems Lab.

Decentralized Citizenships, Education Opportunities, and Migration

Decentralized and disruptive technology such as cryptocurrencies, blockchains, and artificial intelligence has gained user popularity and a controversial reputation in the last 15 years. What needs to be discussed and explored more is how such technology can be used for, among other things, supporting refugees, providing education, and improving democracy.