NextNormal - WeStudy@Home

Since we started our podcast series in 2020, we've talked to students and student representatives from all over Europe about the present and future of higher education. With this final episode of “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home”, we want to look back and forward, to take stock of the past years, but also to formulate a vision for future higher education. For this, we have talked to Lilith Diringer and Paul Klär from Germany who both are and have been engaged in several student initiatives such as the DigitalChangeMaker initiative and fzs (freier zusammenschluss von student*innenschaften). While discussing the potentials and take-aways from digital teaching and learning approaches, we also come back to what higher education and learning are all about and ask: is if there actually still such a thing as "normal" higher education?

Since the first episode of "NextNormal", it has become very clear that student wellbeing and mental health are subjects that matter and that should be talked about - especially during this time of uncertainty, isolation and anxiety. Nina Ruijfrok and Antonia Vegt are both studying in The Netherlands and working at ISO, The Dutch National Students' Association - and they proposed to focus on mental health in this "NextNormal" episode, especially from a perspective of international students. What makes students and international students especially vulnerable when it comes to mental wellbeing, why is it so difficult to change the complex situation for the better - and, most importantly - how can we still try? Listen to Nina, Antonia and Laura discuss a more caring future of higher education in Europe.

One year of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home" - many stories and ideas have been shared. For our twelfth episode, we've talked to Damir Solak, Jan Bavlovič and Lukáš Lang from Czech Republic, facilitated by SKRVS, the Student Chamber of the Council of HEIs in Czech Republic. Each one of them has studied under very different circumstances in the last year and experienced different ways of higher education teaching and learning which we want to discuss: from a teaching student, an Erasmus student and a PhD student working in health emergency services point of view. Together, we talk about different ways of involving students in higher education - and how to do even better in the future.

With the eleventh episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home", we've set a strong thematic focus to our conversation with Ángel Canal Alonso and Francesc Almentros Viladerrams from CREUP, the Public Universities' Students Union in Spain. In addition to insights into their Corona study experience, they provide us with some expertise on the subject of internationalisation and mobility. One might think that there hasn't been much international exchange and mobility happening in the last year - but there has! It just looks different than the classical Erasmus semesters we know best! Angel and Francesc share their mobility concepts for the future in order to create an even better higher education experience for all students.

For the tenth episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home", we talked to Pegi Pavletić and Karla Hrsak from Croatia. They tell us about the crucial role of support in hard times - Croatia not only being affected by Corona but also hit by earthquakes - and how universities must switch from efficient teaching to good quality teaching. This means involving students in the process of creating a good, inclusive, student-centered study environment - and Pegi and Karla have some ideas on this to share!

This ninth episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home" is the first one in 2021, a new year full of question marks, hopes and optimism, not only when it comes to higher education. Facilitated by ESU and ÖH, we had the opportunity to talk to Asja Ahmetovic and Eileen Robiati from Austria. They tell us about jam-packed working and study days, when it is time for teachers to finish early, how to make friends online and how reducing things to the essential can sometimes be just more than enough.  

The seventh episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home" is the first one of two episodes featuring Edward De Gabriele and Nicole Galea from KSU (University Students’ Council) in Malta. We learn about the very specific situation and its impact in a small country where most students live with their families and the virus has always felt much closer than in other countries. We talk about mental health, studying in health-related domains and what it's like to be graduating during these strange times - and there will be more in the next episode of "NextNormal".

What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal –  WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.

In this sixth episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home",  we talk to Vittoria Messina and Lucrezia D'Annunzio from Italy who are also engaged in UdU, Unione degli Universitari. We learn that the difficult situation created challenges, such as staying motivated and focussed when studying at home, but also funny and positive experiences, such as beginning a new study programme without having to move to another city. However, they emphasise the importance of ensuring a good learning environment for everybody and of digital literacy across generations.

What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a  podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.

In our fifth episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home",  we talk to Miisa Tervala, Clara Garcia Millan and Rico Martikainen, who are all studying in Finland. Even if some of their institutions have already embraced online learning before the shutdown, social distancing and isolation remain problems not yet resolved. They also ask us to make sure that, even in times of crisis, education remains a top priority.

What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a  podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.

In our fourth and second Belgian episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home", we talk to Manon Spérati, Arno Schrooyen and Kérian Clam of FEF, the Federation of the French-speaking students in Belgium. They explain why, in the past few months, it has become harder for many students to make sense of their studies - and how many institutions' one-way communication has left students with a feeling of being disconnected. However, many students have felt for the first time to share a common student condition that needs to be represented and articulated.

What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a  better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to  students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” –  the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.

In this third episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home", which is also the first of two episodes with students from Belgium, we talk to Jens Matthé, Laura Remery and Ruben Janssens of VVS, the Flemish Union of Students. They are sharing perspectives and visions for a new kind of European mobility as well as on the need for student support - and the role of student participation in discussing the future of higher education. 

What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time  after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.

In the second episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home", we talk to Tina Smonkar, Andrej Pirjevec and Kristjan Kos of SSU, the Slovenian Student Union. We are discussing the need for evaluating the past few months and the dynamics of digitization and social interaction - as well as the role of national politics in preventing university dropout.

What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time  after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” – the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.

What is the “NextNormal” of European student life? There will be a time after the Corona shutdown, and we want to discuss what it should look like. How can we learn from the digital turn in order to create a better future for higher education? In our podcast, we are talking to students and student unions from all over Europe about the “NextNormal” - the future of higher education beyond Corona. Each episode is dedicated to one European country. “NextNormal - WeStudy@Home” is a podcast produced by the NextEducation working group at DHBW Karlsruhe and strongly supported by ESU.