Higher education is in crisis. Students are disengaged, lecturers are burned out, and universities seem more preoccupied with rankings and revenue than with knowledge and wellbeing. But rather than dwell on the problems, this book focuses on solutions-on hope.
Bringing together a diverse range of educators and practitioners, this collection showcases real-world innovations that challenge the status quo and offer glimpses of a more humane and inspiring educational future. From rethinking systems and curriculum design to fostering imaginative collaboration and exploring the role of technology, the book highlights practical, hopeful interventions that are already making a difference.This is not a manifesto of complaints but an invitation to reimagine education. The contributors offer fresh perspectives from around the world, illustrating how small but meaningful changes can transform learning spaces, empower educators, and inspire students.For academics, teachers, administrators, and anyone invested in the future of education, this book serves as both a source of inspiration and a call to action. It is an evolving ecosystem of ideas-grounded in practice, rich with possibility, and rooted in radical hope. Now is the time to create the change we wish to see.
Abegglen, Sandra: - Sandra Abegglen, PhD, is a Researcher in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at the University of Calgary, where she explores online education and learning and teaching in the design studio. Sandra has extensive experience both as a social researcher and lecturer/programme leader. She is the project lead for TALON, the Teaching and Learning Online Network, and Playful Hybrid Higher Education. Sandra has published widely on emancipatory learning and teaching practice, creative and playful pedagogy, and remote education. She has been awarded for her work with the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) 2022 by Advance HE, and the Team Teaching Award 2020 by the University of Calgary. Find her personal website at: https: //sandra-abegglen.com/
Burns, Tom: - Tom Burns (1959-2024) was an Associate Teaching Professor in the Centre for Teaching Enhancement at London Metropolitan University, developing innovations with a special focus on praxes that ignite student curiosity, and develop power and voice. Always interested in theatre and the arts, and their role in teaching and learning, Tom developed theatre and film in unusual places, set up adventure playgrounds, events and festivals for his local community, and fed arts-based practice into his learning, teaching and assessments. Tom was a University Teaching Fellow and has received a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) 2022 by Advance HE. He co-authored Teaching, Learning and Study Skills: A Guide for Tutors and Essential Study Skills: The Complete Guide to Success at University (5th Edition, 2022), https: //us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/essential-study-skills/book278189.
Heller, Richard F.: - Richard Heller, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Newcastle, Australia and of Public Health, University of Manchester, UK, has a medical degree and doctorate from the University of London, United Kingdom. He was Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Community Medicine at the University of Newcastle, Australia and Professor of Public Health at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. Richard was also the founder and coordinator of the People's Open Access Education Initiative (Peoples-uni, https: //www.peoples-uni.org/), which aimed to provide Public Health capacity building in developing countries at low cost, through e-learning using open-access resources on the Internet and leading to an MPH degree. He is author of The Distributed University for Sustainable Higher Education (2022, https: //link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-16-6506-6).
