Impact Matrix
We want to ensure and offer regular exchange opportunities, a space and environment for co-creation and learning, cooperation and celebration of our progress at our local universities. We also want to transfer knowledge and experience in transforming our own education, share tools & methods, and spark the motivation of other fellow chapters to kick start their own transformational journey at their local campus. Creating platform such as this enables and inspires many chapters and individuals to come together and move systems towards change.
History/Origin of Idea
Previously called – Curriculum Change Squad – evolved into the new format of the TE Squad in summer 2022. The TE Squad is a co-creative and self-organized community squad. The new format invites each member of the squad for more proactive participation and liveliness. It inspires activate chapter members to take ownership of the organization and facilitation of the squad in a co-creative way, while nurturing the oikos culture and tending to needs of the space.
Main Audience
oikos Chapter members, TE Team members and oikos International
Stakeholders
- oikos TE active members
- Potentially: LEAP Researchers
Wider Objectives
The goal is to accelerate TE efforts & actions across the globe in many oikos chapters across community, encouraging more chapters to get involved in such an essential topic and join the squad initiative for collaboration, co-creation and learning experience with the community.
Timeline
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TE Squad .56
12/12/2023Achievements and Development- 4 oikos Chapters from TE squad – Barcelona, Graz, Kano, Jamshedpur participated in oikos Academy
- TE squad participated in oikos Camp with 4 members from oikos community and external community worked together to create framework and workshop to attract chapters to join the TE squad
- Created video content from chapters from camp and LEAP midterm on redefining TE from student´s perspective
Key Learnings- I learned not to invest all our energy in something that isn’t working. Instead, after the summer break, we took the time to strategize and find a new way for the TE squad to evolve. There’s a recognized need for a space like this for TE work, and one potential solution is to integrate the TE squad into the Academy as a valuable tool.
Touched hearts- TE squad joined the Oikos Camp with Oikos alumni, a student from Barcelona, and a member from Oikos chapter Graz. This time, the team was made up of people with different skills and backgrounds from Africa, Europe, and Asia. This mix of people brought a lot of energy and creativity. On the last day of the camp, when the TE squad presented their work, more than 100 people watched. This helped more people in the Oikos community and beyond know about the TE squad and what they do.
- TE squad videos were utilized to promote HES 2023, sparking significant interest and visibility for both the TE squad and oikos International on Instagram. We touched more than 1000 hearts through the communication channels within and outside the community
Stories & HighlightsEverything started with a small group of 4-6 very different people who share one dream: Transforming higher education. We want to contribute to the transformation by creating a workshop that supports students to become active and achieve the changes they want to see at their local universities.
Most of us had never met before camp, but when we got together, we soon realized that we are a great team. Our different backgrounds enabled us to see the project from different perspectives, and we also really enjoyed spending time together. To put it briefly, we had a blast during work and our free time!
We started by envisioning what our education could look like – learner-driven, open for discussion, more focused on sustainability…. we could have kept dreaming and talking for hours! But at some point, it was time to get to action. We started with many questions: How can we make others dream about what their education could look like? How can we help students leverage their impact? What struggles do they face, and how can these issues be overcome? Step by step, and with much support from the genies and the creative workshops they held throughout the camp, we found some answers and created the framework for our workshop “Take higher education one step further towards sustainability”. Currently, we are working on the details of the workshop and looking forward to sharing it with you! Katharina Stiosser, oikos Graz
Future Aspirations & Milestones-
The TE squad is set to transform into a space that facilitates increased exchanges between chapters, aligning with the Oikos Academy initiative.
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I aim to bring onboard five additional chapters to be part of the TE squad.
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I intend to engage LEAP researchers and alumni to play a role in facilitating the space for chapters within the TE squad.
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TE Squad .52
15/12/2022TopicsPeer-coaching, Knowledge Transfer and Handover processes
Achievements and DevelopmentThe launch of the new TE Squad format is a reason to celebrate, with a rising number of chapters participating and being committed members of the Squad. Already 3 monthly meetings have been held with different topics and approaches. Learnings and experienced in the field of TE activities have been shared and spread across different chapters. Chapters keep filling out out TE Map on Miro, to capture and discover what other chapters currently do and already achieved in TE.
Key LearningsChallenges
- participation and committment in regular meetings is challenging within the context of volontary work and study background
- academic calanders can be challenging for participants to combine with participation or taking responsabilities
- study duties vary a lot over programs and national contexts
Touched heartsIn the monthly meetings, in total over 20 participants were joining so far. We have currently 8 committed chapters from Austria, Poland, India, Nigeria, Barcelona, Switzerland and Turkey. So far, we have mostly female oikees representing the TE Squad initiative.
Diversity & InclusionWe are striving to reach and include chapters from all over the world to join out Squad, in order to learn from each other, especially from divers environments and contexts. A broader and more divers learning is one goal we have.
Stories & HighlightsThe TE Squad relaunched successfully and entered into action in full speed. Beautiful monthly Squad meetings have taken place, with lively exchange, sharing, get to know each and other and the community. We felt enthusiastic about the co-created ideas and colorful collaboration taking place, leaving every meeting with joy and motivation to keep transforming our education.
Future Aspirations & MilestonesWe envision to communicate better and get clarity what the Squad offers and how useful it can be for chapters, as well as TE mentoring for the chapters to grow and get used more. To sustain the current number of committed members, to create the next Organization Team for the TE Squad and to improve the rotation of roles and responsibilities among the participants.
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TE Squad .54
17/06/2023Achievements and DevelopmentQualitative:
TE squad has successfully fostered a culture of critical thinking and social awareness among chapters. Through engaging discussions, chapter stories and initiatives, we have created spaces for meaningful dialogue, knowledge exchange, and personal growth. Some of the qualitative impact are increased trust and safety within the group to share stories and ask critical questions during the discussions. Two chapters – Cologne and Lausanne participated in sharing TE story and having a faculty and student dialogue during the meetup.Quantitative:
In February, TE squad had no members and now by June, we have 4 chapters actively participating ( Vienna, Graz, Kano, Barcelona) and 3 new chapters joining for one of the meetup sessions (Copenhagen, Baku, Reutlingen). Also Jamshedpur chapter will be active from June month on as they completed their internship and can dedicate time for TE squad.
Key LearningsKey learnings:
- Individual check-ins with chapters support in having more chapters attend TE Squad meetup
- Attract chapters through interesting topics and speakers
- Networking with chapters during ICC and other chapter conference help build rapport with chapters
Challenges: - Consistency in chapter´s attendence
Touched hearts25 people have been reached
13 people participated
7 nationalities – German, India, Nigeria, France, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Austria
Women: 10 I Men: 3
Stories & HighlightsSophie Charrois inspired chapters to talk about challenges we are facing in our institutions and together during the session we found solutions and tips to overcome them.
Kai shared about inside lobbying and outside lobbying and the squad found his story inspiring and promising to take a step in their own institutions. It provided validation for some of us that students can make a difference in the university.
Testimonial by Katharina Stoisser, Graz Chapter,Austria:
For me, the TE-squad meetups have always been a great source of inspiration and motivation. Every month (except May), we met online to discuss interesting topics. I loved listening to the stories and advice from the experts, but also from oikees from other chapters. No matter whether we spoke about challenges and insecurities we’re facing in transforming education and possible solutions to them, about rethinking economics, or about inside- and outside lobbying– I always learned a lot. I also really enjoyed how interactive and open the dialogue was. What is more, I experienced these meetups as a safe space where everybody feels seen and welcomed. All in all, I am looking forward to our next meeting – and to everything that is still going to come!https://oikos-international.org/news/te-squad-call-april-harvest/
https://oikos-international.org/news/te-squad-semester-kick-off-harvest/
Future Aspirations & MilestonesRole play activities
Workshops on proposal writing
Consistently engaging chapters
Consistency in chapter attendence
Aim to reach 2 new chapters every month
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TE Squad .55
25/09/2023Achievements and DevelopmentTE Squad actively participated in the oikos Camp 2023 . Our team dedicated its efforts to crafting an informative workshop and achieved a significant milestone. This workshop not only aimed to raise awareness but also to serve as an invitation for chapters to become part of the TE Squad. Through this initiative, we sought to encourage chapters to join our community and actively contribute to our ongoing mission.
We organized a summer campaign titled “A Glimpse into the Transformation of Education: “The journey of transforming education: One day as the rector of your school.” As part of this campaign, we gathered a total of five videos featuring oikees and alumni members of oikos chapter participated from various corners of the world.
Barcelona chapter was connected to Kai – LEAP coach to coach the chapter to launch the elective course on sustainability in Esade Business School, Spain. More updates after the meeting with Dean in October-November
Key LearningsDuring the summer, we dedicated our time to charting our path for the upcoming fall season with designing the workshop for recruiting more chapters to TE squad. We made the decision to not host any TE Squad meet-ups as chapters are not active and busy with exams, vacation, internships
Looking ahead to the future, it’s essential to consider that if the TE Squad plans to be part of Camp 2024, securing funding for chapter participation will be a crucial priority.
Touched heartsThrough oikos camp, TE squad reached 15+ members including other student associations like Club of Rome & 50 percent
Through the online TE squad pitch during the camp which was recorded and posted on youtube, we have reached 82 people
Stories & HighlightsNeema Nelly: For me, working closely with the Transforming Education (TE) Squad team equipped me with the capability to adapt to diverse viewpoints and methodologies. I gained a deeper understanding of the power of collective thinking. Navigating through various opinions within the team helped me to refine my communication skills and find common ground, a skill that I believe will serve me well in any future collaborative endeavor.
Future Aspirations & MilestonesTE squad workshop is an important milestone for the next 3 months to focus on spreading awareness on TE and inviting chapters to join TE squad.