For the sixth consecutive year, the oikos community is gathering in St Gallen, Switzerland for the FutureLab 2016 to pursue the implementation of our mission: integrating more sustainability in economics and management education. Whilst many understand and talk about the struggle of our educational systems to integrate sustainability and teach for its internalisation, we at times cease to couple the talk with the walk. A gap can be observed both in the struggle to teach for sustainable change agents and for inciting people to walk their talk in implementing projects that can bring about transformation. Do you believe in this need too? Are you involved in executing such a project? Then, get ready: From November 6th to 9th at the FutureLab 2016, we are going to #WalkTheTalk by empowering and inspiring each other to advance our actions and close educational gaps.
In order to achieve this aim, the FutureLab 2016 is a journey that starts the minute you apply to take part in it and continues for the months succeeding the gathering. The journey varies according to participants’ passions and their current involvement in an activity in line with the FutureLab’s aim. Each journey is an experience to share, reflect, cultivate and re-think one’s current endeavours or ambitions in the field of education.Journeys will start by being part of a Learning Circle and engaging in regular cross-chapter actions with multiple stakeholders prior to the FutureLab. The conference will then act as a platform to share, be enriched and achieve lasting impact with commitment.
As we ensure that we walk all throughout, the environment of the FutureLab is one where:
- The main gaps in management and economics education are unravelled in order to comprehend where we can tackle them most effectively;
- Listening to examples where individuals have had positive impact by standing up and walking the talk, will allow to be inspired;
- Students, faculty and partners connect, share and collaborate on projects that address the gap and that they are committed to executing;
- Stakeholders from around the world can interact with the present participants and let their thoughts be heard allowing to increase the diversity and interdisciplinarity in our conversations and development of solutions;
- oikos Learning Circles are core to the development of projects in different disciplines so that participants can pursue closing the gap in the discipline they are most passionate about.
Following the path we walk on, all stakeholders invested in projects that are addressing the exposed gap, are invited to participate. Whether we are referring to students who wish to comprehend other stakeholders’ views on local projects, or faculty members who struggle to overcome barriers within their institutions to adopt projects, participants will inspire each other to move further, stay committed and pursue the difference they can make. Similarly, oikos alumni, advisors, partners and other practitioners will join to contribute to enabling actions via their distinct approaches.
The FutureLab 2016 is a central gathering of the #WalkTheTalk journey that is based on the understanding that to close the educational gap we require collective and committed action. Since everyone has a role to play in closing educational gaps, diverse and striving individuals will collaborate and advance their actions. With #WalkTheTalk we will create ripples that inform, involve and make a difference.
Keep an eye on oikos-international.org/futurelab for more information to come soon.
