Last month, I had the incredible honour of attending The Stanford d.school's University Innovation Fellows Global Meetup at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. This extraordinary event brought together over 360 Fellows and educators from around the world, all dedicated to transforming higher education. These Fellows are true change agents, bridging educational gaps and fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
One of the standout experiences was our time at the amazing DesignLab University of Twente, a vibrant hub for creative collaboration and knowledge exchange between researchers, societal organisations, students, and citizens. The DesignLab's commitment to sustainability was truly inspiring. Their unique approach, Responsible Futuring, integrates ethical considerations into science-based innovation, ensuring that we design responsibly for society. This was a profound takeaway that I will carry forward.
Being a FAB (Fabulous!) was an incredibly enriching experience. We had the privilege of welcoming passionate Fellows, visionary educators, and inspiring innovators from diverse backgrounds. Together, we explored groundbreaking ideas, shared invaluable insights, and forged connections that will undoubtedly shape the future of innovation. Working alongside other FABs, hearing their stories, and embracing vulnerability together was truly the highlight. A heartfelt thank you to Nariman Gathers and Jonathan Puhl for leading us with such vision and dedication.
A huge shoutout to Miriam Iliohan Illahi and her phenomenal team at the DesignLab for hosting us so graciously and making this event a tremendous success. It was wonderful to reconnect with our UIF family—Humera ⭐️ Fasihuddin, Ghanashyam S, Catherine Randle and Leticia Britos Cavagnaro, PhD. Special thanks to Leticia for gifting me a signed copy of your book, Experiments in Reflection. It’s incredibly powerful and offers so much to ponder!
Mentoring Fellows Mia Shanley Brookes, Sophie Spellissy, and Ciarán Cox from the University of Galway was an absolute pleasure, as was meeting their faculty champion, Dr Natalie Walsh (Ph.D) Thank you, Natali, for the thoughtful University of Galway pin in recognition of my guidance to your amazing Fellows. This gesture means a lot to me, and I am deeply grateful for your acknowledgement.
Finally, to my incredible fellow FABs from around the world—Hey FABs! We absolutely crushed this meetup! Your passion, dedication, and innovative spirit were truly inspiring. Together, we made a significant impact and showcased the true potential of our global community. Thank you for your hard work and for making this experience unforgettable.
Marlen Braun Sabrina Stangler Serhat Bilge Aayush Bhatta Britnee McCauley Camila Buenamar Diego Muñoz N. Gerrit Olbert Gillian G. Jeni Weber Jet Hodgson Zein Zebib Zişan Özdemir Kenae Turner Mana Short Nurefşan Cebeci Panashe Mangezi Tiara Johnson Valeria Aguayo Radhika Kapoor Julieta Caputo