BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Aurora Symposium on Global Citizenship METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260527T090000 DTEND:20260529T170000 DTSTAMP:20260527T090000 UID:2026/aurora-symposium-on-globa@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260627T052548 LOCATION:Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:Aurora Symposium on Global Citizenship X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

We are pleased to invit e you to participate in the upcoming Aurora Symposium 2026, which wil l take place on 27–29 May 2026. The symposium will focus on the ove rarching theme of Global Citizenship.

The event will bring tog ether educators, researchers, students, and professionals interested in this theme from across the Aurora network and beyond to share insights, b est practices, and innovative ideas that contribute to fostering glob al citizenship in higher education and society.

The event will be kicked off with a special opening ceremony (27 May 2026, 13:00-15: 00) which features introductions from President Dr. Margrethe Jonkman , Aurora Secretary-General Dr. Ramon Puras, followed by special keyno te presentations delivered by Prof. Robert G. Bringle (Indiana Univer sity), Prof. Augustin K. N. Aoudji (University of Abomey-Calavi, Beni n) and Prof. Ali Arnaout (Hochschule Wismar, Germany).

Opening keynote:

Time: 1 3:20 - 14:00
Location: The Aula
Speaker: Robert G. Bringle, Ph.D. Phil.D. (Chancello r’s Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Philanthropic Studies, Ind iana University)
Keynote title: Institutio nal Change through Curricular Innovation
Keynote ov erview: The aspiration is that European Alliances can transf orm the mission and practices of universities. But how can this happe n? Community engagement and service-learning will be examined as pote ntial mechanisms for innovative change not only in the curriculum but also in the mission, faculty roles and rewards, strategic planning, and institutional assessment. As such, they can contribute to enhanci ng partnerships with the community, global learning, and civic learni ng focused on social justice.

Keynote 2:

Time: 14:10 - 14:35

~~Location~~~~: The Aula~~

Speaker: Prof. Augustin K. N. Aoudji (University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin)

Keynote title: Universities as Civic Anchors: Lessons from Benin for Global Citizenship Education

~~Keynote 3:~~

Time: 14:35 - 14:55

Location: The Aula

Speaker: Prof. Ali Arnaout (Hochschule Wismar, G ermany)

Keynote title: Why the World Needs More Risk Takers: Educating Responsible Global Citizens
See the full programme for details of all symposium events. Visi tors may also find the campus map useful. All VU staff are welcome to join the opening ceremony.
View the symposium video.
DESCRIPTION: The event will bring together educators, researchers, stu dents, and professionals interested in this theme from across the Aurora network and beyond to share insights, best practices, and innovative ide as that contribute to fostering global citizenship in higher educatio n and society. The event will be kicked off with a special opening ce remony (27 May 2026, 13:00-15:00) which features introductions from P resident Dr. Margrethe Jonkman, Aurora Secretary-General Dr. Ramon Pu ras, followed by special keynote presentations delivered by Prof. Rob ert G. Bringle (Indiana University), Prof. Augustin K. N. Aoudji (Uni versity of Abomey-Calavi, Benin) and Prof. Ali Arnaout (Hochschule Wi smar, Germany). Opening keynote:

Time: 13:20 - 14:00

Location : The Aula

Speaker: Robert G. Bringle, Ph. D. Phil.D. (Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Phila nthropic Studies, Indiana University)

Keynote title : Institutional Change through Curricular Innovation
< li>Keynote overview: The aspiration is that European Alliances can transform the mission and practices of universities. B ut how can this happen? Community engagement and service-learning wil l be examined as potential mechanisms for innovative change not only in the curriculum but also in the mission, faculty roles and rewards, strategic planning, and institutional assessment. As such, they can contribute to enhancing partnerships with the community, global learn ing, and civic learning focused on social justice.
Keynote 2:

Time: 14:10 - 14 :35

Location: The Aula

S peaker: Prof. Augustin K. N. Aoudji (University of Abomey-Ca lavi, Benin)

Keynote title: Universities a s Civic Anchors: Lessons from Benin for Global Citizenship Education& nbsp;
Keynote 3:

T ime: 14:35 - 14:55

Location: The Aula

Speaker: Prof. Ali Arnaout (Hochschul e Wismar, Germany)

Keynote title: Why the World Needs More Risk Takers: Educating Responsible Global Citiz ens
See the full programme for details of all symposium eve nts. Visitors may also find the campus map useful. All VU staff are welcome to join the opening ceremony. View the sympos ium video. We are pleased to invite you to participate in the upcoming Aurora Symposium 2026, which will tak e place on 27–29 May 2026. The symposium will focus on the overarch ing theme of Global Citizenship. END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR