About Personalized Education at ICEQ | Gdańsk University of Technology

The Congress was organized by the universities within the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science, with the National Center for Research and Development as the event’s substantive partner. During the event, Martyna Kozłowska-Żukowska, the project manager of "Universities of the Future," introduced the project funded by European Funds within the European Social Development Funds Program (FERS) and participated in a discussion about the possibilities for systemic personalization in education.

On May 13 of this year, the National Center for Research and Development initiated a partnership and signed agreements to prepare and implement the project. Together with 12 universities, including Gdańsk University of Technology, which went through the selection process, we have embarked on a new era in academic education. Subsequently, on October 15, the Center signed the funding agreement for the project "Universities of the Future."

How should we educate so that future generations are motivated to study? Why are young people losing interest in pursuing higher education? What can universities do to attract candidates? It turns out that prospective students expect universities not only to impart knowledge but also to adopt an innovative approach to teaching, to create multi-pathways for development, and to meet essential needs, such as autonomy and competence – often referred to in the business world as empowerment and growth.

Consequently, the philosophy of future education must be personalized, offering choice and building curricula around the interests of students to foster a passion for learning. We anticipate significant changes in this approach in the near future. Working with a tutor or mentor presents an opportunity to address the essential needs of students in higher education, namely, the need for decision-making and competence development. Through direct interaction, mentors, acting as academic or professional guides, can build relationships with their students, thereby providing a sense of security.

A core principle of the "Universities of the Future" personalized education model is to place the student at the center of the learning process as an expert in their own development. In practice, this approach means individualized learning, opportunities for learning through action and experience, achieving practical project results, developing future competencies, sharing responsibility for learning outcomes, and fostering a sense of agency among students.

At the ICEQ Congress, Gdańsk University of Technology was represented by PhD Agnieszka Lendzion, Head of the Office for Young Scientists.

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