Co-learning in the innovation hub: a way to improve transdisciplinary partnerships

Challenge-based learning (CBL) emphasizes active stakeholder engagement and real-world, open-ended challenges. Unlike other active learning models, CBL involves students, educators, and stakeholders as co-learners (van den Beemt et al., 2023; Doulougeri et al., 2024). Typically, challenges are introduced by a single stakeholder, often from industry, which may limit alignment with broader societal issues requiring multi-stakeholder collaboration (van den Beemt & McCleod, 2021).
To foster inter-stakeholder collaboration and co-learning, TU/e innovation Space developed Thematic Challenges, centered on broad societal themes such as Regenerative Resources and Responsible Mobility. These challenges create communities where students collaborate with diverse stakeholders, learning to navigate complex societal issues.
To support this transition, we developed the "Co-Learning in the Innovation Hub" workshop, which immerses participants in stakeholder roles to explore tensions and align interests in a CBL framework, based on the following structure:
•20 min: Welcome, Deep Democracy check-in.
•20 min: Introduction to thematic challenges, Q&A.
•45 min: Interactive role-playing on systemic constellations.
•25 min: Reflection and discussion.
•10 min: Deep Democracy check-out.
Designed for educational designers and teachers, this workshop provides concrete tools to enhance multi-stakeholder collaboration in education, requiring no prior knowledge.