Amsterdam, June 10–12, 2025 — As part of the prestigious UIIN Conference 2025 – Reimagining Universities for Talent, Innovation, and Impact, the Erasmus+ project Mapping Engaged Educators Career Pathways (MapEEC) made a powerful contribution by hosting a dynamic and interactive workshop under the same title. The session brought together 20 participants from across Europe, representing both academic and professional sectors committed to rethinking the role of engagement in academic career development.
Setting the Scene: Why Engagement Matters Now
The MapEEC team opened the session by introducing the project’s core aims: to explore how engaged educators—those who go beyond traditional teaching to co-create knowledge with students, communities, and external partners—can be better supported, recognized, and rewarded in their professional trajectories.
In a context where university educators are increasingly called to connect the ivory tower with real-world challenges, the MapEEC initiative highlights the urgent need to map, define, and structure career pathways that reflect this evolving role.
Badges, Dialogue, and Discovery
Participants were invited to self-identify using a set of colorful badges—engaged educators, passionate practitioners, and supporters—a playful yet meaningful exercise that set the tone for reflection and collaboration. Mixed groups shared personal and institutional experiences, discussing the multiple meanings of engagement and its relevance across disciplines and geographies.
The MapEEC team facilitated an exploration of the “engaged educator portrait”, a structured reflection on motivations, challenges, benefits, and institutional recognition.
Gallery Walk: Collective Insights, Shared Voices
Using posters and QR-coded visual tools, the room transformed into a gallery of perspectives. Participants walked through different prompts:
– What drives engaged educators?
– What are the systemic obstacles?
– How are these educators currently supported?
– What tools do they need?
This activity emphasized the diversity of experiences and needs across higher education systems, while also pointing to recurring patterns—such as the lack of formal acknowledgment in promotion criteria or the emotional labor often left invisible.
The Engagement Matrix: From Concept to Application
A central highlight of the workshop was the presentation of the MapEEC Engagement Matrix, a flexible tool designed to:
– Categorize types of engagement (co-creation, outbound/inbound collaboration),
– Provide descriptive and measurable indicators,
– Support self-assessment and institutional development.
Participants tested the tool in small groups, offering feedback on its usability, adaptability, and potential for implementation in their own universities. Reactions ranged from enthusiastic validation (“We could really use this!”) to thoughtful critique and contextual suggestions.
Looking Ahead: Season Two and Beyond
The session concluded with a sneak peek into Season Two of the project, as the MapEEC team prepares to deepen its research and expand its toolkit for institutions. Participants were thanked not only with words, but with a symbolic gesture—“a gift of five minutes” reclaimed from the schedule to encourage reflection and connection.
Each attendee received a badge sticker marking their contribution to the community of MapEEC-approved engaged educators—a small but meaningful token celebrating shared commitment to educational transformation.
Final Thoughts
The workshop reaffirmed a growing consensus in higher education: engagement is not extracurricular—it’s essential. As institutions seek to become more responsive, inclusive, and impactful, recognizing and rewarding engaged educators becomes not just fair, but strategic.
We thank all those who joined us in Amsterdam and look forward to continuing the conversation throughout 2025.
📸 Explore the photo gallery below for highlights from the workshop.
Author: Anca Petrescu
