Teaching is one of the most visible things a university does. The work that shapes it, the frameworks, the partnerships, the decisions about what learning should actually prepare students for, tends to happen quietly, in working groups and planning documents that rarely make it into public view.
Within Aurora,
Work Package 4: Teaching for Societal Impact focuses specifically on teaching and learning for societal impact, bringing together educators, curriculum developers, and institutional leads from across Aurora to think seriously about what teaching looks like when it is designed around real-world impact rather than disciplinary convention alone. In this interview, Marjolein Zweekhorst, lead of Work Package 4, shares what WP4 is working on, what it has already set in motion, and what it will take to move forward.
What is WP4 and its subgroups working towards, and which real-world challenges does it respond to?
Work Package 4 (WP4) focuses on transforming teaching and learning to achieve a clear societal impact. In practice, it works towards embedding service learning, challenge-based co-creation, and education aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Aurora universities. Its three subgroups each contribute to this goal in different ways: TT4.1 promotes the integration of service learning and joint, real-world problem solving within curricula; TT4.2 develops and applies the LOUIS competence framework to align learning outcomes with sustainability and personal development goals; and TT4.3 strengthens international cooperation, particularly through partnerships with universities in the Global South. Together, these efforts respond to real-world challenges such as SDGs, e.g., climate change, social inequality, and the disconnect between academic knowledge and societal needs, by making education more applied, inclusive, and globally connected.
Can you give one concrete example of something that WP4 has produced or set in motion this year?
One concrete example is the mapping of more than 100 service learning and SDG-oriented courses across Aurora partner universities. This initiative has created a shared overview of how societal engagement is already embedded in teaching and has made it easier for institutions to exchange practices, collaborate on course development, and identify gaps or opportunities for further innovation. It also lays the groundwork for integrating these courses into a common Aurora Course Catalogue, increasing their access and visibility.
What does working across Aurora universities actually make possible thematically that would not exist if each university worked alone?
Working across Aurora universities enables the development of shared thematic approaches to education that go beyond what individual institutions could achieve on their own. For example, it enables the alignment of curricula around common priorities, such as the SDGs and societal impact, while also supporting the creation of joint learning experiences, such as Blended Intensive Programmes and international learning labs. Importantly, it also facilitates cross-cultural and global collaboration, particularly through partnerships between European and African universities, hence enriching perspectives and strengthening mutual learning. Without this collaboration, universities would be limited to their own institutional frameworks and would lack the same level of coordination, exchange, and global reach.
What is the next step for WP4, and is there anything the broader Aurora community should know about what it takes to get there?
The next step for WP4 is to consolidate and integrate its outputs, including the course mapping, the digital Toolbox, and the planned Experts Centre, into Aurora’s shared digital infrastructure, especially the Course Catalogue. Achieving this will require continued coordination across universities, particularly regarding technical systems, data sharing, and agreement on formats and standards. Moreover, we will assess the impact of the activities conducted in WP 4. For the broader Aurora community, it is important to understand that this phase depends heavily on active participation: universities need to contribute data, engage with the tools being developed, and collaborate across work packages. In this sense, the success of WP4 moving forward relies not only on its own activities but on joint effort and alignment across the entire alliance.
The work discussed in this interview comes to life at the Aurora Symposium on Global Citizenship, taking place 27–29 May 2026 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Organised by WP4, the symposium brings together educators, researchers, students, and professionals from across Aurora Universities to exchange insights and ideas on fostering global citizenship in higher education.
Registration is free for Aurora alliance members. The deadline to register is 30 April 2026.
