The Chair of Sustainability and Innovation in Digital Ecosystems at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) is proud to look back on a highly successful participation in the Aurora Symposium 2026, which concluded yesterday at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Running from May 27–29, 2026, the three-day event served as a major international hub for educators and researchers to collaborate on the critical theme of Global Citizenship.

Representing our chair's commitment to bridging cutting-edge digital research with societal impact, Dr. Tomasz Waliczko, Daniel Courtney, and Sandra Haag showcased UDE's expertise through interactive sessions and vital academic contributions.

Dr. Tomasz Waliczko and Daniel Courtney jointly spearheaded a specialized, interactive workshop focused on practical, community-led initiatives. Combining Courtney's deep knowledge of open-source software business models and digital sustainability ecosystems with Waliczko's extensive experience in sustainable digital entrepreneurship, the duo explored how digital innovation can build equitable global partnerships. Their session introduced practical methodologies for "Moonshot Innovation," encouraging participants to develop responsible entrepreneurial practices that benefit local and international communities.

Alongside this practical workshop, Sandra Haag presented her featured research paper on global pedagogies. Haag's work delved into transformative learning, critical global awareness, and the development of core competencies for social entrepreneurship, providing higher education institutions with a clear roadmap to cultivate and measure their real-world societal impact.

The chair extends its gratitude to the organizers at VU Amsterdam and all the international participants who made this year's symposium an inspiring success for global civic education and sustainable ecosystems.

Contact: For follow-ups regarding the workshop methodologies or research papers presented, please reach out directly to Daniel Courtney and Dr. Tomasz Waliczko.