Wim, you are the person who can tell us all about the MindLabs Annual Event. Brand loose: what exactly does the event entail?
The Annual Event is originally a way to show our members and partners what we have done in the past year, and what we are going to do in the future. This is done through a themed program, with presentations and live events. This year's theme is 'beyond education', entirely in line with last year's theme 'beyond media'. But unlike then, this time the event will take place online. On 26 November 2020, the first part, and part two at a time to be determined in mid-December. Too badWe would have preferred to do it live, of course, because we think the annual event is a great opportunity to bring everyone together live and create a good buzz. But there was no other way. So we looked for an alternative that would still allow us to connect. And because we are working with a livestream this year, the second part of the event is now also accessible to all interested parties. So pass it on, I would say!
Why is the Annual Event really a project important to MindLabs?
First of all, we show what we are working on with MindLabs. But also the speakers we invite and the live events that take place always touch on the themes that fit the association. A small summary of the program illustrates this very well:
Part one of the event (November 26). The members of the Startup Kitchen get to speak. We give them a stage and interview them coronaproof in the studio of Fontys University of Applied Sciences about anything and everything. Our partners can respond live or via Teams and ask questions.
Part two of the event (mid-December). First of all, Eugiène Kuipers of Fectar will demonstrate how you can apply augmented reality in education, but also for example during events. He is going to give seminar participants the feeling that they are experiencing the moment together, even though they are really at a distance from each other.
The interactive technology teachers' head group will also present its initial results. That group did and is still doing research on the question: how can you use augmented reality to prepare officers in training for arrestees who do not cooperate during their arrest?
And the students from the debate team of ROC Tilburg will discuss various questions around the theme of 'entrepreneurship and interactive technology in education'. The team won 7 of the 10 last versions of the national debate tournament. And viewers of the stream can also react and give their opinion. So that promises something!
What is your role as project manager in this? What do you mainly occupy yourself with?
Every year, a different MindLabs knowledge institution is the initiator of the event. This year it is the ROC Tilburg, with which I am associated. I have been appointed as organizer and my main task is to oversee the whole event. That is quite a challenge, by the way, with all the changes due to the corona measures...
And what do you especially like to outsource?
I leave the more practical arrangements to someone else. Booking the Fontys studio for the interviews with the start-ups, for example. And the communication about the event to the outside world. It would all be a bit hectic if I had to take care of that too. So happy!
I'm sure you've had some highlights in this project year event. Can you highlight a great peak?
Of course, the event has yet to take place, so in that sense I expect the real highlight to come. But the fact that we were able to stick to our substantive program despite all the corona measures and changes in that area, I think is already quite an achievement. We had to adapt enormously. We had to change gear again and again. And yet we succeeded in not compromising on content. I would call that a little highlight, yes!
And looking further ahead, how are you going to celebrate this milestone as a project group? Because there are probably already creative ideas about ...
To be honest, I haven't given it a moment's thought in all the busyness... But it really is an item for the agenda at the next meeting. Because it's not going to be a drinks party, no. We will have to think of something else. Fortunately, we still have some time.
What are you going to do now? Back into technology at full speed? Or is it now first a cup of coffee, or something stronger?
I've already had coffee today. And I like to keep it at one. It's not very spectacular, but I'm going to have a cup of tea. And then I'll go back to answering the mail I started earlier.