Over recent weeks, we have had the pleasure of welcoming Iraia Urkia-Basterra for a research stay dedicated to exploring how Future Skills are developed within dual higher education programmes. This topic is central to the mission of both DHBW and Next Education, making the exchange especially meaningful and timely.
Iraia's work examines how Future Skills emerge in dual study environments that blend academic and workplace learning. A central part of their research is the analysis of pedagogical elements that support the development of these skills, with particular emphasis on the role of tutor support.
This focus resonates strongly with the core activities of Next Education, where the team explores ways to design learning experiences that prepare students for an increasingly complex professional landscape. Understanding how pedagogical structures, facilitation methods, and interpersonal support shape the development of Future Skills is a crucial component of this work.
During the stay, Iraia engaged with the theoretical and practical dimensions of our Future Skills model. She gained insight into our research frameworks, development processes, and methods for supporting competency development within DHBW programmes.
Her academic perspective contributed significantly to these conversations. By bringing a research lens that specifically targets dual higher education, Iraia helped us reflect more explicitly on how Future Skills manifest across different learning settings and how they might be supported more systematically.
Although the visit was temporary, Iraia quickly became integrated into the team’s daily collaboration culture. They took part in internal project meetings, contributed to ongoing discussions, and offered insights that supported our work on educational innovation and competency development.
We particularly appreciated the clarity with which she connected research findings to practical considerations within dual study programmes. Her contributions added depth to our work and encouraged renewed reflection on our approaches.
Hosting visiting researchers is an important part of Next Education’s commitment to fostering open dialogue, building networks, and connecting academic research with practical innovation. Iraia’s stay exemplified the benefits of this exchange: it brought fresh perspectives, strengthened our reflection on Future Skills in dual education, and added valuable momentum to several of our ongoing efforts.
We extend our sincere thanks to Iraia Urkia-Basterra for her engagement, contributions, and collaborative spirit during her research stay at Next Education. Their work offers significant insights into the development of Future Skills in dual higher education, and we look forward to following its progress. We hope to continue this exchange in the future and wish her success in the next steps of her research journey.
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