Across the world there are universities, such as Kaospilot (Denmark), Hyper Island (Sweden) or Minerva (United States), that are transforming the traditional teaching method and burying master lectures.

Their method is based on trial and error learning and the students’ experience. These institutions admit not having the key for their students to find a job in the future. According to their arguments, no expert is capable of predicting what kind of knowledge the professions that have not been created yet will require. These institutions acknowledge that for the first time, teachers and students equal on one aspect: nobody knows what the labour markets’ rules will be in a decade.

In a context were market needs change at a fast and dynamic pace, experts believe that university programs must be designed in a modular way, resembling Lego pieces. That way, the student may build his/her profile according to the type of content that interest him/her the most.

Latin America is also dabbling in these issues. As a matter of fact, a few months ago an event about the University of the future was developed in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

We even have a local example of disruptive university: Centro, a Mexican institution that aims to professionalize creativity and use it to solve problems, based on creative economy and design thinking.

Centro is a case of success: it has turned around the structure, focusing on innovation, education, teachers’ expert and professional knowledge instead of putting the emphasis on administrative aspects. The directors of the institution, who come from different places, training and careers, are successful professionals in their fields of expertise. They are completely free to design their currícula, hire teachers and interview applicants. The model is characterized by its flexibility, diversity, freedom, collaboration, better practices and the huge commitment and passion of those who work and study there.

Other success cases around the world include:

Kaospilot (Aarhus, Denmark)

Inaugurated in 1991, in Aarhus, Denmark, Kaospilot is defined as a hybrid between a design and a business school, with a methodology oriented to make the most of leadership and entrepreneurship. The institution alters the usual order of pedagogic priorities, putting praxis on the first place, followed by reflection and theory by the end. Instead of tests, there are projects’ due dates and contact with companies to solve problems in real time is encouraged.

Hyper Island (Stumholmen Island, Sweden)

At Hyper Island, students are trained to innovate, face uncertainty and manage unknown professional and emotional situations. Communication and digital design are the core of learning here. Teachers are working professionals in top level companies, who are called facilitators as they help students solve challenges. Contents are being constantly changed and everything moves on following the industry’s rhythm.

Minerva (San Francisco)

Minerva is a university that bases learning on an online platform designed to expand teachers-students interaction. The special feature of Minerva is that students live together in a residence in San Francisco during the first year, then move to Buenos Aires and Berlin in the second year, followed by Bangalore and Seoul in the third and Istanbul and London in the fourth year.

Source: El Pais