Education Festival 2026: Shaping Education Through Values, Voices, and Vision

The 6th edition of the Education Festival will be held from the 23rd to 25th March 2026 by Teaching Academy Groningen.

The Education Festival 2026 focuses on three central ideas: Values, Voices, and Vision. These concepts reflect the foundation of our educational community and our shared commitment to shaping the future of learning. As the University of Groningen prepares for its new institutional plan, this year’s festival invites us to explore how our collective Values, Voices, and Vision come together in practice to create a meaningful and lasting impact in education.

Embracing Values

Values are central to every learning experience. They shape how we teach, how we learn, and how we connect with others. At the University of Groningen, our core values, Academic Freedom, Integrity, Inclusivity, and Sustainability, guide this process. The festival will explore how shared values such as inclusivity, wellbeing, and curiosity can enrich these principles and help shape a meaningful educational culture. Together, we’ll consider how they can inspire new ways of teaching and learning, and foster a positive, equitable, and forward-thinking academic community.

Amplifying Voices

Education thrives on the exchange of ideas. Every voice, students, teachers, researchers, and partners, contributes to shaping our educational landscape. This year’s festival celebrates these diverse voices, encouraging dialogue, collaboration, and co-creation. By listening to and learning from one another, we can build a more connected and resilient academic community.

Exploring Vision

Vision is what guides us forward. It allows us to imagine what education can become and to align our teaching with a shared sense of purpose. During the festival, we will explore how a clear and forward-looking vision helps us innovate, adapt, and prepare students for a changing world. By reflecting on our long-term goals, we can strengthen our collective understanding of what it means to teach for the future. And by putting these ideas into practice in our classrooms, we can turn vision into action, creating learning environments that embody the future we imagine.