How do we develop education, research environments and academic culture in a time of rapid technological and societal change? At the School of Engineering Sciences, SCI, we are working actively with three focus areas that are central to this question: AI in education, hands-on and project-based learning through SCI MakerSpace, and inclusion as a foundation for a strong academic environment.

To make this work more visible and easier to follow, we have now published three dedicated pages:

These pages gather information about ongoing activities, workshops, resources and contact points. They are meant to be living entry points into work that will continue to develop together with faculty, staff and students.
The three areas are different, but closely connected. AI is already changing the conditions for learning, teaching, examination, administration and research support. MakerSpace will create new opportunities for students and teachers to design, build, test and develop ideas in a practical and creative environment. Inclusion concerns the academic culture that makes it possible for people to contribute, collaborate and grow.

A central part of our approach is direct involvement. These focus areas are not being developed only through strategy documents or central decisions, but through workshops, discussions, specialized meetings and concrete activities involving faculty, staff and students. Lasting change in education and academic culture requires shared understanding, local engagement and opportunities for colleagues to bring in their expertise and experience.

A recent example was the full-day Agentathon workshop on AI agents, in which I also took part. It was an impressive source of inspiration, and a very tangible sign of both the opportunities and the risks connected to AI. We saw how AI tools can make many daily tasks faster, more effective and more structured. At the same time, the workshop raised serious questions about security, responsibility, data handling and the need for critical judgement.
This balance is important. Curiosity and experimentation are necessary if we want to understand how new tools can strengthen our work. But they must go together with awareness of risks, ethical considerations and sound academic judgement.

The publication of these pages is therefore not an endpoint, but an invitation to follow, contribute to and discuss the work as it develops. Each of these focus areas touches questions that are central to the future of universities: how we use new technologies responsibly, how we create environments for creative and practical learning, and how we build academic cultures where people can contribute fully. By making the work visible and by developing it together with faculty, staff and students, we strengthen not only individual initiatives, but also the conditions for education, research and collaboration at SCI.