Teach the Future congratulates Hub Germany’s Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Hofvenschiöld (ESB) on their continuing work and recent Teaching Award for Sustainability and Diversity.
Presented by Prof. Dr. Sabine Löbbe, this award was established in 2023. For 2024, a prize of 2,000 euros was awarded to Dr. Hofvenschiöld for her course ‘Futures Thinking.’ An eight-member jury from Reutlingen University, including four students from different faculties and the Sustainability & Diversity team representatives, decided on the winner.
In granting the award, the representative for Sustainability and Climate Protection at Reutlingen University, Prof. Dr. Löbbe, emphasized that Prof. Dr. Hofvenschiöld succeeds in easing students' fears about the future through her course, a critical step in encouraging progressive thought. Course participants use creative methods such as storytelling in various forms (videos, podcasts or plays) to develop their vision for the future and thus learn about their ability to take action.
The future cannot be predicted because it does not exist. If it does not exist, you can help create it.—Prof. Dr. Hofvenschiöld
Sustainability and diversity play a central role in the ‘Futures Thinking’ course, as the students' visions of the future often concern ecological issues. Prof. Dr. Hofvenschiöld invites them to critically question existing power relations by, for example, discussing the impact of colonialism, racism, or elitism.
Students are empowered to reflect, differentiate, and be motivated from within. Skills are taught that ultimately lead us to the appropriate solutions and the will to implement them.—Futures Thinking Student
The award money will be used to further course development at Reutlingen University and raise futures literacy awareness in the city of Reutlingen and its surrounding areas.
We look forward to more news from Dr. Elizabeth Hofvenschiöld and Hub Germany.