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We are looking for you!

CurioCities: Futures Unlocked* | 23-26 June 2025

50-60 bachelor’s students, coming from different parts of the world, will go on an experiential journey in Twente. Participants will use their personal key (a magical mix of their discipline, experiences, and curiosity) to open the door to the 'exhibit of wonder': an educational quest packed with activities to co-create opportunities for a thriving circular society. 

Throughout this engaging programme, they will be guided by the UT community, professional guilds, a local company, regional students (hbo+wo), and citizens. All students participate in the final futures thinking workshop, where they work together on a specific challenge on circular society.

By understanding different perspectives, personal reflection, providing and receiving feedback, and collective imagination, students will take home a suitcase filled with new competencies that they can apply as a responsible citizen and professional in their future careers. Futures unlocked!

New beginnings

This experience offers the vibrant spirit of CuriousU (Summer School). With a strong focus on exploring futures for societal impact, University of Twente presents real cases and developments that involve the work, passion and points of view from academics, companies, civil society and government in the Twente region. In 2025, CurioCities is a small-scale event: compare it with a city trip that offers 60 international bachelor's students a fun and educational experience.

We are looking for you!

On the 24th of June, in the afternoon, students join a max. of 3 showcases within UTs impact domains safety, health, climate and chip technology. We call this a lifeline programme: participants register for a max. of 3 presentations that highlight one impact domain, or they make a combination (i.e. hour 1: health, hour 2: climate, hour 3: chip technology). 

UT teachers, lecturers and researchers: Share your project/innovation/work within one or more impact domains! Deadline: May 1st, 2025.

  • Curious, but you would like to know more?

    Concept developer and project lead Jamila Blokzijl is happy to answer your questions!

    ing. J. Blokzijl (Jamila)
    Concept developer
    +31534897709
     j.blokzijl@utwente.nl
    Building: Gallery DESIGNLAB

What would you like to do?

Confirm my participation

What we mean by memorable experience:

  • The title of your presentation is a triggering quote or statement (examples: Universitent Zwarte Cross/Universiteit van Nederland)
  • The presentation is an introduction to your field and needs to be in accessible English. We expect to have at least 50% coming from the US, but we also welcome students from other parts of the world. Your group consists of students from different studies (university bachelor level)
  • You want to engage the participants in your presentation. Content first, of course, but what about making it interactive? Can they see it, touch it, smell it, hear it?
  • When it comes to societal challenges, we can be affected by it, or try and make change. Be the guide of the participants and challenge them to ask questions, or share your own struggles: they might have a surprising point of view!
  • Inspire your students to connect your work with their overall challenge, in every sense of the word. Their challenge: How can technology and design boost circular practices in the public space?
  • Optional: you can offer them a suitcase-friendly artefact, like a flyer, a small object or redirect them to a digital space so they may explore more of your field of work.
  • Good to know:
    • You see your presentation as part of your usual teaching/research activities at University of Twente. We offer the possibility to order and (partially) pay for materials required for the presentation (within reasonable limits). Contact Jamila Blokzijl to explore options.
    • There will be a maximum of 20 students that will experience your presentation.
    • Participants can register for your presentation in the first weeks of June.
    • One or a few of your UT colleagues might enjoy your presentation too, and you see the added value. You can also join the other ones.
    • You can welcome them in your building/lab/space. If this is not possible: DesignLab has three spaces to offer: Learn-X, Inspire and Connect.
    • If students need to walk from spot A to B on campus, we need to make certain choices to make the programme logistically feasible.

Invite UT colleagues to participate (too)

Spread the word!

Please forward this page to our other UT colleagues, if you think they would be very much interested in sharing their knowledge as part of the lifeline programme during CurioCities. Fill in their email address below, and they will receive an invitation email automatically. Your name will not be mentioned. See example below.

  • Example automatic invitation

    Dear UT colleague,

    UT is reviving the spirit of CuriousU (Summer School) with a brand new concept: CurioCities: Futures Unlocked*.

    From 23 to 26 June 2025, 50-60 bachelor’s students, coming from different parts of the world, will go on an experiential journey in Twente. Participants will use their personal key (a magical mix of their discipline, experiences, and curiosity) to open the door to the 'exhibit of wonder': an educational quest packed with activities to explore opportunities for a thriving circular society. Throughout this engaging programme, they will be guided by the UT community, professional guilds, a local company, regional students (hbo+wo), and citizens. All students participate in the final futures thinking workshop, where they work together on a specific challenge on circular society. By understanding different perspectives, personal reflection, providing and receiving feedback, and collective imagination, students will take home a suitcase filled with new competencies that they can apply as a responsible citizen and professional in their future careers. Futures unlocked!

    You have been invited by a UT colleague to share your work!

    On the 24th of June, in the afternoon, students join 3 showcases within UTs impact domains safety, health, climate and chip technology. We call this a lifeline programme: participants register for 3 presentations that highlight one impact domain, or they make a combination (i.e. hour 1: health, hour 2: climate, hour 3: chip technology). 

    UT teachers, lecturers and researchers: Share your project/innovation/work within one or more impact domains!
    Deadline: May 1st, 2025.

    Confirm your participation

    Invite other UT colleagues to participate (too)

    Do you have any questions?
    Please reply to this email, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

    Kind regards,

    Jamila Blokzijl
    Concept developer and project leader CurioCities