Real-World Challenges

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The Shaping Responsible Futures programme is designed around real-World challenges. The challenges are shaped in collaboration with DesignLab and regional partners.

Navigating real-world challenges isn’t easy. Often, the complexity of these problems—whether they involve technical systems, societal issues, or environmental concerns—can feel overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to begin, and even harder to find a way forward that brings everyone together. But our courses are designed to turn that uncertainty into an opportunity.

Here, you'll learn to embrace complexity rather than shy away from it. Each challenge is open-ended, putting you in the driver’s seat. You’ll be given the tools, frameworks, and support to explore the root issues and make the challenge your own. By working closely with stakeholders—whether they come from industry, government, or society—you'll collaborate to co-create meaningful solutions that are grounded in real-world contexts.

Our courses are not about giving you predefined answers. Instead, they encourage you to think beyond traditional boundaries, foster a mindset that balances creativity with responsibility, and build the confidence to lead in complex, transdisciplinary environments. You'll learn to connect theory with practice, critically reflect on the process, and ultimately make a difference by shaping the future together with your peers and stakeholders.


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2025
Apr 2025
Stedin

Challenge: "How can we move from asset- to system-level performance in the energy grid?"

Leading Systemic Change | Cohort 2024/2025 | Stakeholder: Stedin

Apr 2025
Feb 2025
Mobility in Enschede

Challenge: "Co-define and co-frame the current challenges related to Enschede's mobility system"

Responsible Futuring | Cohort 2024/2025 | Stakeholder: Municipality of Enschede

Feb 2025
2024
Nov 2024
TINT Apeldoorn

Challenge: "Designing and investigating a multi-stakeholder tinkering toolkit that can be used by TINT Apeldoorn"

Creative Intelligence | Cohort 2024/2025 | Stakeholder: TINT Apeldoorn

Nov 2024
Feb 2024
Systems of Care

Challenge: "Co-define and co-frame the current challenges related to social justice in the systems of care"

Responsible Futuring | Cohort 2023/2024 | Stakeholder: Sensire

Feb 2024
Feb 2024
BACE (THE ARC)

Challenge: "How can the BACE hub become a valuable contributor to the urban ecosystem of Enschede?"

Leading Systemic Change | Cohort 2023/2024 | Stakeholder: BACE (THE ARC)

Feb 2024
2023
Nov 2023
DesignLab

Challenge: "Designing and investigating a multi-stakeholder tinkering toolkit that can be used in DesignLab"

Creative Intelligence | Cohort 2023/2024 | Stakeholder: DesignLab

Nov 2023
Feb 2023
The Green Box

Challenge: "Which new value areas arise when you set up The Green Box as an energy hub and how can that value be unlocked?"

Leading Systemic Change | Cohort 2022/2023 | Stakeholder: The Green Box

Feb 2023
2022
Nov 2022
Social Justice in Healthcare

Challenge: "Co-define and co-frame the current challenges related to social justice in the systems of care"

Responsible Futuring | Cohort 2022/2023

Nov 2022
Nov 2022
Twente Canals

Challenge: "Design a collaborative activity that brings different stakeholders to the ‘same’ table to explore related challenges surrounding the Twente Canals"

Creative Intelligence | Cohort 2022/2023 | Stakeholder: Port of Twente

Nov 2022
Feb 2022
Green Hub Twente

Challenge: "Analyse Green Hub Twente's change approach and provide advise on how to improve it"

Leading Systemic Change | Cohort 2021/2022 | Stakeholder: Green Hub Twente

Feb 2022
2021
Nov 2021
The Cycling City of the Future

Challenge: "How to develop the cycling city of the future?"

Responsible Futuring | Cohort 2021/2022 | Stakeholder: Municipality of Enschede

Nov 2021
Nov 2021
‘Schone Lei’

Challenge: "How to transform primary education for children through positive wellbeing principles?"

Creative Intelligence | Cohort 2021/2022 | Stakeholder: Met Andere Ogen

Nov 2021
Feb 2021
Inclusive Welfare in Enschede

Challenge: "Improve the general health and wellbeing of Enschede by exploring the concept of Inclusive Welfare"

Futurism | Cohort 2020/2021 | Stakeholder: Municipality of Enschede

Feb 2021
Feb 2021
Mopeds in Enschede

Challenge: "Help the municipality of Enschede with designing new policies concerning mopeds"

Systems Thinking | Cohort 2020/2021 | Stakeholder: Municipality of Enschede

Feb 2021
2020
Nov 2020
Greening Cultural Heritage

Challenge: "How do we preserve cultural heritage while meeting sustainability goals?"

Societal Leadership | Cohort 2020/2021 | Stakeholders: Monumentenwacht & Monumentenadvies Oost

Nov 2020
Nov 2020
De Veluwe

Challenge: "Design a collaborative activity that brings different stakeholders to the ‘same’ table to explore related challenges surrounding the Veluwe area"

Transdisciplinary Working & Creative Intelligence | Cohort 2020/2021

Nov 2020
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