VIRTUAL MADRID FOCUS ON PEDAGOGY
Abstract
In an increasingly polarised global world order, the challenge of creating balanced ways of living with nature is compromised by entrenched mindsets and prevailing epistemologies that prioritise Western ways of knowing. The push towards decolonising curricula has become crucial in addressing these imbalances and promoting a more equitable approach to global development and humanitarian efforts. This paper explores the transformative potential of the World in Transition (WiT) Programme, which actively bridges the capacities of universities and organisations involved in these fields. The WiT Programme is a post-master’s program that stands as a paradigm of innovation in higher education, bringing together students from diverse geographies and disciplines to engage in a joint endeavour characterised by academic research and fieldwork, sharing, mutual respect, and solidarity. This initiative supports the integration of transformative learning theory in practice, advocating for the inclusion and recognition of Southern and indigenous epistemologies alongside Western narratives. By facilitating cross-cultural exchanges and collaborative research efforts, the programme empowers emerging professionals to develop career paths in humanitarian fields or academic research focused on decolonised approaches. This paper will present findings from our ongoing work, highlighting the successes and challenges experienced by students and faculty involved in the WiT Programme. The session aims to underscore the importance of decolonising curricula as a means to counteract the polarisation of knowledge and power dynamics in global development. We will discuss how transformative learning can be applied to foster critical consciousness and inventiveness among participants, ultimately enabling them to navigate and address complex humanitarian challenges with a more holistic and inclusive mindset.
Saija Hollmén, D.Sc.(Arch), is a Senior Scientist in Humanitarian Architecture at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, and leader of the interdisciplinary WiTLAB (Aalto World in Transition Research LAB), which focuses on global sustainability and humanitarian challenges through cross-disciplinary research and pedagogy. Her research, informed by her architectural practice in the Global South, focuses on architecture as a socio-cultural construction, cultural locality and interdisciplinary pedagogies in architectural education.
Taru Niskanen has worked extensively in architecture, from urban planning to building design. Since 2009, Niskanen has been teaching at Aalto University, School of Art, Design and Architecture, Department of Architecture on Interplay of Cultures master’s level courses. And the interdisciplinary WiT Programme. Taru has supervised student projects connected to real-life cases in Tanzania, Zanzibar, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Ghana. Taru is a PhD candidate in the WiTLAB research team, and her research topic is BY FOOT, ON FOOT: Pedestrian experience as part of the sustainable urban planning for the world’s majority.
Hani Tarabichi is leading the efforts to build sustainable partnerships with organisations, ministries, NGOs, INGOs, companies, and universities to realise the purpose of the WiTLAB. Hani is finishing his doctoral research at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at Aalto University. His research is focused on Social Innovation, Experimental Spaces, and Institutional Change. Hani enjoys facilitating thought-provocative sessions, mentoring teams, and conducting problem-based learning projects.
Anna Koskinen is an architect, urbanist, and researcher with a strong focus on participatory methods and resilient, future-proofed living environments. She is the Assistant Programme Coordinator for the Aalto WiT Programme, where she contributes to the programme’s visibility, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and supports an engaging learning experience. Beyond her role in the WiT Programme, Anna is a researcher in the Urban Planning Research group at Tampere University and a producer at TURNS (Tampere Urban Research Network for Sustainability). Her research and professional interests focus on ecological sustainability, inclusive public space design, and circular economy principles.
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Friday 26th June, 2026