Inspiring The Minds offers an extensive array of complimentary lectures and workshops for students and academics. Our goal is to share knowledge and foster communication among all participants. Browse through our lectures & workshops catalogs and sign up for each event at no cost. Register now to secure your spot!
If you missed a lecture, you can watch the record and claim an acknowledgement certificate from here
Coming lectures open for registration
The new frontiers of professional development education for youngers and women
September 29 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (CET)
Mentoring is a powerful tool that facilitates and fosters the connection between people experiences and diversities, by creating a fertile ground where competences, talents, aspirations and values take shape and flourish.
By analysing real cases and best practices, we will discuss about the power of Mentoring as an effective tool for professional development for women and youngers, besides organizations and communities.
During the lecture, participants will also have the opportunity to brainstorm in small groups on how the tool of Mentoring could promote the professional development of themselves, of their organizations or communities.
SPEAKER: CAMILLA FORTUNATI Mentoring Expert | Business Development Manager, Ortygia Business School Foundation | Bocconi University
Camilla Fortunati has been working in the Executive Education industry since 2015 and she is Business Development Manager at Ortygia Business School, a hub for the human capital development founded by the Economist Lucrezia Reichlin.
She is a professional with nearly 10 years of experience in the design and management of Mentoring Programs for women empowerment, vocational guidance of young people and for the development and growth of young professionals.
Her academic background combines specialization in quantitative methods and statistics built thanks her Master Degree in Economic and Social Sciences by Bocconi University with a humanistic background from high-school classical studies and university elective courses such as Cultural Anthropology, Human Rights and Social Entrepreneurship.
When: 29 September @16:00 CET
Where: online – Zoom
The Twin Transitions: green and digital transformations between economic challenges and labor conflicts (September 15, 2023 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
A specific challenge of sustainability is the integration between green and digital transformation. Although digital and green transitions have been defined as twin transitions, and new labels like circular I4.0, or digital circular economy emphasize that they are complementing each other, some evidence and research highlight how ecological and technological objectives and practices may be at odds with each other. Digitization and ecological transitions can produce controversial effects in terms of social inclusion. The seminar aims to prompt critical reflection on the underestimated aspects of the ambivalent relationship between digital technology and sustainability.
About the guest lecturer: Davide Arcidiacono (Associate Professor presso University of Catania)
Davide Arcidiacono holds a PhD in Sociology and Social Science Methodology. In 2015, he was Visiting Researcher at the Institute for Social Research (SOFI), Stockholm University. He is a member of several editorial boards of journals such as “Review of European Studies”, “Athens Journal of Social Science”, “Consumatori, Rights and Market”, “POLIS”, “Frontiers in Sociology”.
His research work focuses on the topics of digital transformation, social innovation, economic regulation and job transitions.
Where: Online – Zoom (confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link and attendance certificate)
We look forward to seeing you there!
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The limited presence of women in venture capital and its consequences by Ana Alcaine (03 of May 2023 @ 15:00 to 16:00 (CET))
The guest lecture will explore the issue of the limited presence of women in venture capital and its consequences. Specifically, the lecture will focus on how this disparity affects the chances of fundraising for female investment teams. The speaker will offer insights into the various factors that contribute to this gender gap and highlight the need for increased diversity in the venture capital industry.
To address this issue, the speaker will discuss Women2Invest, an initiative aimed at increasing the number of female investors in the industry. They will elaborate on the program’s goals and strategies and showcase some of its early successes.
Moreover, the guest lecture will examine other similar initiatives that are currently underway to tackle gender inequality in the venture capital sector. The audience will have an opportunity to learn from the experiences of successful female investors and entrepreneurs, and engage in a productive dialogue on ways to promote greater diversity and inclusivity in the industry.
When: 03 May 2023 (15:00 – 16:00 CET)
Where: Online – Zoom (confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link and attendance certificate)
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Diversity and Inclusion in Organizational Processes by Alexandra Baldwin (09 May 2023 @ 14.30 – 16.00 (CET))
The lecture will cover the following three topics:
- Introduction to concepts of diversity and inclusion in the context of organizations and their processes
- The Harvard Implicit Association Test and its implications for the workplace
- Equity vs equality: regional vs industry-specific challenges regarding diversity and inclusion
This guest lecture will cover three important topics related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. First, Alexandra will introduce the concepts of diversity and inclusion in the context of organizations and their processes, and discuss how they can be leveraged to drive innovation and improve organizational performance. Next, Alexandra will discuss the Harvard Implicit Association Test and its implications for the workplace, highlighting how unconscious biases can impact recruitment, promotion, and performance evaluation decisions. Finally, we will explore the differences between equity and equality, and discuss the regional and industry-specific challenges related to diversity and inclusion. This guest lecture is a must-attend for anyone interested in learning more about creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace.
About the lecturer: As researcher and lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland’s Department of Business Studies, Alexandra investigates topics related to organizational learning and lifelong learning in the context of entrepreneurship and business studies, as well as personal and personnel development. She works in projects connecting research with (sustainable) business and the impact of continued education efforts on organizational development.
More information can be found on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-baldwin-397153155/).
When: 09 May 2023 (14:30 – 16:00 CET)
Where: Online – Zoom (confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link and attendance certificate)
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Motivation clips
Inclusion and Pay Equity by Lipika Verma (18 May 2023 – 11:30 to 12:30 CET)
In this guest lecture, Lipika Verma, Vice President-Rewards & Performance Innovation & Thought Leadership at Schneider Electric, will share her insights and expertise on two important topics: inclusion and pay equity.
Lipika would discuss and present the importance of creating an inclusive workplace culture, where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to contribute fully to the organization regardless of their personal characteristics. She will share examples of how to implement inclusive policies and practices, such as unconscious bias training, flexible work arrangements, other interventions to create a more diverse and equitable workforce.
Next, Lipika will delve into the topic of pay equity, and explain why it’s important for organizations to ensure that employees are compensated fairly for the work they do. She will share best practices and the efforts companies put in to get to an equitable level. She will also discuss the role of transparency and communication in promoting pay equity and legislations around it and share examples of how to communicate with employees about compensation philosophy and practices.
Throughout the lecture, Lipika will draw on her extensive experience in Rewards and Human Resources, as well as her passion for creating inclusive and equitable workplaces, to provide practical insights and advice for attendees. Whether you’re an students, academic, HR professional, a business leader, or simply interested in learning more about these important topics, this guest lecture is sure to be informative and engaging.
When: 18 May 2023 (11:30 – 12:30 CET)
Where: Online – Zoom (confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link and attendance certificate)
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Agility and Semantic Structures for Scaffolding Academic Education: Part 2 – workshop (24 of May – 15:30 to 17:30 (CET))
Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are facing different challenges these days: The sector is becoming more competitive and the education profile need to become more dynamic: the amount of knowledge is ever increasing and knowledge is out-dating faster than ever as new knowledge is emerging and the overall body of knowledge grows in almost every discipline. As a consequence, the education system in HEI needs to become more agile and more modular, in order to be able to adapt to these challenges.
Education programs are carefully crafted in a manual but unstructured way from different stakeholders and brought to life by yet different roles, supported by a number of processes, methods and tools.
The workshop introduces a way to use semantic structures that support the creation of connected, modular education items which represent a Pre-built information spaces for learning environments (PreBIS-LE). We will introduce a concept for a simple and universal way to structure learning outcomes and reflect the model by using practical examples from different application domains. While doing so, we are able to create a more structured form of the essence of educational program that act like a scaffolding for the creation, communication and execution of those programs. This increased transparency supports the understanding for human actors in different roles and the formalization can also be used to build supporting IT-systems that enable a dynamic presentation and exploration of different aspects of educational programs.
Participants of the workshop will obtain a basic understanding of the concept of Pre-built information spaces for learning environments, get the opportunity to develop an understanding using small examples from their own educational domain and have the chance to enter in the conversation of how to develop the concept further.
About the lecturer: Karsten Böhm is a professor on Business Informatics at the University of Applied Sciences in Kufstein Tirol, Austria. He studied Computer Science with a minor in Linguistics and a specialization in automatic text processing. Karsten had been the director of studies of several academic programs in Kufstein for more than a decade and serves as an advisor for accreditation agencies in Austria and Germany. In his research activities he had been involved in European, national and regional collaborative research projects, where he served as researcher and as technical manager. His research is rooted in the field of IT-supported Knowledge Management with different fields of application, such as Innovation Management and knowledge intensive process management. His recent research focus is the use of semantic technologies and agile methods in higher education institutions.
More information can be found on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/karstenboehm/
ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Karsten-Boehm
When: 24 May 2023 (@ 15:00 – 17:00 CET)
Where: Onsite (Alicante University, Spain – a side event to the CloudEARTHi conference)/Online – Zoom
(confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link and attendance certificate)
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Diversity and Inclusion in Organizational Processes (workshop) by Alexandra Baldwin (19 June 2023)
This workshop will be the follow up of the lecture about the topic which held on the 09 of May, 2923. The workshop has the following structure:
- Diversity mapping: what unites/separated the on-site workshop participants?
- How companies expect to benefit from a diverse and inclusive workforce in terms of intellectual capital
- Diversity & inclusion benchmarking – diversity dimensions in various organizational settings
- Scaffolding organizational learning for a diverse and inclusive workforce: hands-on exercises.
- Diversity and inclusion in organizations: best intentions – best strategy – best practice?
- What I see is what I do: how media represents diversity and inclusion
- Disproportional representation of diverse populations in learning organizations
- Summary, Reflection and Wrap up
This workshop builds on the previous guest lecture and delves deeper into the topic of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The workshop will start with diversity mapping, where participants will identify what unites and separates them in terms of their backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This activity will set the stage for a discussion on how companies can benefit from a diverse and inclusive workforce in terms of intellectual capital.
The workshop will then explore diversity and inclusion benchmarking, looking at the different diversity dimensions in various organizational settings. Participants will also engage in hands-on exercises to scaffold organizational learning for a diverse and inclusive workforce.
The discussion will shift to explore the best intentions, strategies, and practices for promoting diversity and inclusion in organizations. The workshop will also examine how media represents diversity and inclusion, and how this can influence organizational cultures.
A key topic for the workshop will be the disproportionate representation of diverse populations in learning organizations. Participants will discuss strategies for addressing this issue and creating more inclusive learning environments.
The workshop will conclude with a summary, reflection, and wrap-up activity, giving participants an opportunity to share their insights and takeaways from the workshop. Overall, this workshop is designed to help organizations create a more diverse and inclusive workplace, and to provide participants with the tools and strategies they need to drive change within their organizations.
About the lecturer: As researcher and lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland’s Department of Business Studies, Alexandra investigates topics related to organizational learning and lifelong learning in the context of entrepreneurship and business studies, as well as personal and personnel development. She works in projects connecting research with (sustainable) business and the impact of continued education efforts on organizational development.
More information can be found on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-baldwin-397153155/).
When: 19 June 2023 (Exact time will be announced later)
Where: Onsite (Institute of Arctic Marine Biology, UiT – Tromsø campus)/Online – Zoom
(confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link and attendance certificate)
We look forward to seeing you there!
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From Side Hustle at University to Startup: How One Student Turned an Idea into a Thriving Business (September 2023)
Join us for an inspiring guest lecture on how a university student turned their side hustle into a successful startup. This event will provide an opportunity to hear from a young entrepreneur who successfully navigated the challenges of starting a business while studying at university. We will explore the steps they took to turn their idea into a thriving business and discuss the skills and qualities needed for success in the startup world.
Agenda:
- Introduction to the speaker and their experience as an entrepreneur
- Overview of the side hustle and startup industry
- How to identify a business opportunity and validate your idea
- Challenges faced by student entrepreneurs and how to overcome them
- How to turn a side hustle into a full-time business
- Q&A session with the speaker
Key Takeaways:
- Learn about the journey of an entrepreneur from side hustle to startup success
- Discover the key steps in identifying and validating a business opportunity
- Understand the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and how to overcome them
- Obtain practical advice for turning your side hustle into a full-time business
- Learn how to manage your startup while studying at university
Target Audience:
This guest lecture is intended for students who are interested in starting their own business or turning their side hustle into a full-time venture. It is also suitable for anyone who wants to learn about the challenges and opportunities of being an entrepreneur.
Duration: The guest lecture will last approximately an hour including the Q&A session.
Conclusion:
Starting a business while studying at university can be challenging, but it can also be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Join us for this guest lecture and learn from an entrepreneur who successfully turned their side hustle into a thriving startup. Discover the key steps in identifying and validating a business opportunity, learn how to overcome the challenges of being an entrepreneur, and obtain practical advice for turning your side hustle into a full-time business.
When: September 2023 (Exact day and time will be communicated later)
Where: Online – Zoom (confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link)
We look forward to seeing you there!
Risk and Opportunities of ESGs: Navigating the Challenges and Benefits of Sustainable Investing (October 2023)
This guest lecture will explore the risks and opportunities associated with investing in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) assets. The lecture will begin by defining ESG investing and its importance in today’s investment landscape. The speaker will then discuss the various ESG factors that investors should consider when evaluating investment opportunities, such as climate change, social justice, and corporate governance.
The lecture will also cover the challenges and potential pitfalls of ESG investing, including the difficulty of measuring and assessing ESG factors, the lack of standardized ESG reporting, and the potential for “greenwashing” by companies that claim to be ESG-friendly without truly living up to their commitments. Additionally, the speaker will discuss how ESG investing can help mitigate risks, such as reputational risk, regulatory risk, and operational risk, as well as how it can lead to long-term growth opportunities.
The guest lecturer will be a seasoned investment professional with extensive experience in ESG investing. The lecture will include examples of successful ESG investments and case studies of companies that have faced ESG-related challenges. The lecture will conclude with a Q&A session, giving students an opportunity to ask questions and engage with the speaker.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain a deeper understanding of ESG investing and its importance in today’s investment landscape
- Understand the risks and opportunities associated with investing in ESG assets
- Learn how to evaluate and analyze ESG factors when assessing investment opportunities
- Become familiar with the challenges and potential pitfalls of ESG investing, including greenwashing and lack of standardized ESG reporting
- Learn how ESG investing can help mitigate risks and lead to long-term growth opportunities
- Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing case studies of companies that have faced ESG-related challenges
- Engage with an experienced investment professional and ask questions about ESG investing
When: October 2023 (Exact day and time will be communicated later)
Where: Online – Zoom (confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link)
We look forward to seeing you there!
Previous lectures but still you can claim an acknowledgment certificate
Career in startup – is it for me? (Lecture)
If you missed a lecture, you can watch the record and claim an acknowledgement certificate from here
An insightful guest lecture on the career opportunities in startup companies. This event provides an opportunity to hear from seasoned professionals and entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated the startup world. We explore the pros and cons of working in a startup environment and help you determine if it’s the right fit for you.
Agenda:
- Introduction to the speaker and their experience in the startup industry
- Working in a startup vs. corporation
- What skills or attitudes are needed to thrive in the startup world?
- Equity vs. salary compensation
- Where to look for jobs in climate-tech startups
- How to get your foot in the door in VC
- Q&A session with the speaker
Key Takeaways:
- Gain an understanding of the benefits and challenges of working in a startup environment
- Learn about the key skills and qualities needed to succeed in the startup industry
- Discover tips for identifying and evaluating potential startup opportunities
Target Audience:
This guest lecture is intended for students, recent graduates, and professionals who are considering a career in the startup industry. It is also suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about the startup industry and its growth potential.
Duration: The guest lecture will last approximately an hour including the Q&A session.
Conclusion: Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, exploring a career in startup can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Join us for this guest lecture and learn from industry experts who have successfully navigated the startup world. Discover the skills and qualities needed for success, learn how to identify and evaluate potential startup opportunities.
When: 18 April 2023 (11:00 – 12:00 CET)
Where: Online – Zoom
Event poster:
Ensuring a sustainable ocean economy (Lecture)
Join us in a conversation between former Prime Minister Erna Solberg, rector of UiT Dag Rune Olsen, and participant in UiT’s Ocean Leadership program and community contact, responsible for sustainability for Gratanglaks Monica Eide. The conversation will be chaired by Jan-Gunnar Winther, leader of the Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic.
The world’s attention is increasingly turning to the ocean to meet the world’s food and energy needs. At the same time, the ocean is experiencing the global crises of rapid climate change, high-level biodiversity loss, and widespread pollution. In 2018, former Prime Minister Erna Solberg launched the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. This has in time ensured that Norway has taken a powerful leadership role in the international effort to ensure sustainable use of the ocean. But are we on track to reach the international – and our own national – sustainable development goals?
Join us in a conversation between former Prime Minister Erna Solberg, rector of UiT Dag Rune Olsen, and participant in UiT’s Ocean Leadership program and community contact, responsible for sustainability for Gratanglaks Monica Eide. The conversation is chaired by Jan-Gunnar Winther, leader of the Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic.
Join us in a conversation between former Prime Minister Erna Solberg, rector of UiT Dag Rune Olsen, and participant in UiT’s Ocean Leadership program and community contact, responsible for sustainability for Gratanglaks Monica Eide. The conversation will be chaired by Jan-Gunnar Winther, leader of the Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic.
The guest lecture hosted by the Ocean Leadership program & the Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic
Ocean Leadership is an affiliated program to Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (i.e., the host institute of the Inspiring the Minds project).
When: 13.03.23 kl 10.30–12.00
Where: Tromsø TEO-H6 Auditorium 3 (6.303) & online
You can watch the record of the event from here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IHjpZ74mdGDEj6EH4lVjhfoxm7_5DQvX/view?usp=share_link
If you missed the lecture, you can watch the record and claim an acknowledgement certificate from here
European Institute of Innovation and Technology – cooperation opportunities (Lecture)
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) aims to increase Europe’s ability to innovate by nurturing entrepreneurial talent and supporting creative ideas. The EIT has 9 creative communities of innovation that cover a wide topic range (i.e., digital, raw materials, food, climate, health, culture, energy, manufacturing and urban mobility). The European Institute of Innovation and Technology provides funding opportunities for innovative projects that aim to find sustainable solutions to the challenges that face Europe. They offer a unique chance for entrepreneurs, researchers, and businesses to make a real impact on our society.
The European Union relies heavily on strategic and critical raw materials for its growth and development, and it is crucial that we secure a sustainable supply of these materials to maintain our competitiveness in a global market. At the same time, we must also be mindful of the environmental impact of our resource consumption.
Lotta Aalto (a lead expert at the EIT RawMaterials) will provide us with an overview of the challenges facing Europe in the sector of raw materials and the different actions and opportunities provided by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in order to tackle such challenges.
The event is open to all (students, researchers, academics and non-academics) from UiT and other universities. The event will be hybrid and you can follow it using Zoom. There will also be an opportunity for networking and Q&A after the lecture.
Where: UiT The Arctic University of Norway Naturfagbygget: 1.103 Episenteret or Online: Zoom (confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link)
When: Wednesday, 22 of Feb, 11:30 to 12:45 (CET)
If you missed the lecture, you can watch the record and claim an acknowledgement certificate from here
The record of this lecture is available but after a permission from the authors. Please send us (tamer.abu-alam@uit.no) a request to get access to the video.
Inspiring the Minds: Embedding inclusion, diversity and climate action into the academic environment (Workshop)
The challenges of today require our students to possess both multidisciplinary knowledge and soft skills necessary to pursue careers that cross the boundaries between science and society. A total of 17 partners from 11 countries across Europe are participating in three EU projects led by UiT. These projects aim to build competencies and develop multidisciplinary education programs to embed knowledge about innovation, diversity, environmental challenges, and big data solutions. This contribution aims to demonstrate how different partners from different cultural backgrounds are addressing these issues.
Where: UiT The Arctic University of Norway B1005, SV-/HUM-bygget
When: 15:00 – 15:40 (CET), 07.12.2022
If you missed the workshop, you can go through the presentation and claim an acknowledgement certificate from here