Proceedings from the 10th International Research Symposium on Problem-Based Learning
Engineering students are entering a profession defined by rapid change, transformation, and innovation. As graduates, they will navigate volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments, striving to deliver sustainable solutions through their professional practices. Historically, engineering education has focused primarily on cultivating deep foundational knowledge in engineering sciences and technical expertise. However, this is no longer sufficient. While these foundations remain essential, today’s engineers must also develop a broader set of cognitive skills - such as complex problem-solving, systems thinking, and creativity - alongside social skills like communication and teamwork, and emotional competencies including self-efficacy, empathy, and conflict management. International organizations and policy makers, including the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), consistently highlight the evolving nature of professions, the socio-technological transitions underway, and the shifting demands of the labor market. Despite this, many engineering education institutions struggle to adapt their frameworks and practices to adequately prepare graduates for the realities of the modern workplace. Institutional transformation begins with awareness and dialogue. Anchoring Conversations: Connection, Collaboration, and Co-Creation for the Future is the theme of the joint conference comprising the 10th International Research Symposium on Problem-Based Learning (IRSPBL 2025), the 7th South African Society for Engineering Education (SASEE), and the 5th SoTL in the South. This event is convened by the University of Pretoria and the Aalborg Centre for Problem-Based Learning in Engineering Science and Sustainability under the auspices of UNESCO, in collaboration with eight South African universities, two societies (SASEE and SoTL in the South), and Future Nation Schools. This conference invited dialogue and reflection on critical questions: To what extent is education transforming to meet the skill demands of fast-paced socio-technological transitions? How are institutions supporting students through various educational transitions and pathways, from K–12 to higher education and into the labor market? What knowledge, skills, competencies, and attributes must graduates possess not only to perform but to thrive in both work and life? What forms of agency and what kinds of change agents are needed to drive meaningful and sustainable institutional transformation? These questions sparked conversations among researchers, educators, practitioners, and leaders across educational levels (K–12 and higher education), career stages (early, mid, and late), sectors (public and private, employers and industry partners), countries and regions (Global North–South, East–West). They were discussed during the conference, hosted by University of Pretoria and Future Nations Africa, on 17–21 November 2025. The IRSPBL 2025, 7th SASEE, and 5th SoTL in the South, have collected 103 contributions from 29 different countries[AG1.1][AG1.2], all of which were presented during the conference and have been compiled in this book. The contributions cover multiple relevant topics related to conference themes, namely Pedagogical Innovations and Competency Development in PBL, Institutional Implementation and Research Perspectives in STEM Education, Technology, AI, and Digital Learning in STEM Education, Sustainability, Professional Practice, and Global Transformation, Emotions, Well-being, Collaboration, and Social Responsibility, and K12 & Vocational Education. This book represents some of the newest results from research on PBL and best practices to inspire researchers and practitioners to transform their practice and their institutions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Juebei Chen, Lelanie Smith, Yasmin Belal Abouarabi, Karin Wolff, Zachary Simpson, Aida Guerra https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Proceedings for the European Conference on Reflective Practice-based Learning 2025
These proceedings present the contributions accepted for the Third European Conference on Reflective Practice-based Learning (ECRPL25), held in November 2025, hosted by University College of Northern Denmark (UCN) in Aalborg. For ECRPL 2025, the theme was “Reflective Practice-based Learning (RPL) and the Future of Practice-oriented Education”. The volume brings together peer-reviewed contributions from educators, researchers, and practitioners. The contributions delve into the evolving landscape of reflective practice in higher education and professional settings. Reflective Practice-based Learning (RPL) emphasizes the integration of experience, thinking, and action as foundational elements of the learning process. This approach is particularly relevant in bridging gaps between theory and practice and gaps between education and professions and businesses. The RPL framework should create good conditions for fostering a deeper theoretical understanding and better competencies for applying theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. As we navigate the complexities of modern education, RPL offers a robust framework for developing critical thinking, adaptability, and lifelong learning skills.
Copyright (c) 2025 Susanne Dau, Thomas Kjærgaard https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Proceedings of the 7th Conference of AG Animation 2024 (CAGA)
Welcome to the Proceedings of the 7th Conference of AG Animation 2024 (CAGA), hosted by The Animation Workshop, VIA University College in Viborg from September 10th to 11th, 2024. CAGA 2024 served as a nexus for scholarly discourse, professional exchange, and creative exploration, uniting academics, industry practitioners, curators, and enthusiasts within animation & the visual arts. The conference was dedicated to rigorously examining the rapid advancements, emergent trends, and substantive research that are collectively reshaping the field of animation and visual storytelling. The conference theme, “The (R)Evolution of Animation: Current Challenges and Future Directions”, was chosen to reflect the dynamic state of contemporary animation – a field undergoing not merely incremental change but a fundamental transformation. This evolution is driven by technological innovation yet simultaneously challenged by complex ecological, political, ethical, and industrial forces. The conference sought to identify and analyze the catalysts for this growth while confronting the significant impediments currently facing the field. This volume compiles the output generated during these focused discussions, providing valuable perspectives on the current state and prospective trajectories of animation art, practice, scholarship, and industry. The conference was anchored by four thought-provoking keynote addresses that illuminated the technological and artistic currents reshaping animation today. Bonnie Mitchell opened the programme by demonstrating her stewardship of digital heritage, drawing on her decades-long quest to preserve and contextualise the SIGGRAPH media archives – capturing the fluidity of the digital material over time. Photomedia artist Boris Eldagsen followed with a candid account of his headline-making “Electrician” intervention, framing generative AI not as a threat but as an extension of the photographer’s craft that still demands rigorous concept and composition. Shifting from images to moving sets, Henrik Schønau Fog showcased Aalborg University’s rear-projection Virtual Production Training Facility, illustrating how real-time game-engine pipelines are lowering barriers for filmmakers, animators, and students to experiment with volumetric worlds. Finally, directing duo Michelle and Uri Kranot unpacked the collaborative research methods behind their award-winning immersive works, arguing that expanded animation’s capacity for embodied, participatory viewing can revivify animation’s core when fused with meticulous hand-crafted aesthetics. Together, the keynotes charted a continuum from preservation to provocation, from technical infrastructure to experiential artistry, and set the thematic stage for the contributions that follow. Within these pages, the breadth of contemporary animation research is on full display. A significant portion addresses the profound impact of technological shifts, particularly the increasing integration of advanced computational tools and real-time technologies. The paper Real-Time Animation, AI and Virtual Production: Opportunities and Challenges directly engages with this intersection, exploring the potential of real-time animation and AI to enhance virtual production workflows, while also considering the practicalities of establishing accessible training facilities. Expanding on the pedagogical dimension of these technologies, Teaching Virtual Production in Higher Education investigates the challenges of skills transfer in virtual production, drawing upon insights from the Virtual Production Studio Network (VPSN) research project and advocating for cost-effective educational strategies to bridge the existing knowledge gap. Artificial intelligence emerges as a particularly transformative, and at times contentious, area of focus. Its application is shown to extend beyond contemporary production into the critical analysis of historical materials. AniVision: New Technology-Assisted Approach to Studying Animation History presents an innovative methodology utilizing machine learning and computer vision to systematically analyze large corpora of ephemeral films, thereby facilitating the discovery and study of previously overlooked animation practices embedded within these historical documents. Further exploration into the intersection of AI and archives is provided by Brosch AI - Distorted Dreams: Expanding and Animating an Archive With AI. This project demonstrates the use of AI, including style transfer, to expand and animate archival artistic works, prompting essential discussions on the preservation of artistic integrity, the definition of authenticity, and the inherent technical and ethical complexities, including intellectual property and potential distortions, raised by such applications. The broader ethical landscape of AI-driven creativity is also considered, with themes aligning with discussions captured in contributions exploring AI image generation examples and ethical context, highlighting ongoing debates around copyright, algorithmic bias, and the responsible deployment of AI in creative processes. The expanding horizons of animation also encompass its integration into immersive environments. A Pathway to Immersive Storytelling: From Linear to Participatory charts the evolution towards more interactive and participatory narratives within extended reality formats like VR and AR, moving beyond traditional sequential structures. A critical challenge within these new spatial computing contexts is the effective guidance of audience attention without breaking immersion or limiting user agency. This challenge is specifically examined in Guiding Attention in Virtual Reality Theater - A case study of the VR Performance Symmetry, which draws on a VR theater production to analyze techniques for directing viewer focus in immersive experiences. As the field embraces these new forms, the importance of preserving earlier digital forms is also recognized. The paper on the Preservation of Web-Animation in a Post-Flash Era contributes valuable research into the methods and archival efforts dedicated to safeguarding web-based animation, particularly those created with technologies like Flash, acknowledging its historical significance and the complex relationship between legacy and emerging media platforms. Beyond technological advancements, the conference proceedings address critical industrial, societal, and cultural dimensions of animation’s evolution. The human capital within the industry, specifically leadership models and workplace dynamics, is explored in Leading the Future: Exploring Transformational Leadership in the European Animation, Games, and VFX Industries. This research identifies a crucial industry shift away from traditional ‘crunch’ cultures towards more sustainable and supportive environments, emphasizing the increasing value placedon emotional intelligence, mentorship, and shared team ownership in effective leadership within creative sectors. Complementing this internal focus, the papers also highlight the industry’s growing responsibility towards environmental and social sustainability. The paper, From Carbon Footprint to Social Justice further underscores the urgent necessity for clear guidelines and dedicated research into sustainable production practices, detailing the significant environmental footprint of traditional production methods and advocating for robust social guidelines addressing labor rights, mental health, and diversity. Perspectives from diverse global contexts reveal unique adaptive strategies and challenges. Insightful analyses of the South African animation industry are given in South African Hacked Animation Methodologies and South African Animation: Decolonial Framework and IP Control, which illustrate how local animators strategically employ innovative, often ’hacked,’ production methods to navigate significant economic, political, and infrastructural limitations. These approaches frequently leverage internet-based distribution and prioritize the retention of intellectual property as a means of fostering sustainable practices and asserting creative autonomy. Crucially, these contributions argue for a re-evaluation and decolonization of the academic discourse surrounding South African animation, urging the adoption of analytical frameworks that acknowledge and value these localized adaptive practices over restrictive, externally imposed notions of “authentic” African animation. Finally, the capacity of animation to serve as a tool for critical social commentary and speculative future-casting. Black Pudding: A Speculative Visual Index undertakes a transgressive methodology utilizing AI-porn content generators to investigate the potential and limitations of generative AI in creative pornography production. The paper extends the discussion of AI-generated pornography beyond the prevalent focus on deep fakes, raising crucial ethical concerns regarding the use of such tools for creative research, and suggests a need to ‘hack’ the metaphor of “unlimited” AI content generation by revealing its representational constraints and proposes that moderation strategies from existing non-live-action media platforms could inform more effective governance of AI-generated content. Finally, the work On-Screen Prototypes: Making Speculative Designs for and Through Animation illustrates how techniques derived from speculative designand design fiction can utilize animated prototypes to critically examine the potential impacts of media technologies and stimulate important discussions about plausible future realities. Looking across these diverse contributions, a powerful narrative emerges. The challenges discussed, spanning technological disruption, ethical quandaries, environmental responsibility, organizational culture, and systemic inequalities, are not merely impediments but rather potent drivers for innovation and critical engagement within the field. The research contained within this volume collectively demonstrates a community of practitioners and scholars characterized by adaptability, critical reflexivity, and a clear orientation towards shaping the future. From pioneering accessible virtual production methods and employing AI for historical analysis, to advocating for sustainable practices, decolonizing creative discourse, and exploring new narrative forms in immersive media, the work presented here exemplifies a field actively engaged in its own transformation. The “(R)Evolution” of animation is undeniably underway, characterized by both revolutionary technological leaps that redefine production possibilities and a necessary, evolving critical awareness of its broader social, ethical, and environmental responsibilities. The papers compiled in these proceedings offer not only a valuable snapshot of this complex moment but also provide foundational research and strategic insights crucial for navigating the path forward. As we absorb the diverse findings and consider the implications of these contributions, we are equipped to view the future of animation not with uncertainty, but with a grounded optimism for its continued capacity for creative, technological, and societal impact. The challenges ahead are substantial, but the intellectual rigor and innovative spirit reflected in these pages suggest a field well-positioned to meet them, fostering a future for animation that is both technologically advanced and deeply engaged with the complexities of the world it reflects and shapes. We hope you will enjoy and engage with the contributions in these proceedings!
Copyright (c) 2025 Bue Holmsgaard Fyhn, Juergen Hagler, Lana Tankosa Nikolic, Andrea Polywka, Jakob Borrits Skov Sabra, Peter Vistisen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Book of Abstracts from the Urban Europe Research Alliance (UERA) Conference 2025
The Urban Europe Research Alliance (UERA) organises its annual conference to address system­ic and urgent issues in urban research, bringing together scholars, practitioners, and policymak­ers to advance knowledge and collaboration. Each year, the conference provides a platform to explore critical questions at the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and social justice, while also contributing to education and capacity-building in these fields. In 2025, the conference took place in Rome at the National Research Council of Italy under the theme Sustainable and Climate-Neutral Cities for Inclusive and Equitable Urban Futures. It high­lights the urgency of addressing today’s polycrisis while recognising the planetary dimension of urbanisation. The 2025 UERA Conference featured 45 abstracts and full paper presentations, organized across five thematic sections, which structure this Book of Abstracts. The complete proceedings are currently under preparation and will be published by Springer in 2026. The DOI for the Springer publication will be shared on this page once it is available. This proceedings employed a double-blind peer-review process.
Book of Abstracts from the Urban Europe Research Alliance (UERA) Conference
Copyright (c) 2026 Enza Lissandrello, Carmelina Cosmi (Volume editor) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Book of Abstracts from the Urban Europe Research Alliance (UERA) Conference 2026
The 2026 conference marks another important milestone in the ongoing trajectory of the Urban Europe Research Alliance (UERA), building on the momentum of the recent conferences in Karls­ruhe (2024) and Rome (2025). Once again, the conference convenes a diverse and engaged scholarly community committed to advancing critical inquiry into urban transformations under conditions of rapid social, environmental, and technological change. This Book of Abstracts re­flects both the breadth and intellectual vitality of the contributions presented at the conference, as well as UERA’s continued role as a key long-term European platform for sustained scholarly exchange across disciplines, institutions, and national contexts. Beyond the presentation of individual research contributions, the conference articulates a broad­er ambition that has long characterised UERA’s activities: to provide continuity, reflexive dialogue, and cumulative learning beyond the temporal boundaries of individual research projects. While European urban research is frequently structured around finite funding cycles, UERA constitutes a durable relational infrastructure within which concepts, methods, and critical debates can be developed, revisited, and rearticulated over time. In this respect, the conference functions not merely as a venue for disseminating project-based results, but as a forum for sustaining schol­arly relationships and enabling the gradual consolidation of shared research agendas on urban transformation. This long-term orientation is particularly relevant in light of emerging efforts within European urban research to strengthen cross-project learning and knowledge consolidation, including through instruments such as the DUT Knowledge Hubs. In this evolving landscape, UERA has the potential to act as a connective reference point—linking project-based research, thematic hubs, and scholarly communities — while providing continuity beyond individual funding frameworks. By offering a stable arena for dialogue and reflection, UERA can contribute to anchoring such initia­tives within a broader, cumulative research conversation on urban transformations. The thematic focus of the 2026 conference reflects this ambition by foregrounding nexus think­ing across energy, food, mobility, and ecological transitions. Rather than approaching these do­mains as discrete policy fields or analytical categories, the conference invites contributions that interrogate their interdependencies, tensions, and governance implications. Such an approach responds to an increasing recognition within urban studies and sustainability research that con­temporary transformations demand integrated, multi-scalar, and reflexive modes of inquiry ca­pable of engaging with complexity, uncertainty, and contestation. The contributions assembled in this volume illustrate the diversity of empirical contexts, theoret­ical perspectives, and methodological approaches that characterise the UERA community. The abstracts testify not only to the richness of ongoing research, but also to the value of sustained scholarly exchange across disciplinary boundaries and career stages. As such, this Book of Ab­stracts should be read not simply as a snapshot of current research projects, but as part of an ongoing collective conversation— one that UERA is well positioned to continue nurturing through future conferences, collaborations, and shared research trajectories. Visit the conference website for more information.
Copyright (c) 2026 Aude Dziebowski, Philippe Hamman, Enza Lissandrello https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
People with cerebral palsy (CP) have varying degrees of physical and cognitive challenges, which affect their opportunities to participate in the labor market. At the same time, there is limited knowledge about CP among employers, colleagues, and staff at job centers. This lack of awareness can lead to stereotypes, prejudices, and, in the worst cases, discrimination against people with CP. It is therefore important to gain new knowledge about employment and CP, and how best to support people with CP in becoming part of the workforce. The study combines data from the National Patient Registry with a nationwide questionnaire survey among people with CP, as well as interviews with people with CP, job center employees, and employers. No previous study has examined employment and CP on such a comprehensive scale. The research project is a collaboration between Aalborg University, VIVE, and Aarhus University Hospital. The research project is funded, but independent from the Elsass Foundation. We thank the Elsass Foundation for their support and for a good collaboration. We also extend our sincere thanks to CP Denmark, which has supported the dissemination of the project, and to the many people with CP who have answered our questions. A very special thanks goes to Chief Physician Gija Rackauskaite (Neuropediatrician, Ph.D.), who has participated in the project and contributed her extensive knowledge of children and adults with CP.
Copyright (c) 2025 Thomas Bredgaard, Emilie Skyum-Jensen, Frederik Thuesen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
When Are You Too Old to Work and Too Young to Retire? Age Norms and the Danish Pension System
This book is produced within the framework of the Knowledge Center for Retention of Seniors in the Labor Market. The center is funded by a government appropriation and administered by VIVE – The Danish Center for Social Science Research. The book builds on our research in the project SeniorArbejdsliv (2018–2026), which is funded by TrygFonden. Drafts of the book were read and commented on by colleagues at the Center for Comparative Welfare Studies at Aalborg University as well as two external reviewers. We thank them all for their insightful and constructive comments. The authors alone are responsible for the analyses, interpretations, and any possible errors or omissions. Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to our research assistant, Alberte Frendrup, for her invaluable help throughout the process.
Copyright (c) 2025 Christian Albrekt Larsen, Jeevitha Yogachandiran Qvist https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Systematic Quality Development in Daycare: Findings from the Fifth Mapping Survey in Kolding Municipality
This report presents the findings from the fifth mapping survey (T5) conducted in Kolding Municipality’s daycare services during the autumn of 2023. A total of 1,843 kindergarten children aged 4, 5, and 6 years, 1,856 key pedagogues, 809 pedagogical staff members, 93 leaders, and 3,242 parents participated in the survey. The mapping is part of the research and development project Learning Leadership – Daycare (2021–2025), which is based on a collaboration between Kolding Municipality and the Laboratory for Practice-Oriented Research in Daycare and School (LSP), Aalborg University. The Center for Practice-Oriented Educational Research (SePU) at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, led by Professor Thomas Nordahl, also participates in this collaboration.
Copyright (c) 2025 Thomas Nordahl, Line Skov Hansen, Sigrid Øyen Nordahl (Forfatter) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Composition and Sound Production with SuperCollider
In this book, Anders Eskildsen introduces music and sound programming as a tool for composition and sound production at a basic level. His aim is for students to learn how to use programming as a creative tool for composing and producing sound—regardless of prior experience with programming. Everyone can learn to code at a basic level, and with music as our playground, it’s a joy! In the field of computer music, programming is the primary working tool for some musicians and composers. However, others can also benefit from exploring music and sound programming, as it opens up unique possibilities in sound design and compositional processes that are not (or only with great difficulty) accessible through more traditional instruments and tools. In addition to basic techniques in music and sound programming, the book introduces musical topics within algorithmic composition and digital sound synthesis, such as minimalist composition and beat production, as well as additive, subtractive, and granular synthesis. The technical platform is SuperCollider, a powerful tool for music and sound programming. It is also free and open source. This book was developed as supplementary material for Anders Eskildsen’s teaching in music and sound programming at the music programme at Aalborg University. Through his teaching, he discovered a lack of introductory material in Danish on the subject. While there are several excellent introductions to SuperCollider in English (Fieldsteel, 2024a, 2024b; Magnusson, 2021; Ruviaro, 2015), it can be overwhelming to acquire new knowledge in the field of computer music—filled with technical jargon—while simultaneously learning to read and write a new (programming) language, all in English. He therefore hopes that this book, aimed at beginners and written in Danish, can lower the barrier to entry for students and other curious minds interested in composition and sound production through programming tools. By studying this book, completing the exercises, producing sound, and composing in ways you never imagined possible, you will gain a solid foundation for continuing your work with composition and sound production in SuperCollider. Fortunately, there is much more to explore, and a new world of possibilities will gradually unfold before you. At the end of the book, Anders Eskildsen points to resources for further study.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anders Eskildsen (Forfatter) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Paving the Way for Employment: An Evaluation
The project "Paving the Way to Employment" aims to support young people with disabilities in overcoming internal barriers that may hinder their access to the labor market or further education. Through a course program, the project seeks to strengthen participants’ self-understanding, self-confidence, and belief in their own abilities, while also providing concrete strategies for managing both working life and everyday life with a disability. This evaluation aims to assess whether the project has had the intended impact on the participating youth. The evaluation focuses on two key areas. First, it examines the extent to which the project has succeeded in breaking down internal barriers for the participants. Second, it assesses how far the participants have come toward employment or education after completing the course. To evaluate these aspects, the study is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative part consists of surveys conducted at the beginning of the course, at its conclusion, and six months after completion. The qualitative part includes observations and interviews, providing deeper insight into the participants’ life situations as young people with disabilities. The evaluation was carried out by the Research Center for Disability and Employment, with Associate Professor Ditte Shamshiri-Petersen as project leader and Professor Thomas Bredgaard as project participant. Student assistants Marika Urban Bløde, Sofie Locht, and Maria Petersen contributed to data collection and analysis. "Paving the Way to Employment" was developed as a project from 2020 to 2025 by the Danish Association of Youth with Disabilities (SUMH), funded by the VELUX FOUNDATION. The job-seeking and coping program for unemployed youth was created in collaboration with the Institute for the Blind and Partially Sighted (IBOS). It has been implemented, tested, and further developed by SUMH in cooperation with the municipalities of Aarhus, Frederiksberg, Fredericia, Solrød, Hillerød, Slagelse, Lolland, and Bornholm.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ditte Shamshiri-Petersen, Thomas Bredgaard (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Active Mobility and Design in Vesterbro Torv: Investigating people’s active mobilities, practices and interactions with the temporary design of Vesterbro Torv
This report investigates active mobilities from the users’ perspectives in the temporary design of Vesterbro Torv in Aarhus, Denmark. Ethnographic and urban design research was conducted to understand the temporalities of people’s mobilities and interactions on the site, uncovering nuanced everyday life situations. We investigated: How do the temporary design and design elements of Vesterbro Torv facilitate and/or hinder active mobility and social practices? Who are the users, and how do they interact with the square in its temporary condition? What are their movement patterns and motivations? A multi-method approach was adopted, combining desktop research, ethnography, urban design mapping and analysis, and insights from the collaboration and discussions with Aarhus Municipality to gain a comprehensive understanding of the square’s dynamics. The research results indicate that Vesterbro Torv works as an urban node that facilitates active mobility, transit, and social interaction. The temporary arrangement of the square affords diverse and spontaneous cycling and pedestrian mobility patterns through and across the square. In some situations, the interaction between pedestrians and cyclists creates disruptions and conflicts due to the need of defining clear separation between mobility paths. In addition, the temporary spatial arrangement facilitates diverse social activities and opportunities to stay. The results from the interviews and observations revealed the need for more calm and inclusive areas for resting and moving, particularly for children, families, elderly, and people with mobility challenges (e.g., wheelchair users). Moreover, users expressed the need for more greenery, legibility and organized spaces to stay, linger and move around.
Copyright (c) 2025 Andrea Victoria Hernandez Bueno, Marwa Shokair (Forfatter) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
AI Disruption of Chartering in Danish Shipping
Our research highlights the current state and trends of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in Denmark’s chartering, particularly in the dry bulk and tanker segments. Companies in the dry bulk sector are leading AI adoption, with the tanker segment closely following and adoption rates in our sample appear higher than national averages reported by consultancies. Most firms are in either the experimental phase or transitioning toward more integrated AI systems, often opting for hybrid models that allow them to maintain internal control over key processes. Factors such as company size and maturity also influence the pace and approach to AI adoption.AI is seen as a tool to enhance rather than replace jobs in the early stages of shipping operations, especially in pre-fixture activities. However, there is greater potential for automation and job substitution in the post-fixture phase, particularly in tasks such as contract (CP) management. On the supply side, the market for maritime AI and software solutions is highly competitive and fragmented, with many providers offering diverse products. Recent consolidation trends reflect different strategies: some companies, like are specializing in core offerings, while others, like are diversifying into both SaaS and pure software models. These consolidations are not only intensifying competition but also fostering partnerships between rivals—a dynamic known as coopetition. Interestingly, some shipping firms are entering the software market themselves, signaling innovation in business models. Machine learning (ML) technologies are primarily used in pre-fixture tools (like email management and tracking), while generative AI is increasingly applied in post-fixture functions, particularly contract management.
Copyright (c) 2025 Agnieszka Urszula Nowinska, Gisele Msann (Forfatter) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Negotiation Tool for Mutual Gains – A Handbook
Climate projects are filled with negotiations about how an area should look, when something should happen, or who should have a seat at the table. These negotiations often involve a wide range of disciplines, perspectives, and representatives who must agree on a shared path forward. This handbook presents a tool for “mutual gains negotiations”—that is, negotiations aimed at finding value-creating solutions that accommodate different perspectives, interests, and needs. The tool is based on interest-based negotiation approaches, where the goal is to serve the collective by delving deeper into the various interests at play. To do this effectively, I argue that it is necessary to clarify what is at stake for oneself and for the others at the negotiation table. Without such clarification, misunderstandings may arise about what is actually being discussed and what common path can be taken. The tool consists of seven “clarification points” that can be used as guiding markers in a collaborative process. It should not be seen as a recipe book, but rather as something that must always be tailored to the context in which it is used. Some points may only be partially relevant in your context, other key topics may need clarification, or some points may require longer conversations than others. Overall, however, the tool can be used in four phases of a collaboration: the preparation, learning, negotiation, or communication phases. This means you can prepare for a negotiation by reviewing the points and considering where you and others stand in the situation. Through conversations, you can then refine and nuance your understanding of others’ positions by learning more about their perspectives. This can lead to a negotiation phase where you agree on a shared path forward, and the points can be used to navigate and guide the negotiation. Finally, the tool can also be used to communicate about your process, project, or collaboration to ensure transparency and avoid misunderstandings about the project's content and purpose.
Copyright (c) 2025 Miriam Holst Jensen (Forfatter) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Den Lille Bog om Reparation er en praktisk og inspirerende guide til børn og unge, der vækker nysgerrigheden for bæredygtighed og kunsten at reparere. Skrevet af Nikoline Sander og Linda Nhu Laursen, inviterer bogen læserne til at udforske de skjulte muligheder i hverdagsgenstande og forvandle dem fra ødelagte til funktionelle – alt imens vi passer på miljøet. Bogen er opdelt i tre spændende dele: 1. Produkter og Reparation: Lær, hvad produkter er lavet af, deres påvirkning på planeten, og hvorfor det er sjovt og vigtigt at reparere dem. 2. Produkter Pillet fra Hinanden: Kig nærmere på hverdagens genstande som lamper og legetøj, og lær at identificere og fikse deres dele. 3. Repair Camp: Skab din egen Repair Camp, arbejd som et team om ødelagte ting, og lær trin-for-trin teknikker til at bringe dem tilbage til livet. Fyldt med tips, aktiviteter og eksempler fra virkeligheden giver bogen læserne værktøjer til at handle, spare ressourcer og opleve glæden ved at give ting en ny chance. Uanset om det er derhjemme, i skolen eller med venner, gør Den Lille Bog om Reparation reparation til et kreativt eventyr.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nikoline Sander, Associate Professor, Linda Nhu Laursen (Forfatter) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Why is the world order always under transformation? Life-Modes in a Changing World Order describes how the formation of people’s distinct cultural life-modes and the states’ distinct defence modes contribute to the continuous and uneven transformation of the state system. Elaborating the concept of ‘neoculturation’, this work analyses how people strive to sustain, improve, and defend the conditions of existence of their own life-modes – with the unintended result that these modes are changing. It scrutinises how, when, and why the neoculturation of each life-mode is also changing the conditions of existence for the other life-modes with which it coexists – and the society these form together. The neoculturation concept is part of a theory on how struggles for recognition at the global level splits into self-defending states whose cultural modes of life condition each other. This fission theory – in critical dialogue with other classical and contemporary theories of culture and society – aims to explain why the formation of state forms constantly develops and dissolves into interdependent socio-cultural wholes of necessary life-modes. To do this, Life-modes in a Changing World Order elaborates the concepts of state, mode of production, and culture in analyses based on comprehensive ethnographic description and ethnological explanation of how modes of life are changing. Fieldwork has been conducted in Denmark and China providing insights into people’s contrasting ideas of what makes up ‘the good life’: The good family life, the good professional life, the good community, the good society. Life-Modes in a Changing World Order demonstrates how and explains why peoples’ life-modes have been changing from the cold war, high modernity period of the 20th century to the 21st century characterized by neoliberal political economy, great power rivalry and the global challenges of rising inequality, climate change and biodiversity loss.
Copyright (c) 2024 Thomas Højrup, Niels Jul Nielsen (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Danish coastline stretches over approximately 8,500 kilometers, and life along the coast has for centuries formed the framework for the work and everyday life of many Danes. Denmark has traditionally been a maritime nation, and port cities have played a crucial role in the development of society. Port cities still function as hubs for trade, transport and industry and are therefore essential for economic growth and development. In today's globalized world, port cities have become even more important as gateways for international trade and tourism. This makes them central players in the regional and national economy. COWI's report for the Danish Maritime Authority 2023 shows that 'Blue Denmark' with 29.7 percent is the country's largest export industry, and if you add indirect exports, the figure is almost 33 percent. Danish ports dock 75% of Danish imports and exports. Furthermore, Denmark ranks third among Europe's ferry nations. But port cities are also challenged. The city was formerly a home for fishermen or industrial workers with jobs at the port, and for their families and everyday lives. This ensured a natural connection between port and city, but today that connection is no longer so clear. The modern port city more often functions as a transit point for tourists on their way to their destinations elsewhere, where the city itself risks being ‘forgotten’. In the research project “Port City Relationships” (PoCiRe), we examine the complex relationships between ports and cities with a special focus on Danish port cities with international ferry connections. The project seeks to understand how these cities function as settlement cities, and what it means to have an active commercial port. We want to identify common characteristics and special features and qualities for the individual port cities that can contribute to the future development of the ports. In addition, we have been curious about how the cities live with their ports, and how the ports live with their cities.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ida Sofie Gøtzsche Lange, Claus Lassen, Marieke van Hulst Pedersen (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Copyright (c) 2024 Ida Sofie Gøtzsche Lange, Claus Lassen, Marieke van Hulst Pedersen (Authors) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An overview of international research on manager well-being
The report provides a comprehensive overview of international research on manager well-being based on a scoping review of 698 research articles published from 1953 to 2024. The purpose is to create an overview of the existing research and identify research gaps that can inform future research and practice efforts. Manager well-being is an important, but still under-exposed area that has a direct impact on both managers and their organizations' results. The report finds that despite increasing interest in the topic since the turn of the millennium, which has provided valuable knowledge about manager well-being, there are significant gaps in the available knowledge about manager well-being, e.g. within many industries. We identify three overall main themes within the research and a number of knowledge gaps within each of the themes: The precondition perspective: What are the preconditions for manager well-being? That is, what helps to promote and hinder manager well-being? The outcome perspective: What are the results and effects of manager well-being? The intervention perspective: What initiatives and interventions can contribute to strengthening or promoting managers' well-being? Here we look at intervention studies. This is an emerging field of research where there is a need to consolidate and expand the understanding of managers' well-being. For example, there is a need for a more nuanced understanding of how different management levels and factors affect managers' well-being over time. The report recommends a stronger focus on cross-sectoral studies, in-depth studies of less covered industries and geographical areas, and the development of and research into interventions that can test new ways to improve managers' well-being across sectors and management levels.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jan Heiberg Johansen, Stine Rasmussen (Authors) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ISIC 2024 Adjunct Proceedings: The 15th Information Behaviour Conference
The Information Behaviour (ISIC) conference is a biennial conference focusing on contextualized information activities, expressed in different forms such as ‘information behaviour’, ‘information seeking’, ‘information experience’ and others. The conference is a platform for research exploring information seeking as a rich site of study, going beyond a sole focus on technological aspects and exploring a wide variety of contexts.
Copyright (c) 2024 Mette Skov, Perla Innocenti, Elina Late, Tim Gorichanaz, Elke Greifeneder (Volume editors) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Affordance describes an object or space in terms of the actions made possible for the human in the meeting of a design (or non-design) of anything. Affordance is a key concept across all scales of design, as it allows us to not only understand a site, structure, or object in terms of its physical, aesthetical, and material, properties but how these relate to the abilities of humans or animals and their opportunities for actions. For an object “to be graspable, an object must have opposite surfaces separated by a distance less than the span of the hand.” (Gibson, 1979, p 133). In that way, affordances seek to capture the possible relation, the complementarity of the objects or environments properties and the human’s abilities and intent.
Copyright (c) 2024 Linda Nhu Laursen, Ole B. Jensen, Markus Löchtefeld (Authors) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Education and information in the Danish refugee camps after World War II
When the German occupation forces in Denmark capitulated in May 1945, there were several hundred thousand German refugees in the country. They had come from the easternmost parts of Germany, where many civilians fled westward for fear of the Russian soldiers. Most German men had been called into the military, so the refugees were mostly women, children and elderly people, and they had to stay in Denmark for several years after the end of the war. They lived in refugee camps around the country, isolated from the Danish society. It was a difficult situation. Returning to Germany was not possible for the time being, and most refugees' homelands would no longer be part of Germany at all. After the occupation, there was also aversion to Germans among the population. But the Danish authorities acknowledged that they had a responsibility for the refugees. They established a refugee administration to ensure humane conditions in the camps, and they also organized schools, education and information in the camps. This book is about the education and information work in the refugee camps. The book describes and analyses the Danish authorities' goals and plans and the activities that were initiated. At the same time, it sheds light on the ideological prerequisites and the German refugees' experiences of the school and information activities in an everyday life characterized by cramped conditions, uncertainty, the loss of family and homeland, and isolation from the Danish society.
Copyright (c) 2024 Karen Egedahl Andreasen, Palle Rasmussen (Forfatter) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
We have carefully curated and selected the 7 most important theoretical concepts in design theory, together they constitute the paradigm of design at Aalborg University. We bring an overview of these fundamental theories and provide a coherent and concise explanation of how they are interdependent. This unfolds the relativity of design, as each element constitutes a part of design that is not visible but influences, and is influenced by, the other elements. These invisible elements are essential and powerful – in fact, we see them as strong theoretical concepts that come to life as the forces of design. Through several years of research, we have gotten it narrowed down to 7 distinct key theories: 1) wicked problems, 2) co-evolution of problem and solution, 3) framing, 4) abductive reasoning, 5) reflection in- and on-action, 6) visual representations, 7) situating – which is the magic we teach our designers. The Design Lab Materials Series is practice-oriented research material from AAU Design Lab, Aalborg University. The main idea of ​​the Design Lab Materials series is to communicate design research in concrete terms. The vision is to give tangible knowledge input back to society. The goal is to communicate results from the researchers' systematic work with design education and research projects in an accessible format. The series contains various formats: textbooks, reports, handbooks, etc. The material is research-based, typically targeted at either: 1) Design students, especially from Industrial Design, Aalborg University. 2) Companies, other actors and organizations with an interest in responsible design. 3) Ordinary people interested in design. The Design Lab Material Series is Open Access and is published by Aalborg University Open Publishing. Series editors: Associate Professor Linda Nhu Laursen Associate Professor Christian Tollestrup
Copyright (c) 2024 Linda Nhu Laursen, Christian Tollestrup, Helle Nødskou Vesti (Authors) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0