27 September 2026, Andreas Jäggi (PHBern) und Sabine Williner (PHBern)
The organizing team, led by project coordinators Caroline Sahli Lozano and Katja Saxer, arrived in Edmonton on Saturday afternoon, one day ahead of the rest of the delegation. One suitcase did not quite make it all the way to Canada, but this was taken in good humor and certainly not seen as a bad omen.
Sunday was dedicated to the final preparations. In the hotel lobby, the program for the coming days was reviewed once again and outstanding questions were clarified. The weather also cooperated: Edmonton welcomed the participants with sunshine and blue skies. Perfect conditions for getting ready for the week ahead.
Over the course of Sunday, the remaining members of the group arrived. The delegation now consists of 16 people from different institutes and areas of PHBern, including lecturers, researchers, and members of institute leadership. This composition is intentional. Inclusive higher education development concerns the university as a whole, rather than individual areas. The delegation therefore also aims to take a broad look at the experiences and approaches encountered in Canada.
On Monday, the program begins with a visit to Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE). The focus will include inclusive and accessible teaching, digitalization, and the use of artificial intelligence. The program will also feature a campus tour and an exchange with student teachers.
At the end of each day, the group will come together for a reflection session. Impressions and observations will be shared and discussed. This will allow the delegation to begin considering during the trip which ideas and insights from Edmonton could inform inclusive higher education development at PHBern.
We are looking forward to the week ahead and to getting started.
This article reflects the personal impressions of its authors.