| Bio (EN)

Bio (extended version)

Ulf is the driving force behind mindful-leaders.net, a groundbreaking initiative focused on fostering mindful leadership in various sectors. As a serial social entrepreneur, Ulf has continually pushed the boundaries of educational innovation and social impact. Currently, he is a full Professor of Educational Management and Lifelong Learning at the Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University.

In 2011, the Ministry of Higher Education recognized Ulf’s expertise and leadership by appointing him to spearhead the launch of Germany’s first Cooperative University as Vice-President. This pioneering initiative now educates 35,000 students, setting a new standard for cooperative education in Germany.

Ulf’s visionary approach led to the establishment of NextEducation in 2017. This international boutique research group focuses on the future of education, creating innovative Future Skills initiatives and frameworks (www.next-education.org) that are reshaping higher education globally. His tenure as the Scientific Director at the Future Learning Laboratory at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) until 2023 further underscores his commitment to educational innovation.

With a career spanning collaborations with over 30 universities across all five continents, Ulf has held senior research positions and professorships in numerous countries, including Europe and the US. His dedication to the European Higher Education Area is reflected in his role as co-chair of the EU inter-ministerial group for the future of teaching and learning. Ulf’s leadership roles extend to serving as the elected Vice President of the European Association of Institutes of Higher Education (EURASHE) and as a member of the Executive Council of the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN), where he was honored with a senior fellowship.

Appointed by the European Commission, Ulf has been a pivotal member of the Advisory Board for the European Ranking Initiative U-Multirank. His influence extends globally, having delivered keynotes in over 45 countries and authored/edited more than 20 books and 300 scholarly articles, with over 7,500 academic citations.

A trained systemic coach and facilitator, Ulf is an expert in mindful and non-violent communication. His academic background includes degrees in English Language, Social Sciences, and Education Sciences from the University of Bielefeld, enriching his holistic approach to education and leadership.

Ulf’s work is deeply rooted in integrating Future Skills into educational systems to promote sustainable and equitable societal development. He has held numerous executive roles, including founding member and past President of the European Foundation for Quality in E-Learning (2011-2014) and President of the Society for Media in Science (GMW e.V.) from 2008 to 2010. Currently, he is serving his second term as the elected Vice-President of the European Association for Institutes of Higher Education and is an elected director and member of the executive committee of EDEN from 2018 to 2024.

Recognized internationally as a leading researcher and innovator in e-learning, Ulf has empowered individuals to achieve superior learning outcomes. He has spearheaded landmark initiatives in e-learning, knowledge management, and e-business. His development of the Learners’ Quality Model for e-learning sets a benchmark for learner-centered quality in digital education.

Ulf advises governments and non-governmental organizations on learning and development cooperation. His expertise is sought after on several advisory boards and editorial committees, making him a key figure in the ongoing evolution of global education systems.

Bio short version

 Ulf is the founder of mindful-leaders.net, a serial social entrepreneur, and a full Professor of Educational Management and Lifelong Learning at the Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University. In 2011, he was called upon by the Ministry of Higher Education to spearhead the launch of Germany’s first Cooperative University as Vice-President, an initiative that now serves 35,000 students.

In 2017, Ulf launched NextEducation, an international boutique research group focusing on researching into the Future of education and creating an ecosystem of Future Skills initiatives and frameworks (www.next-education.org) for higher education. He was ask to serve as Scientific Director at the Future Learning Laboratory at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) until 2023.

Ulf has collaborated with more than 30 universities across all five continents, holding senior research positions and appointments as a guest, full, and associate professor in various countries across Europe and the US. His dedication to the integration of the European Higher Education Area is evident in roles he held as co-chair of the EU inter-ministerial group for the future of teaching and learning. Additionally, Ulf served as the elected Vice President of the European Association of Institutes of Higher Education (EURASHE) and has been member of the Executive Council of the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN), where he has been honored with an EDEN senior fellowship.

Appointed by the European Commission, Ulf has been a member of the Advisory Board for the European Ranking Initiative U-Multirank. He has delivered keynotes in over 45 countries and is the author/editor of more than 20 books and 300 scholarly articles, with over 7,500 academic citations.

A trained systemic coach, facilitator, and expert in mindful and non-violent communication, Ulf holds degrees in English Language, Social Sciences, and Education Sciences from the University of Bielefeld.

Bio (ultrashort version)

Ulf is the founder of mindful-leaders.net and a serial social entrepreneur. He is a full Professor of Educational Management at Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University. In 2011, he launched Germany’s first Cooperative University, now serving 35,000 students.

In 2017, Ulf founded NextEducation, focusing on the future of education and Future Skills. He served as Scientific Director at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology until 2023.

Ulf has collaborated with over 30 universities globally and held leadership roles in EURASHE and EDEN. He has delivered keynotes in 45 countries and authored over 20 books and 300 scholarly articles. A trained systemic coach, Ulf integrates Future Skills into education for sustainable development.

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