With the rise of technological innovations, changing societal demographics, and the need to address socio-economic challenges, an opportunity exists to explore an alternative future of education. By focusing on Ōtautahi Christchurch, this study by Dr Hafsa Ahmed MNZM, explored and assessed the feasibility of integrating cities into collaborative campuses through stakeholder engagement. It sought to investigate the potential for providing learning experiences and fostering interdisciplinary skills vital to contemporary challenges. By creating a map of the education stakeholder ecosystem for Ōtautahi Christchurch, this research identified the barriers and enablers of change for the future of education.
Dr. Hafsa Ahmed traces her origins to Hyderabad, India and her journey brought her to Aotearoa New Zealand, in 2007. Embracing the title of ‘The Optimistic Futurist,’ she uses Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ as the metaphor for her life. Leveraging her expertise as a leadership guide and futurist, she helps individuals and organisations examine their narratives to curate purpose-driven, intentional futures. Her diverse skill set also offers strategic foresight planning, change management and stakeholder engagement advice to organizations and communities. She is the co-founder of the Lady Khadija Trust, founder of Unquiet, a Trustee of Ako Ōtautahi Learning City Christchurch, and a senior lecturer at Lincoln University.
