Network learning as educational principle in higher education

The traditional way of educating nature management students, in which students are trained to solve relative simple and technical problems, is no longer sufficient. Societies are changing towards a network society, which makes nature management more complex. This asks for new competences and new learning strategies in nature management education. Therefore, VHL University of Applied Sciences started two pilots in 2012. The goal of these pilots was to create a network of lecturers and students, nature conservationists and local stakeholders to create sustainable and innovative nature management strategies within a local context. Network learning was the leading learning strategy in both these pilots. In this paper we use these pilots for an evaluation of network learning as an educational principle for higher education. The pilot will be assessed on criteria based on three perspectives: 1) the changing society, 2) educational theories and 3) theory on learning networks. The paper results in recommendations for further use of network learning as educational principle in general.