{"id":866,"date":"2025-05-05T09:46:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T06:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/?p=866"},"modified":"2025-07-11T09:57:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T06:57:04","slug":"interview-with-mr-akos-r-wetters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/interview-with-mr-akos-r-wetters\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Mr. \u00c1kos R. Wetters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

English version (Original)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer:<\/strong> So without further ado, Akos Wetters, you are an innovator, teacher, coach, trainer, facilitator, and a skilled presenter, as we just saw. What is your connection with innovation? How did your interest in innovation appear in your life, and what does it mean to you now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> Innovation, to me, is trying out something new. As simple as it sounds, I always felt it \u2013 even in my corporate career \u2013 trying out new forms of collaboration, even when I was living on the other side of the planet. In education, it\u2019s about facing the challenges we have as teachers. For example, how to create engagement with our cohort, how to increase the effectiveness of learning. Being a practitioner, the solution forward is to try out something new. Because if you do what you did, and you think like you thought, you get what you got. If you want something new, you have to change the way you think, and change your actions. That applies to yourself, and, like we saw today in this session, it\u2019s also about personal leadership, self-regulated learning \u2013 basically, live as you preach.
One concrete example: I was working with a challenge partner on a project. The team had already been instructed to do something on Wednesday afternoon, but then the challenge partner raised a topic that was very valuable. It basically overruled what we were supposed to do. So I went back to my cohort and told them: \u201cDrop your pens, stop what you\u2019re doing, ignore what I said earlier. This is what you\u2019re going to focus on, because it\u2019s a new insight, and I find it important for you, and for the challenge partner.\u201d So from design to deployment it was two minutes. That is what I call innovation \u2013 and I prefer to do it rather than to talk about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer:<\/strong> You just raised something I find important \u2013 how difficult is it to convince people in two minutes, if they were already set on something?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> Definitely, this happened halfway through the course. When I engage with a new cohort, I spend the first two weeks really creating a cohort feeling. We do a lot of teamwork, and to make sure peer-to-peer learning will take place, it helps if they know each other from the beginning, rather than working in isolated teams. So in those first two weeks, I invested a lot of effort.
Challenge-based learning is also different from what many are used to in traditional education. It focuses on learning by doing, a very active form of learning. Of course, disciplinary knowledge is important, depending on the domain \u2013 whether it\u2019s energy, climate, mobility, or even education. Sooner or later you need disciplinary knowledge, but the learning approach can be different.
At the start, I even ask participants: \u201cAre you wearing diapers?\u201d Usually they don\u2019t raise their hands, and I tell them, \u201cOK, then I don\u2019t have to spoon-feed you.\u201d That\u2019s the essence. I also ask what their ambition is, why they are here.
Through the process, there are regular interactions with teams, a lot of formative assessment moments. I can nudge them, ask questions so they self-regulate to take the next step, without me teaching them directly what that step should be. As a facilitator, I maintain the bigger picture, while teams create their own personalized learning paths. Every team is different, even if tackling the same challenge as a previous year. So those first two weeks are crucial.
Once they understand that I treat them as my \u201cguinea pigs\u201d or my \u201cliving lab,\u201d and that we experiment for the greater purpose of improving the program for future cohorts, then it takes no effort to tell them, \u201cStop what you\u2019re doing, let\u2019s experiment.\u201d They see the bigger purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer:<\/strong> Great. I know you have a multicultural background. What is the contribution of that background to what you do and think now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> I grew up in a trilingual environment: Dutch, Hungarian, and German. My parents spoke German with each other. I was born and raised in the Netherlands. My mother tongue is Hungarian. My father is Indonesian, so I also heard a lot of Indonesian, especially about food \u2013 because let\u2019s be honest, Dutch cuisine is not exactly famous!
There\u2019s a beautiful Hungarian proverb: \u201cYou are as many people as you speak languages.\u201d<\/em> For me, it comes naturally. During my student years, I actively sought international environments, being a member of a European student association, and then having an international professional career, working almost on all continents except Antarctica. I thrive in this environment because I\u2019m very people-centric, and you need to communicate beyond language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer:<\/strong> How and why did you open Commit2Innovate, and how is it different from other learning hubs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> Very simple. With the co-founders, we basically asked: why isn\u2019t every day like summer school?
Let me explain. I started designing and running my first summer schools in 2012\u20132013, and it was such a fantastic experience. Within EIT, these summer schools were compulsory courses. You\u2019re there in the middle of summer, wearing shorts and flip-flops, standing next to the barbecue, talking about life at 2 AM in the hotel lobby. You\u2019re surrounded by experts, mentors, coaches. You expand your network, have a great time, and still deliver a high-quality, accredited course.
So we thought: why can\u2019t this vibe be the standard in education? How come we only do it during summer school? We wanted to take that experience \u2013 where education happens in a positive, high-energy, socially connected environment \u2013 and bring it to every activity. That\u2019s the foundation of Commit2Innovate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer:<\/strong> Two more questions. Do you think there is an adequate age when children should be placed in research-related activities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> That depends, and definitely requires observing all ethical requirements, which may also differ by country. But if it\u2019s about observation, you could argue it begins in the womb! I have twins, and just observing them growing up shows how they interact, how they learn from each other, and from the world.
Whenever I need to talk about creativity or collaboration, I like the example of a kid from Cluj, a kid from Naples, a kid from London, a kid from Paris \u2013 all four years old, building a sandcastle. They don\u2019t speak the same language, but they can build together. If the water rises and washes part of the castle away, they cry a little, then two minutes later they adapt \u2013 maybe building the next tower higher, maybe using the water to build a canal.
A lot of these skills are innate. We should learn from how young kids interact beyond language and culture, and take that as inspiration for later life. Learning by doing \u2013 which is also what we do with challenge-based learning \u2013 starts from a very young age. Of course, respecting political and ethical boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer:<\/strong> And the last one \u2013 are you afraid of AI? Should people be concerned about questionable interactions with virtual intelligence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> For me, AI is a tool. I always say, \u201cSee AI as your ally.\u201d<\/em> Of course, there are healthy concerns around security. If you write your PIN code on your bank card and lose it, you lose your money. The same principle applies.
If we use AI prudently, and see it as a tool and an opportunity \u2013 not the goal itself \u2013 it can add huge value. For example, when I was a student, I had to go through drawers and drawers to find four articles, which took eight hours. Now you can do that in minutes and spend your time on higher-value work.
So anything that can be standardized or automated should be handled by technology, so humans can focus on what we do best. As long as we understand and manage its proper use, there is no reason to fear AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer:<\/strong> Thank you very much. It was a pleasure to talk to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> Thank you for your questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Romanian version (Translated)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intervievator: <\/strong>F\u0103r\u0103 alte introduceri, Akos Wetters, e\u0219ti inovator, profesor, coach, trainer, facilitator \u0219i un prezentator talentat, a\u0219a cum am v\u0103zut. Care este leg\u0103tura ta cu inova\u021bia? Cum \u021bi-a ap\u0103rut interesul pentru inova\u021bie \u00een via\u021b\u0103 \u0219i ce \u00eenseamn\u0103 ea pentru tine acum?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> Pentru mine, inova\u021bia \u00eenseamn\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eencerci ceva nou. Oric\u00e2t de simplu ar suna, mereu am sim\u021bit asta \u2013 chiar \u0219i \u00een cariera mea corporatist\u0103 \u2013 \u00eencerc\u00e2nd forme noi de colaborare, chiar \u0219i c\u00e2nd locuiam pe cealalt\u0103 parte a globului. \u00cen educa\u021bie, e vorba de a face fa\u021b\u0103 provoc\u0103rilor pe care le avem ca profesori. De exemplu, cum s\u0103 cre\u0103m implicare cu cohorta noastr\u0103, cum s\u0103 cre\u0219tem eficien\u021ba \u00eenv\u0103\u021b\u0103rii. Fiind practicant, solu\u021bia este s\u0103 \u00eencerci ceva nou. Pentru c\u0103 dac\u0103 faci ce ai f\u0103cut \u0219i g\u00e2nde\u0219ti cum ai g\u00e2ndit, vei ob\u021bine ce ai avut. Dac\u0103 vrei altceva, trebuie s\u0103 \u00ee\u021bi schimbi modul de a g\u00e2ndi \u0219i ac\u021biunile. Asta se aplic\u0103 la tine, \u0219i cum am v\u0103zut \u0219i azi \u00een aceast\u0103 sesiune, \u021bine de leadership personal, \u00eenv\u0103\u021bare autoreglementat\u0103 \u2013 practic, s\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u0219ti ceea ce predici.
Un exemplu concret: lucram cu un partener de provocare la un proiect. Echipa fusese deja instruit\u0103 s\u0103 fac\u0103 ceva miercuri dup\u0103-amiaz\u0103, dar partenerul a ridicat o tem\u0103 foarte valoroas\u0103. Practic, a anulat ce trebuia s\u0103 facem. M-am \u00eentors la cohorta mea \u0219i le-am spus: \u201eL\u0103sa\u021bi pixurile, opri\u021bi-v\u0103, ignora\u021bi ce am zis \u00eenainte! Pe asta v\u0103 concentra\u021bi acum, pentru c\u0103 e o perspectiv\u0103 nou\u0103 \u0219i o consider important\u0103 at\u00e2t pentru voi, c\u00e2t \u0219i pentru partenerul de provocare.\u201d De la idee la implementare a durat dou\u0103 minute. Asta numesc eu inova\u021bie \u2013 \u0219i prefer s\u0103 o fac, nu doar s\u0103 vorbesc despre ea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intervievator:<\/strong> Ai men\u021bionat ceva important \u2013 c\u00e2t de greu e s\u0103 convingi oamenii \u00een dou\u0103 minute, dac\u0103 deja se fixaser\u0103 pe altceva?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> Cu siguran\u021b\u0103, asta s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat la jum\u0103tatea cursului. C\u00e2nd \u00eencep s\u0103 lucrez cu o nou\u0103 cohort\u0103, petrec primele dou\u0103 s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni cre\u00e2nd sentimentul de comunitate. Facem mult\u0103 munc\u0103 \u00een echip\u0103, \u0219i ca s\u0103 asigur\u0103m c\u0103 are loc \u00eenv\u0103\u021barea peer-to-peer, ajut\u0103 dac\u0103 se cunosc de la \u00eenceput, nu s\u0103 lucreze \u00een echipe izolate. Deci, \u00een acele prime dou\u0103 s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni, am investit mult\u0103 energie.
\u00cenv\u0103\u021barea bazat\u0103 pe provoc\u0103ri e \u0219i ea diferit\u0103 fa\u021b\u0103 de educa\u021bia tradi\u021bional\u0103. Se axeaz\u0103 pe \u201elearning by doing\u201d, un mod activ de \u00eenv\u0103\u021bare. Desigur, cuno\u0219tin\u021bele de specialitate conteaz\u0103, depinde de domeniu \u2013 indiferent dac\u0103 e energie, clim\u0103, mobilitate sau chiar educa\u021bie. Mai devreme sau mai t\u00e2rziu ai nevoie de expertiz\u0103, dar abordarea de \u00eenv\u0103\u021bare poate diferi.
La \u00eenceput, le \u0219i \u00eentreb pe participan\u021bi: \u201ePurta\u021bi scutece?\u201d De obicei nu ridic\u0103 m\u00e2na, \u0219i le spun: \u201eOK, atunci nu trebuie s\u0103 v\u0103 hr\u0103nesc cu linguri\u021ba.\u201d Asta e esen\u021ba. \u00centreb \u0219i ce ambi\u021bie au, de ce sunt aici.
Pe parcurs, interac\u021bionez regulat cu echipele, avem multe evalu\u0103ri formative. Pot s\u0103 \u00eei \u201e\u00eemping\u201d u\u0219or, s\u0103 pun \u00eentreb\u0103ri astfel \u00eenc\u00e2t s\u0103 se autoregleze \u0219i s\u0103 fac\u0103 urm\u0103torul pas, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 le predau direct care ar trebui s\u0103 fie acel pas. Ca facilitator, \u021bin imaginea de ansamblu, \u00een timp ce echipele \u00ee\u0219i creeaz\u0103 propriul traseu de \u00eenv\u0103\u021bare. Fiecare echip\u0103 e diferit\u0103, chiar dac\u0103 are aceea\u0219i provocare ca o genera\u021bie anterioar\u0103. Deci acele dou\u0103 s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni sunt cruciale.
C\u00e2nd \u00een\u021beleg c\u0103 \u00eei tratez drept \u201ecobaii mei\u201d sau \u201elaboratorul meu viu\u201d \u0219i c\u0103 experiment\u0103m pentru a \u00eembun\u0103t\u0103\u021bi programul pentru viitori participan\u021bi, nu mai trebuie s\u0103 depun efort s\u0103 le spun: \u201eOpri\u021bi-v\u0103, hai s\u0103 experiment\u0103m\u201d. V\u0103d scopul mai mare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intervievator:<\/strong> Minunat. \u0218tiu c\u0103 ai un background multicultural. Care e contribu\u021bia acestuia la ceea ce faci \u0219i g\u00e2nde\u0219ti acum?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> Am crescut \u00eentr-un mediu trilingv, \u00een limbile olandez\u0103, maghiar\u0103 \u0219i german\u0103. P\u0103rin\u021bii mei vorbeau \u00eentre ei \u00een german\u0103. M-am n\u0103scut \u0219i crescut \u00een Olanda. Limba mea matern\u0103 e maghiara. Tat\u0103l meu este indonezian, deci am auzit mult\u0103 indonezian\u0103, mai ales legat de m\u00e2ncare \u2013 s\u0103 fim sinceri, buc\u0103t\u0103ria olandez\u0103 nu e tocmai faimoas\u0103!
Exist\u0103 o vorb\u0103 maghiar\u0103 frumoas\u0103: \u201eE\u0219ti at\u00e2\u021bia oameni c\u00e2te limbi vorbe\u0219ti.\u201d Pentru mine a fost natural. \u00cen studen\u021bie, am c\u0103utat inten\u021bionat medii interna\u021bionale, am fost membru \u00eentr-o asocia\u021bie studen\u021beasc\u0103 european\u0103, apoi am avut o carier\u0103 profesional\u0103 interna\u021bional\u0103, lucr\u00e2nd aproape pe toate continentele, cu excep\u021bia Antarcticii. \u00cemi prie\u0219te acest mediu pentru c\u0103 sunt foarte orientat spre oameni, \u0219i trebuie s\u0103 comunici dincolo de limb\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intervievator:<\/strong> Cum \u0219i de ce ai deschis Commit2Innovate \u0219i cu ce este diferit\u0103 fa\u021b\u0103 de alte hub-uri educa\u021bionale?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> Simplu. Cu co-fondatorii ne-am \u00eentrebat: de ce nu poate fi fiecare zi ca la \u0219coala de var\u0103?
Las\u0103-m\u0103 s\u0103 explic. Am \u00eenceput s\u0103 proiectez \u0219i s\u0103 organizez primele mele \u0219coli de var\u0103 \u00een 2012\u20132013 \u0219i a fost o experien\u021b\u0103 fantastic\u0103. \u00cen cadrul EIT, \u0219colile de var\u0103 erau cursuri obligatorii. E\u0219ti acolo, \u00een mijlocul verii, \u00een pantaloni scur\u021bi \u0219i \u0219lapi, l\u00e2ng\u0103 gr\u0103tar, vorbind despre via\u021b\u0103 la 2 diminea\u021ba \u00een holul hotelului. E\u0219ti \u00eenconjurat de exper\u021bi, mentori, coachi. \u00ce\u021bi extinzi re\u021beaua, te distrezi, \u0219i totu\u0219i livrezi un curs de calitate, acreditat.
A\u0219a c\u0103 ne-am g\u00e2ndit: de ce nu poate aceast\u0103 atmosfer\u0103 s\u0103 fie standardul \u00een educa\u021bie? De ce o facem doar la \u0219coala de var\u0103? Am vrut s\u0103 aducem acea experien\u021b\u0103 \u2013 unde educa\u021bia are loc \u00eentr-un mediu pozitiv, energic, conectat social \u2013 \u00een toate activit\u0103\u021bile. Asta este funda\u021bia Commit2Innovate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intervievator:<\/strong> Dou\u0103 \u00eentreb\u0103ri scurte. Crezi c\u0103 exist\u0103 o v\u00e2rst\u0103 potrivit\u0103 la care copiii s\u0103 fie implica\u021bi \u00een activit\u0103\u021bi de cercetare?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> Depinde, \u0219i bine\u00een\u021beles trebuie respectate cerin\u021bele etice \u2013 care pot varia de la \u021bar\u0103 la \u021bar\u0103. Dar dac\u0103 vorbim de observare, po\u021bi spune c\u0103 \u00eencepe \u00eenc\u0103 din p\u00e2ntece! Am gemeni, \u0219i doar observ\u00e2ndu-i cresc\u00e2nd, vezi cum interac\u021bioneaz\u0103, cum \u00eenva\u021b\u0103 unul de la altul \u0219i de la lume.
C\u00e2nd trebuie s\u0103 vorbesc despre creativitate sau colaborare, \u00eemi place exemplul cu un copil din Cluj, unul din Napoli, unul din Londra, unul din Paris \u2013 to\u021bi de patru ani, construind un castel de nisip. Nu vorbesc aceea\u0219i limb\u0103, dar colaboreaz\u0103. Dac\u0103 apa vine \u0219i d\u0103r\u00e2m\u0103 o parte din castel, pl\u00e2ng pu\u021bin, apoi \u00een dou\u0103 minute se adapteaz\u0103 \u2013 poate construind urm\u0103torul turn mai sus, poate folosind apa s\u0103 fac\u0103 un canal.
Multe abilit\u0103\u021bi sunt \u00eenn\u0103scute. Trebuie s\u0103 \u00eenv\u0103\u021b\u0103m de la felul \u00een care interac\u021bioneaz\u0103 copiii mici dincolo de limb\u0103 \u0219i cultur\u0103 \u0219i s\u0103 lu\u0103m inspira\u021bie pentru via\u021ba de adult. \u201eLearning by doing\u201d \u2013 ceea ce facem \u0219i la challenge-based learning \u2013 \u00eencepe devreme. Desigur, cu respectarea limitelor etice \u0219i politice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intervievator:<\/strong> \u0218i ultima \u00eentrebare \u2013 \u00ee\u021bi e fric\u0103 de AI? Ar trebui s\u0103 ne temem de interac\u021biuni problematice cu inteligen\u021ba virtual\u0103?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters: <\/strong>Pentru mine, AI-ul este o unealt\u0103. Mereu spun: \u201ePrive\u0219te AI ca pe un aliat.\u201d Sigur c\u0103 exist\u0103 preocup\u0103ri de securitate. Dac\u0103 \u00ee\u021bi scrii codul PIN pe card \u0219i \u00eel pierzi, pierzi banii. La fel e \u0219i aici.
Dac\u0103 folosim AI cu pruden\u021b\u0103 \u0219i \u00eel vedem ca pe o unealt\u0103 \u0219i o oportunitate \u2013 nu scopul final \u2013 poate aduce valoare enorm\u0103. De exemplu, c\u00e2nd eram student, trebuia s\u0103 caut ore \u00een \u0219ir prin sertare ca s\u0103 g\u0103sesc patru articole. Acum faci asta \u00een c\u00e2teva minute \u0219i \u00ee\u021bi folose\u0219ti timpul pentru lucruri mai valoroase.
Tot ce poate fi standardizat sau automatizat ar trebui s\u0103 fie f\u0103cut de tehnologie, iar noi s\u0103 ne ocup\u0103m de ce facem cel mai bine. At\u00e2ta timp c\u00e2t \u00een\u021belegem \u0219i gestion\u0103m corect folosirea AI, nu avem de ce s\u0103 ne temem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intervievator:<\/strong> Mul\u021bumesc mult. A fost o pl\u0103cere s\u0103 vorbesc cu tine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akos Wetters:<\/strong> \u00ce\u021bi mul\u021bumesc pentru \u00eentreb\u0103ri.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

English version (Original) Interviewer: So without further ado, Akos Wetters, you are an innovator, teacher, coach, trainer, facilitator, and a skilled presenter, as we just saw. What is your connection […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":849,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=866"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":867,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866\/revisions\/867"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/cocerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}