The Impact of Hybrid Spaces in Higher Education Experiential Learning

The recent Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the creation of hybrid learning spaces in which students connect and interact through a mix of physical and technology-mediated encounters. However, these changes were often abrupt and didn’t develop in parallel to appropriate pedagogical approaches. This paper focusses on the spatial dimension of the learning process and in its role in fostering innovative pedagogical approaches. Based on a case study framed in a course being offered at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and the changes in spatial context triggered by the pandemic, we show that hybrid spaces can give rise to a more flexible and personalized learning experience in higher education. By exploring new ways to integrate the physical and digital dimensions, it is possible to create hybrid spaces that facilitate community creation able to enhance the learning experience through collaborative experiential learning.