Higher education is frequently challenged to "future-proof" its practices. Yet, the very concept may mislead institutions, educators and students. In this keynote, I argue that future-proofing is not only a fallacy but a distraction from our common goal: fostering and sustaining student engagement through active, resilient and creative pedagogic practices. Engagement, I propose, is best understood as a sustained cycle of initiative, purpose, action, reflection, responsiveness and resilience. Generative AI has made the future-proofing fallacy even more evident.

I will explore what "learning in a modern university" should feel like: a transformative process where students engage with complex problems and tools, take ownership of new ideas, critique and apply knowledge in diverse, inclusive environments. Whether synchronously or asynchronously, individually or collaboratively, on- or off-campus, learning must transcend content delivery and become a co-created, reflective journey - empowered by a new toolkit we did not imagine only a few years ago.