Professorship with a focus on education: why is that so important?
Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 attaches great importance to providing its students with a high-quality education. That is why professors with a focus on education are appointed. This month, no fewer than three professors will deliver their inaugural lectures. They will share the contribution they make to education at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视.
Through the Senior Fellow Programme of the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning (CAT), UU lecturers can be nominated for professorship with a special focus on education. Twelve professors with an emphasis on education have been appointed since the programme started in 2017. In September, three of them will deliver their inaugural lectures to mark their appointment: Harold Bok (Veterinary Medicine), Jeroen Janssen (Social Sciences) and Christel Lutz (木瓜福利影视 College Utrecht). What do they see as the importance of this focus on education within professorship? And what role does the Senior Fellow Programme play in achieving this?
What do students notice about your appointment as a professor with an emphasis on education?
Harold Bok: What students experience is that we, as a faculty, take quality assurance in education very seriously. In addition, my chair offers students the opportunity to distinguish themselves in the field of education within their programme. At both bachelor's and master's level, we organise courses in which students can practise their didactic skills, learn to teach themselves and delve into educational theories.
Jeroen Janssen: I have always fought to keep time for teaching alongside my research projects. I really enjoy teaching and supervising thesis projects. I hope that students notice that they have an enthusiastic teacher in front of them, who enjoys introducing them to the fascinating world of educational sciences.
What is the importance of your role as a professor with an emphasis on education for education within the faculty?
Christel Lutz: I believe that education at university can sometimes be overshadowed by research. By offering professorships with an emphasis on education, UU demonstrates that education is valued just as highly as research. The CAT and, specifically, the Senior Fellow Programme have paved the way for this professorship. In this role, I can, for example, work towards the structural embedding of projects involving research into education.
With the recently updated educational model, we are shaping the way in which we educate our students and prepare them for their participation in society.
Harold Bok: ''The greatest impact we make as a university is by educating students in such a way that they are well prepared for the society in which they will work. We are putting this into practice with our recently updated educational model. The implementation of this model and its effects on the educational community require thorough research. It is crucial that this research into education takes place within the specific faculty context.''
How does the Senior Fellow Programme contribute to education at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视?
Jeroen Janssen: The Senior Fellows all have their own educational projects that they are working on. For example, I have worked on projects for first-generation students and inclusive higher education. These projects, and those of other Senior Fellows, aim to improve and innovate education. This further enhances the quality of education at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视.
Teachers who want to start changing, improving or innovating their teaching are not alone in this, thanks to the support offered by the CAT.
Christel Lutz: Thanks to the Senior Fellow Programme, as well as other activities and support from the CAT, UU has a strong teaching culture and infrastructure: lecturers (and teams) who want to change, improve or innovate their teaching are not alone in this. The Senior and Principal Fellows are an important part of that infrastructure and the network that provides teaching support.
Senior Fellow Programme of the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning
The aim of the Senior Fellow Programme is to strengthen educational leadership within Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 by increasing the number of professors with a focus on education. The programme contributes to the visible appreciation of education and teaching and is a few years ahead of TRIPLE, in which we recognise and appreciate the full scope of academic work. The programme also stimulates educational innovation and contributes to the quality of education.
The programme is regarded as groundbreaking both nationally and , as was recently confirmed by an international research report:
During the programme, Senior Fellows work on a faculty- and/or university-wide project to improve education, commit themselves to teacher development and deepen their knowledge in the field of educational science. Successful completion leads to nomination for a professorship with a focus on education and appointment as Principal Fellow of the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning (CAT). Principal Fellows play an active role in committees, Special Interest Groups or educational innovation projects of the CAT or Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 in a broader sense.
How does your research into education contribute to education at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视?
Harold Bok: ''In all my research, I believe it is essential to bridge the gap between educational theory and educational practice. My research has not only yielded insights that are applicable to our own programme, but also beyond. For example, the we developed has become an important reference point in veterinary education worldwide, and many programmes are inspired by our assessment practices.鈥欌
Jeroen Janssen: 鈥樷橝s an educational scientist and researcher, I focus on how people learn and how that knowledge can be used to support students and teachers, for example. We have conducted research into , and learning analytics. We share the insights gained from this research in workshops for teachers and in blogs. In this way, I help teachers to improve their teaching.
Why do want to do research into education?
Christel Lutz: My research questions mainly concern the lecturer, the academic who also gains knowledge from working with students. I believe that this is where the strength of the university lies: working with students, the next generation, is, I think, a source of energy and inspiration for many staff members. However, certain preconditions are necessary in order to provide good, inspired education, and that is what interests me.
What exactly defines good education? By researching education, we contribute to answering that question.
Jeroen Janssen: Well, I am an educational scientist. Everything related to education and learning fascinates me immensely. What actually defines good education? By researching education, we contribute to answering that question. And in doing so, I can contribute to improving education.
Inaugural lectures
The inaugural lectures at which these three professors will take up their posts will take place in September.
Christel Lutz's inaugural lecture, entitled 鈥The Most Radical Space of Possibility鈥, will take place on 8 September.
Harold Bok's inaugural lecture, entitled 鈥Samen Leren Opleiden: Naar een nieuw veterinair opleidingscontinu眉m鈥欌, will be held on 10 September.
Jeroen Janssen will deliver his inaugural lecture, entitled 鈥Wat zijn complexe leeromgevingen? En wat vindt ChatGPT ervan?鈥, on 25 September.
Professors with an emphasis on education
In addition to these three, the following professors already preceded them: Niels Bovenschen, G枚n眉l Dilaver, Karin Rebel, Annet van Royen-Kerkhof, Veronique Schutjens, Maarten van der Smagt, Bald de Vries, Leoniek Wijngaards-de Meij