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Two lecturers from Utrecht University and two from the UMCU receive a grant from the National Educational Research Organisation (NRO) to conduct research on their own teaching. An important impetus for the further development of teaching at the university. 

From the research grant “Insight into educational renewal”, NRO is committed to knowledge development to increase the effective principles of educational renewal. By investigating innovations in different educational contexts with concrete results, are easy to apply by other educational professionals. Teachers can apply for a maximum amount of €200,000, and the projects have a minimum duration of two and a maximum of three years.

The 4 research projects

Read more about the educational innovations for which a grant was awarded below:

Unravelling Virtual Reality’s Potential for Learning: Applying and Extending the Cognitive Affective Model of Immersive Learning –

Virtual Reality (VR) immerses users in virtual environments to offer realistic learning experiences. This project investigates how the feeling of really participating in the VR environment contributes to learning. In addition, Pennings investigates to what extent it matters that VR simulations do not exactly match real-world experiences. In the third part of her research, she looks at how the repeated use of VR contributes to learning.

Bridging the Gap: Optimizing workplace-based learning for future professionals –

This project investigates how the innovative “Learning Workplace Learning” programme helps (animal) medicine students to better recognise and take advantage of learning opportunities during internships. In fact, many students struggle with this. The programme aims to help students learn more effectively at their internship sites, so they are better prepared for their future careers.

Community Engaged Learning through a  Stolpersteine-project – Ewout van der Knaap

Within this project, students from different fields of study within the Humanities investigate groups of victims from the time of Nazi Germany. The interdisciplinary approach makes it possible to map local history. This helps in the application and placement of so-called “stumbling stones” through the Stolpersteine Foundation. A great example of Community Engaged Learning (CEL), where collected historical information is made accessible to a wide audience through digital means and used for education.

Podcasting in higher education: Cultivating belonging and diversity competencies among students and teachers – Zehra Colak

The student population in the Netherlands is becoming increasingly diverse, with students from cultural minorities often feeling underrepresented. This project offers teachers the opportunity to use podcasts as an innovative teaching method to promote inclusion in higher education. The project aims to strengthen diversity and connectedness in universities.

Applying for an education research grant yourself

Would you like to apply for an NRO grant or other grant for education research? From the CAT, we will be happy to help you with that, for example by writing your application. We can also put you in touch with others working on similar research. Would you like to know more? Then contact us at her@uu.nl.