Individual awards chair
Erjo Beitler
Erjo Beitler is a didactic advisor and trainer at the Central Teaching and Learning Centre. He facilitates parts of the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) trajectory for teachers across different faculties, focusing on active and inclusive education. Erjo is involved in various programs such as “Deep Democracy in the classroom” and the TLC card set with activating teaching methods. As the chair of the jury, he supports the expert duos in their decisions for the educational awards.
Theme: Student Activating Teaching
Monique Volman
Monique Volman is a professor of educational sciences and the department chair of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences (POW) at the University of Amsterdam. Her research primarily focuses on learning environments for meaningful learning, diversity, and the use of technology in education, approached from a socio-cultural theoretical perspective. Through collaborative design research, she aims to bridge the gap between educational theory and practice, where teachers and researchers work together to develop and evaluate theoretically informed innovations. As a jury member, Monique emphasizes innovations that connect theory with practical teaching applications.
Imber van Dijk
Imber van Dijk is an educational advisor for Blended Learning and trainer at the Teaching & Learning Centre at the Faculty of Law. He implements active learning as a key part of the faculty’s educational innovation and co-authored the TLC card set with activating teaching methods. As a jury member, Imber evaluates how active learning strategies are effectively integrated into teaching practices.
Theme: Inclusive Teaching
Brit Griesbertz
Brit Griesbertz is a trainer at the Teaching and Learning Centre of the Science Faculty (FNWI). She conducts training on inclusive education, including in the UTQ at the Science Faculty and the UTQ+ trajectory “Step into your Student’s Shoes”, and she also offers “Hot Moments” workshops. Brit is also part of the SIG International Classroom and the Diversity Sounding Board at FNWI. She believes that inclusive learning is an ongoing process and emphasizes the importance of feedback loops. As a jury member, Brit focuses on how inclusivity and diversity goals are assessed and reflected in the learning experience.
Machiel Keestra
Dr. Machiel Keestra has been appointed as the Central Diversity Officer at the University of Amsterdam since 2022. A philosopher affiliated with the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies since 2005, he teaches various interdisciplinary programs such as the Bet-Gamma bachelor and the Brain and Cognitive Sciences master’s program. His research focuses on philosophy of science, interdisciplinarity, diversity, and inclusion. As a jury member, Machiel looks for educational practices that integrate diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches.
Team awards chair
Svenne Groeneweg
Svenne Groeneweg is a policy advisor at the Central Teaching and Learning Central and a doctoral researcher at the Research Institute Child Development and Education (RICDE) at the University of Amsterdam. She primarily focuses on the professional development of teachers and on monitoring the impact of TLC programs in an evidence-informed manner, aiming to further improve them. As the chair of the juries for team awards, Svenne evaluates how interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships with social organizations address complex issues. She seeks inspiring examples of educational innovation that enhance the quality of education.
Theme: Collaborative Education
Rosanne van Wieringen
Rosanne van Wieringen has designed and taught various transdisciplinary educational initiatives such as Placemaking and Change Making at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies and the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences program over the past five years. These initiatives focus on social connection, teaching students to collaborate within teams and with external stakeholders. As a jury member, Rosanne pays attention to the support and reflection mechanisms in place to facilitate collaboration.
Janneke Waelen
Janneke Waelen is the director of the Centre for Teaching & Learning at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. With a background as an educational scientist, teacher, and educational leader, she is fully dedicated to educational innovation and the development of teachers. She believes that education emerges through the interaction between people, with collaborative learning and creation at its core. As a jury member, she will focus on how collaboration and interaction are facilitated in education, and how teachers provide guidance to support this process.
Theme: Innovating Education
Jolanda Broex
Jolanda Broex is an educational advisor at the Teaching and Learning Centre at the Faculty of Humanities and a trainer in the Visible Learning Trajectories Programme (ZLP). She contributes to developing and strengthening curricula within various programs. Jolanda emphasizes constructive alignment in courses, ensuring interaction between students, teachers, materials, and peers. As a jury member, she focuses on how curricula are designed to foster meaningful interactions.
Lydia van der Meij
Lydia van der Meij is a staff advisor for Faculty Development at the Faculty of Medicine, responsible for developing teaching qualities. She views educational innovation broadly, focusing on improvements that align with societal developments to prepare students for their future roles. Innovations can be technological but are not limited to this. Lydia seeks creative, development-oriented educational improvements that enhance student earning outcomes.
