Strengthening the connection between research and education

Over the course of 12 months, the IP Fellows will devote 8 hours per week to collaborating with IIS educational developers and with one another on scalable educational formats directly linked to current research within the IP themes. This may include redesigning existing courses, establishing entirely new project-based courses, or contributing to future minors.

Contributing to solutions for complex societal challenges

Rector Magnificus Peter-Paul Verbeek said: 'We want all our students to have the opportunity to contribute to solving complex societal challenges. That's why it's essential to translate the IP themes into education that transcends disciplinary boundaries and involves collaboration with societal partners. The IP Fellows will provide a strong impetus for this.'

The IP Fellows and their themes

• Sustainable Prosperity: Professor Ans Kolk brings her expertise in international sustainability and responsible business.
• Responsible Digital Transformations: Professor Henk Volberda develops interdisciplinary education on the societal, ethical and economic aspects of digital transformation.
• Healthy Future & Sustainable Prosperity: Dr Vanessa Harris and Dr Anne Timmermans (Amsterdam UMC, Faculty of Medicine) are developing innovative education on health in relation to society and the planet.
• Healthy Future: Dr Christian Bröer (Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences) focuses on health in everyday life and social change.
• Resilient and Fair Societies: Professor Iris van Domselaar (Amsterdam Law School) works on education that strengthens moral resilience and reflective capacity in society.

With their diverse academic backgrounds and broad interfaculty embedding, the fellows contribute to education that connects researchers and students around major societal challenges.

Interdisciplinary collaboration at UvA EB

Both UvA EB Fellows emphasise the importance of connecting disciplines and jointly renewing education within the university. Professor Ans Kolk said: ‘I am looking forward to contribute my interdisciplinary insights, networks and experience in the broad realm of sustainability to strengthening innovative education that leverages the strengths from our 7 faculties. The UvA has sustainability researchers in many disciplines, who are often already collaborating, also in education. But we can do so much more together on specific future-oriented themes.’

Professor Henk Volberda added: As a broad, multidisciplinary university, we have unique areas of expertise to develop interdisciplinary education around the societal, ethical and economic aspects of digital transformation. Co-creating a ‘Responsible Digital Transformations’ programme together with faculties, lecturers, students and external partners is, to me, an inspiring challenge.’

About the Fellowship Programme

The IP Fellowship Programme was developed by the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (IIS), which serves as the centre of expertise for inter- and transdisciplinary education. Central to its mission is the question of how major societal challenges – what are referred to as IP themes—can be translated into innovative and inspiring forms of education. By bringing together fellows from different faculties, the IIS stimulates cross-pollination between research, education and societal practice.

Looking ahead

In the coming months, the fellows will start their first educational projects. In monthly meetings, they will share their progress and explore opportunities for collaboration across the themes.
Luca Bertolini, Scientific Director of the IIS, said:  ‘Through these fellowships, interfaculty thematic research is translated into educational design. That supports the renewal of education and may also generate new research questions.’

The programme is coordinated by the IIS. Bertolini expressed his pride in the fellows and their contribution to interdisciplinary education.