All universities contribute to this theme. The coordinator is Prof Desirée Joosten-ten Brinke of Maastricht University.

Investing in educational sciences and teacher training

Dutch education is under pressure due to declining academic performance, a growing gap in inequality of opportunity, a shortage of teachers and a curriculum that does not sufficiently reflect social developments. In order to tackle these problems, greater investment in educational research and teacher training is needed so that we can better understand which interventions are effective and how education can be sustainably improved.

Four themes

With a joint effort from all universities, supported by the sector plan investment, we will strengthen the quality of Dutch education in general and the teaching profession in particular. We will do this by bringing together high-quality research from various research groups and translating it into educational practice.

Four themes are central to this:

1. Training and professionalization of teachers;
2. The school as a learning and professional organization;
3. Knowledge, skills and motivation of pupils and students, and
4. Lifelong learning.

The importance of investing in educational sciences and teacher training

Good education is the basis for a strong economy, a resilient society and rich cultural development. Currently, Dutch education is under pressure due to a shortage of teachers, increasing inequality of opportunity and a curriculum that does not sufficiently keep pace with technological and social changes. Investing in educational sciences and teacher training will ensure that we remain at the forefront internationally.

Social importance

Education plays a crucial role in shaping citizens who actively participate in society. By researching effective teaching methods, we can improve education and ensure that pupils not only develop basic skills, but also learn to think critically, to work together and to prepare for a rapidly changing world. Furthermore, educational research helps promote equal opportunities and reduce inequality by providing insight into how we can design, develop and implement learning environments in which diverse languages are recognized and everyone receives the support they need. This contributes to social cohesion and a fairer society.

Economic importance

A well-educated population is the engine of economic growth. Investments in educational sciences lead to better education, which in turn better prepares pupils for secondary education and students and employees for the labor market. This increases the innovative power and productivity of companies and strengthens the competitive position of the Netherlands. Furthermore, lifelong learning is essential in an economy that is changing ever more rapidly. Without proper educational research, we will fall behind in knowledge development and there is a risk of a shortage of well-trained professionals in crucial sectors such as technology, healthcare and education.

Together with practice

Investing in educational research is necessary to guarantee the quality of our education and prepare the Netherlands for the future. Educational researchers work closely with schools and policymakers to develop practical and effective solutions. Investing in educational research is therefore not a luxury, but a necessary condition for a strong and resilient society.

Results

University lecturers appointed

A total of 37 university lecturers have been appointed across 13 universities. These university lecturers are part of existing research groups and contribute to the four central themes together with their colleagues in the research groups.

Collaboration

Collaboration between the research groups contributes to the quality of the research and ensures that the findings find their way into educational practice. There is a wide range of collaborative partnerships, consisting of collaborations with schools, between higher education institutions and with many other organizations, such as NRO, SLO, Cito, knowledge centers, etc. Internal interdisciplinary collaborations are also being strengthened. The networks that have been built up are seen as valuable for promoting knowledge exchange, collaboration and increasing the impact of research.

Dutch Education Research Conference

The Education Research Days (in Dutch: Onderwijs Research Dagen, ORD) are seen as the perfect opportunity for people in the Netherlands to come together, exchange knowledge and share it. A meeting was included in the program in 2024 to demonstrate the method and present initial results. This will be continued in 2025 in a joint meeting with the Association for Educational Research (in Dutch: VOR)

Impact on educational practice

The impact on educational practice can be seen in the ability of the university teachers and research groups to translate research results into practical improvements in education. Concrete interventions, programs, courses and teaching materials have also been developed that demonstrably have a positive effect on education or respond to current themes in education.