Complex work-based learning environments for adaptive expertise development in engineering education: Lessons from three cases in Dutch higher education

Marleen Groenier is an assistant professor at the University of Twente's Technical Medicine department and head of the Lab for Life Long Professional Learning. She has a background in human factors psychology. Her research focuses on using sensor- and simulation technology to enhance learning and performance in healthcare education. She has also co-authored research on skill acquisition, adaptive performance and interdisciplinary expertise in medical practice, addressing challenges in complex problem-solving.

Irene Visscher-Voerman is professor of Applied Sciences  Innovative and Effective Education', at Saxion UAS. Her research focus is on the design and development of learning environments with authentic projects or societal challenges, and what this applies for the roles of different stakeholders (professionals, students, teachers). 

She received a Comenius Leadership Grant for the development of educational design principles for student-driven, authentic learning environments. She is the project leader of a national research consortium on transdisciplinary education.

Jannet Doppenberg is professor 'Learning in Learning Communities' at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences. The research group focuses on learning processes within various types of learning communities as well as on (teacher) professional development and educational innovation. Jannet obtained her PhD in 2012 for research into collaborative teacher learning. Following this, she has conducted various studies into collaborative teacher teams, curriculum development and educational innovations. With her research, she hopes to contribute to the quality of education. In addition to her work as a researcher, Jannet has also worked as a teacher trainer for many years.

Mechteld van Kuijk is a senior researcher at the Research Group 'Learning in Learning Communities' and an educational advisor for the department Education & Research at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences. The research group focuses on learning processes within various types of learning communities and on (teacher) professional development and educational innovation. After obtaining a bachelor's and master's degree (cum laude) in Educational Sciences and a research master's degree 'Human behavior in social contexts' at the University of Groningen, she completed her doctoral research and a postdoctoral position (funded by the National Education Research Organisation (NRO)).

Both her doctoral dissertation and her postdoctoral project at GION (Groningen Institute for Educational Research, University of Groningen) targeted language development, collaborative learning, and teacher professional development. At the Hanze, Mechteld has worked on (research) projects in the field of learning communities, collaboration, and educational innovation.

Lia Fluit is emeritus professor in innovative and person-centered learning and working in healthcare. Her area of expertise includes workplace learning, inter- and intraprofessional learning, the learning of complex skills, psychological safety and (upward) feedback. She was leader of the Radboudumc Health Academy Learning research group.

Together with Loek Nieuwenhuis, she started the Adapt at Work and was a member of the management team during this practice-based research project. She was trained as a medical doctor (1983), and studied Pedagogical Sciences (2001). Her thesis (2013) was focusing on upward feedback in the clinical workplace.

Loek Nieuwenhuis is emeritus professor and educational scientist in the field of vocational and professional education and life-long learning. His research focus is the learning potential of the workplace in educational and economic contexts. He investigated innovative learning processes throughout professional careers in a broad range of vocational domains, from engineering and healthcare to policing and social work. He initiated Adapt at Work, a practice-based research project on the development of adaptive expertise in work-based settings in higher education. With Lia Fluit and Wietske Kuijer-Siebelink he formed the management team of this research adventure.

Wietske Kuijer-Siebelink graduated as a movement scientist within the pedagogical sciences at the University of Groningen in 2002 and received her PhD in Medical Sciences in 2005. She has been working at HAN University of Applied Sciences since 2005, where she has been involved in several educational innovations in health professions education, linking education, research and professional practice.

In August 2021, she was appointed as professor in responsive vocational education at HAN, with which she broadened her scope to other vocational domains. Since 2020, she also works at the Radboud UMC Health Academy and has been appointed in 2024 as full professor education and learning for collaborative practice.

Her research focus is on cross-boundary education and learning for an emergent world of work. She investigates collaboration practices and processes: in ecosystems, innovative work-based learning arrangements and educational programmes, bridging education and practice and crossing professional boundaries.