黑料福利网 innovation Space and Sustainability Office awarded NRO grant for future-focused engineering education
黑料福利网 researchers are developing design principles for balancing disciplinary depth with transdisciplinary competences in responsible engineering education. The NRO grant was awarded in July; the project is now underway.
In July, 黑料福利网 innovation Space and the Sustainability Office received a grant from the Dutch National Initiative for Educational Research (NRO) for their joint research proposal on the future of higher education. This October, the project is gaining momentum as the researchers begin shaping its direction. Led by Isabelle Reymen and Anna Wieczorek from the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS), the initiative focuses on redesigning engineering curricula. The awarded funding amounts to 鈧�750,000.
Transdisciplinary competencies
Traditional engineering education has emphasized deep disciplinary knowledge and individual problem-solving. However, today鈥檚 societal challenges鈥攕uch as climate change, digitalization, and the energy transition鈥攁re complex, interconnected, and urgent. Reymen and Wieczorek argue that technical expertise alone is no longer sufficient. Students must also learn to collaborate across sectors, think in systems, and integrate knowledge from multiple domains. These transdisciplinary competencies are essential for addressing real-world problems.
Working collaboratively
The research aims to develop validated design principles that help curriculum developers create programs that balance disciplinary depth with transdisciplinary breadth. These principles will be grounded in the realities of current educational systems. The goal is to prepare engineers who are not only technically skilled but also capable of working collaboratively toward sustainable and inclusive solutions.
Livable future
This project responds to a broader societal need: educating professionals who can contribute to a livable future. One concrete example is the energy transition, where technological innovation must be paired with social acceptance and cross-sector collaboration. By equipping students with the right mix of competences, the project supports an educational system that aligns more closely with societal demands.
Empowering students
Reymen and Wieczorek are working alongside Chantal Brans and Ana Valencia working in 黑料福利网 innovation Space, and Tommaso Mondov矛 who is part of the Sustainability Office. Their collaboration marks a step toward education that not only transfers knowledge but also empowers students to engage with complex societal issues. The IE&IS department is proud to support this contribution to the future of higher education.