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Teacher Professionalization

'Teaching Sparks: Conversations That Inspire' fosters meaningful connections among ϸ teachers

October 22, 2025

On 09 October 2025, the welcoming venue of De Zwarte Doos at ϸ came alive with ideas, energy, and collaboration as teachers from different departments gathered for “Teaching Sparks: Conversations That Inspire” — an event organized by Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Ambassadors Peter Ruijten-Dodoiu, Pieter Cuijpers, Georgios Skantzaris, and Rob Mestrom, together with TEACH and the Academy for Learning and Teaching (ALT).

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Photo by Brynn Jonsson R. Julia

The event opened with an inspiring message from Peter Ruijten-Dodoiu, assistant professor at the Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences department, who welcomed participants and set the tone for an afternoon of exchange and reflection.

The first part of the program featured a speed dating activity, where teachers engaged in a series of short, focused one-on-one conversations. This interactive format encouraged participants to share both successful practices and ongoing challenges in their teaching. It also served as a platform to introduce ϸ’s CPD Ambassadors — a group of experienced teachers dedicated to supporting their peers in enhancing teaching and learning at ϸ.

Following the lively discussions, participants gathered for drinks and networking, creating an informal setting where conversations could continue and new professional relationships could form.

The event’s purpose was clear: to strengthen connections among ϸ teachers and promote a culture of continuous improvement in teaching. By meeting the CPD Ambassadors, attendees gained insight into how ϸ supports professional growth through peer learning and shared expertise. These ambassadors play a vital role in fostering innovation in higher education, helping colleagues explore new ideas, reflecting on their teaching, and inspiring one another.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AMBASSADORS

At the heart of ϸ’s professional development network are the CPD Ambassadors — educators who are passionate about student-centered teaching and eager to engage colleagues in conversations about teaching and learning. During the CPD summer school, they have all developed their own ideas for improving education practices. Based on these projects and other educational interests, they welcome fellow ϸ teachers to connect with them over coffee or lunch to exchange experiences, explore challenges, and share best practices.

 

Meet the CPD Ambassadors

Associate Professor, Mathematics & Computer Science

Pieter Cuijpers

Topics of interest: CBL and its challenges; MOOCs, flipped classroom, and other forms of online learning; Assessment of, for, and as learning; Group dynamics in the context of CBL; Co-creation as a means of professional development for teachers

Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering

Rob Mestrom

Topics of interest: Student engagement; Connecting brain science to student learning; Flipped classroom

Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences

Peter Ruijten-Dodoiu

Topics of interest: How process-based ILOs can support deeper engagement and reflection; Assessment design for process-oriented learning; Implementing AI tools to support student reflections

Lecturer, Mathematics & Computer Science

Georgios Skantzaris

Topics of interest: The dialectic method; Socratic maieutics

Lecturer, Mathematics & Computer Science

Adam Watkins

Topics of interest: Collaborative approaches to course (re)design; Documenting your course design; Curriculum transparency