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Research window Technology for Society

    Introduction

    Research to make us smarter

    We are connected 24/7. The advent of smart technology makes producing, learning and working a lot easier. And that makes industries agile. Robotics have become an integral part of our society. And all sectors benefit from technological progress. The manufacturing industry can produce faster thanks to 3D printing. We are increasingly able to develop and assemble sustainable high-tech materials, as well as recycling them at the end of their useful life. The district nurse can keep his/her finger on the pulse online and a diabetes patient can operate his own insulin pump from home using an app. In education, serious gaming and digital literacy support the various learning needs of all pupils and students. In short, technology contributes to solving a wide range of industrial and social issues.

    Our view is wider

    Besides the opportunities this offers us, it is also important to map out the impact it has on our work and life and to create the right parameters for this. This requires new methodologies, adjustments in business operations and lifelong learning due to a (more) profoundly changing professional content. Keep in mind that in order to make the energy transition happen, we must first complete the technological infrastructure before we can shut off the gas tap once and for all. With information provided via social media, it is not always clear who the source of that information is. This forces us to stay focused and verify all the facts. Lecturers need additional knowledge of ICT and media literacy to be able to use digital learning materials effectively in education.

    Our research on technology for society

    Our research on technology for society

    The researchers at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences use their expertise and all kinds of knowledge products to support the professional field in addressing these issues. They conduct practice-based multidisciplinary research, focusing on the interdependence between technology, industrial development and human activity. The research is organized together with partners. And we then carry out this research with, about and for all our partners.

    From ICT floors that register movement patterns to apps in gym class. Professor Ivo van Hilvoorde and his team focus on sport-related didactic innovations. They conduct research into people's movement and sports behaviour, particularly within the context of the school and sports club. 

    The research is practice-based. This means that lecturers of physical education can apply the knowledge from research directly in their work. Examples of questions that come up for discussion are: How do children learn to move, and how do we improve motor learning? What is the social role and significance of sport? What is the relationship between the sports club and physical education? What are the social effects of a certain sports policy?

    Want to know more? Contact Professor Ivo van Hilvoorde via +31 88 469 9162 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

    The research conducted by Professor Liesbeth Hermans and her team focuses on how journalism can contribute to solving all kinds of societal issues in a changing society: promoting greater tolerance and understanding, depolarization, increasing the involvement and trust of citizens.

    Inclusive journalism with a solution-oriented, action-oriented and forward-looking approach can be relevant to individuals as well as to society. Research into the consequences for professional views in the sector, the content of the product and the impact on the public is central.

    Want to know more? Contact Professor Liesbeth Hermans via +31 88 469 7394 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

    Time is of the essence; we have to step up the pace. That’s why Jeike Wallinga's professorship actively focuses on accelerating the energy transition. After all, accelerating energy savings and the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources, that's what it's all about. 

    The professorship contributes to energy technology that makes a sustainable contribution to the energy transition in our built environment. And the team also looks at energy supply for specific areas, including the associated energy infrastructure. By (re)designing energy technologies and energy chains. By conducting practice-based research in the fields of work, education and society.

    Want to know more? Contact Project Assistant Annet van Woerdekom via +31 88 469 9367 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

    A society in which everyone has equal opportunities when it comes to well-being and health, in relation to both the physical and social environment. That is what Natascha Notten's professorship is committed to.  

    The professorship conducts practice-oriented research into the opportunities, challenges and potential of a healthy society. They focus on reducing socio-economic differences in good health and well-being by supporting vulnerable groups in society. They contribute to prevention by using the intergenerational transfer of social inequality as a central and overarching theme.

    Want to know more? Contact Project Coordinator Lydia van Koningsveld via +31 88 469 9999 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

    Many people see eHealth as a promising development. Yet few IT innovations are sustainably embedded in healthcare practice.

    Marike Hettinga and her research team bridge this gap by conducting multidisciplinary research combining data from the fields of care, technology and business. Their research results in applicable knowledge and useful tools that support healthcare providers in deploying eHealth, or handy tools used by entrepreneurs.

    Want to know more? Contact Professor Marike Hettinga via +31 88 469 7762 (phone) or    email(opens in new tab).

    Whether it concerns digitization, automation or robotization: the business world is innovating at full speed. The professorship contributes to this development.

    Industrial automation and robotics offer many opportunities and possibilities, for companies and education as well as for professionals. That's why a quartermaster should set up a professorship that will carry out applied research on this subject. This research group is growing steadily. And so we have taken an important step for tomorrow's innovative technical education.

    Want to know more? Contact project assistant Annemiek Overweg via email(opens in new tab).

    Whether it concerns cyberbullying, media education or gaming: Professor Peter Nikken's research focuses on the role of (social) media from the perspective of young people.

    The living environment of children has changed rapidly in recent years with all kinds of new media and technologies. As a result, many parents and professional co-educators have all kinds of questions. When are media good or bad and what is the best way to support them as educators? And as a professional, how can you optimally support children or parents with questions about the media? The Professorship of Youth & Media, together with professional practice, looks for possible answers to such topical issues.

    Want to know more? Contact Project Coordinator Tanja Kers via +31 88 469 9773 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

    Research and education in the field of rubber and polymer processing has been given less priority in the Netherlands. The primary aim of the research within the Professorship of Polymer Engineering is to promote higher education in polymers with practical results for industry.

    Professor Margie Topp and her team focus on the sustainable use of raw materials and sustainable production processes. Recycling, environmental impact and energy savings are important areas of research. With its focus on Industrial Additive Manufacturing and Smart Industry 4.0, the professorship contributes to keeping the regional manufacturing industry competitive. 

    Want to know more? Click here for our page about Polymer Engineering or mail us(opens in new tab).  

    Lector Chiel van der Veen and his team are investigating how you can enrich education with technology, art, play and good school leadership.

    With its innovative projects and research the professorship wants to help create rich(er) learning environments and to support professionals in guiding their pupils or students. In addition, we want to offer support to managers so that they can examine, supervise and stimulate the professionalism of their employees themselves.

    Want to know more? Contact Project Coordinator Monique Evink via e-mail(opens in new tab) or call +31 88 46 98 228(opens in new tab).

    How do you organize education in such a way that all learners learn optimally? Professor Sui Lin Goei and her team examine the question of how to make learning inclusive.

    Inclusive learning environments are environments in which all learners have the opportunity to learn and develop -- with due regard for the various goals of education -- with a positive attitude towards learners' aspirations and respect for differences between learners. The professorship explicitly involves the study programmes and their (future) professionals in its research by allowing students to (co-)participate. The professorship wants to make an important theoretical and practical contribution to study programmes and the professional field.

    Want to know more? Read more about the research group or contact Professor Sui Lin Goei via +31 88 469 8949 (phone)(opens in new tab) or email(opens in new tab).

    How can journalistic practice contribute (even) better to the quality of living (together) in a democracy? How, for example, do you involve citizens in the news, so that it really comes to life for them? Lector Nico Drok and his team are looking for answers.

    The central question is how news media can play a decisive role in increasing that type of social involvement of people - from all layers and subcultures of society - and in tackling social issues. Themes covered in this research are social cohesion, inclusiveness, the changing interpretation of citizenship and the quality of public judgement. 

    Want to know more? Contact project assistant Vibeke Oenema via email(opens in new tab).

    Liesbeth Rijsdijk and her team are the competence center for sustainable entrepreneurship: from the reuse of raw materials to strongly diminished waste and pollution.

    More and more companies are acknowledging that the current ways of production and consumption are unsustainable in the long run. A circular economy offers a new perspective on more responsible and successful entrepreneurship. The professorship aims to enable the discussion on these issues both within the education sector and within all regional organizations so as to contribute as a competence center to the transition towards a circular economy. 

    Want to know more? Contact Dr. Liesbeth Rijsdijk via +31 88 469 7767 (opens in new tab) (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

    Our labour market continues to evolve and employment relationships change with it. Anneke Goudswaard's professorship combines sustainable craftsmanship with a sustainable economy. 

    All technological developments make great demands on the flexibility and learning capacity of companies and workers. Entrepreneurs, educational institutions and public authorities in the area share the common challenge of strengthening the competitiveness of local businesses. The professorship actively supports the area in this. For example, with knowledge about how SMEs can grow with flexibility and inclusiveness. Or with knowledge about how public and private partners can collaborate to strengthen the professionalism and agility of the entire workforce.

    Want to know more? Contact Project Coordinator Monique Evink via email(opens in new tab).

    Our education is continuously challenged to take a position with regard to ICT innovations. Our professor Anneke Smits offers schools the necessary guidance.

    The aim of education is for pupils and students to learn to live together in a knowledge society that is now characterized by diversity. A complex society, which is profoundly influenced by ICT developments. This requires a lot from teachers. They create - together with others - an environment in which all pupils and all students can develop into well-informed, autonomous, socially responsible participants in society. Within our professorship, we connect educational innovation with relevant technologies.

    Want to know more? Contact Professor Anneke Smits via +31 88 469 9933 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

    How do you spread risks and improve the position of companies in supply chains? Together with his team, Professor Michiel Steeman addresses this issue.

    Supply Chain Finance is the generic term for all forms of financing between companies within the supply chain. The aim is to improve the financial positions of all parties in the chain and to spread financial risks. Research shows that companies can save money by improving their working capital position. As a result, less financing is needed and banks are more willing to grant loans based on a strong working capital ratio. Supply Chain Finance plays a major role in this. 

    Want to know more? Contact Project Assistant Mira Benes via +31 88 469 7502 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

    Creating opportunities and increasing innovative strength in collaboration with high-tech companies: that's the goal of TechForFuture. A collaboration between universities of applied sciences Saxion and Windesheim.

    TechForFuture incentivizes mission policy and key technologies by conducting practice-oriented research. The knowledge developed directly benefits education and the regional area. Each project involves companies, professors, researchers, lecturers and students. Collaboration between the two universities of applied sciences Saxion and Windesheim and the broad scope of the research ensures interesting synergy. This is how we contribute to the innovative power and growth of the regional area. 

    Want to know more? Take a look at our website (opens in new tab)

    Good education in science and technology starts with good teachers. That is what TechYouFuture stands for. 

    TechYourFuture makes young people aware of the role and impact of technology in our society. As a Centre of Expertise, we support technical (vocational) education in order to train more and better technicians in the future and to optimize the connection between education, training and technical companies. Together with the professional field, the Centre of Expertise carries out plenty of practice-based research and develops practical tools and methods for education and the technical labour market. 

    Want to know more? Take a look at our website(opens in new tab)

    Contact

    Would you like to know more about our research, our researchers or projects? All you have to do is call or mail our information centre.

    Meet our professors

    Meet our professors

    Ronald de Boer, associate professor

    Associate lecturer Ronald de Boer has a special interest in research into bridging physical and financial supply chains, as well as circular supply chains.

    Albert ten Busschen, associate professor

    Albert ten Busschen is associate professor Polymer Engineering and leads the research programme on Reuse of End-of-Life Composites.

    Dr Nico Drok, professor

    Dr. Nico Drok is professor of Media & Civil Society. Themes: civil journalism, journalism education in an (inter)national perspective, and young people and news.

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    Luca Gelsomino, researcher

    Luca Gelsomino is affiliated with the Supply Chain Finance chair as senior researcher. He is also academic director of the Supply Chain Finance Community.

    Dr. Sui Lin Goei

    As a professor, Dr Sui Lin Goei conducts research on the design of inclusive learning environments. She also works as a university lecturer at the VU and at LEARN! Learning Sciences.

    Dr Anneke Goudswaard, professor

    Professor Anneke Goudswaard conducts research into increasing the agility of companies and the workforce within the professorship of New Labour Relations.

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    Geert Heideman, associate professor

    Geert Heideman is associate professor of Polymer Engineering at Windesheim and is responsible for the Rubber Recycling and Industrial Additive Manufacturing programmes.

    Judith van Helvert-Beugels

    Judith van Helvert-Beugels is professor in Family Businesses at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences since June 2021.

    Dr Liesbeth Hermans, professor

    Dr. Liesbeth Hermans researches the effects of constructive journalism on the public, on the news and on professional practice in general.

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    Dr Marike Hettinga, professor

    The multidisciplinary (research) background of our professor Marike Hettinga is valuable to help realize structural embedding of IT innovations in healthcare.

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    Dr Ivo van Hilvoorde, professor

    Dr. Ivo van Hilvoorde is a sports philosopher and professor of Human Movement, School and Sport. His research includes the quality of physical education and its relationship with (organized) sports.

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    Dr Hanno van Keulen, professor

    Dr. Hanno van Keulen is professor of Leadership in Education and Parenting at Windesheim in Almere and focuses mainly on the quality of parenting support and education.

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    Dr Peter Nikken, professor

    Peter Nikken's research focuses on the media use of children and young people in the digitized society and the role their parents and professionals play in this.

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    Dr Natascha Notten, professor

    Focuses on current issues in society concerning social inequality and the intergenerational transmission of (un)equal opportunities in various fields.

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    Dr Aart Schoonderbeek, associate professor

    Aart Schoonderbeek specializes in research in the field of industrial production processes, particularly in the area of automation and robotics.

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    Research news

    Research news

    New professor of Networks in a Circular Economy

    Friday 10 February 2023

    Ten Clarenwater Thesis Award

    Tuesday 29 November 2022

    3 million for dementia research: Windesheim closes gap between theory and practice

    Thursday 10 November 2022

    Chiel van der Veen appointed professor of Urban Care and Education

    Friday 4 November 2022

    Enable-dem: learning communities to speed up innovations in dementia care

    Wednesday 22 June 2022

    Urgency of media education hardly felt by parents of children aged 0-6

    Friday 25 March 2022

    Opportunities for data and collaboration in SMEs

    Thursday 2 December 2021

    Getting students to brainstorm about your marketing or sales?

    Thursday 8 July 2021

    Parents more positive about influence of media on upbringing since corona crisis

    Friday 26 March 2021

    New Professor of Living well with Dementia wants to focus on what people can still do

    Tuesday 23 March 2021

    Supply Chain Finance professorship helps companies deal with disruptions in chains

    Monday 22 March 2021

    Team Value Creators wins third prize at Dutch Higher Education awards 2021

    Tuesday 2 March 2021

    ‘I thought: “That's what I keep running into as a mother, too!”

    Monday 8 February 2021

    Tomorrow’s sleeper: new tracks made from old trains

    Friday 5 February 2021

    Guide to Equal Opportunities: Inaugural Speech Natascha Notten

    Friday 29 January 2021