Education Festival 2026 Programme

Presenters: Sophie Laemers and Brenda de Zwaan (NHL Stenden)

In this seminar, the concept of hostmanship is introduced to you. Together, we make a connection between this concept and your own teaching. How can we apply this in our education? This allows your students an enriched learning experience, and an enriched teaching experience for you as teacher.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Jennifer Smit-Hobbs

An opportunity to play the games involved in the game-based mentor programme piloted in the BSc AI this year and learn more about the programme. In line with the UG’s explicit valuation of student well-being, we developed the game-based mentor programme to shape the education experience of students by activating their voices in connection with peers. The game-based mentor programme offers a vision of an engaging mentor programme to programmes re-examining their mentor programmes for incoming students.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Erik Meijles

In this session, we'll discuss good practice and evaluation points of the Smarter Academic Year approach in your courses and your programmes. Staff and support staff with or without experience in the SAY pilots are welcome to share their ideas. The convenors are now: Leonieke Bolderman (YAG/FSS), Thomas Engberts (LET) en Erik Meijles (FSS).

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Agata Szperl

Explore the five phases of inquiry-based learning and reflect on the facilitator’s role in each. Whether you’re a TA, staff, or PhD, this interactive workshop will guide you in identifying where and how to integrate inquiry into your course. Engage in phase mapping, group discussion, and reflection to clarify your facilitation direction. Interactive elements: Phase analysis, peer exchange, and collaborative planning.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Maria Lorena Flórez Rojas, Marina Fortuna and Laura Peters

This session explores how gamification and serious games can enhance higher education by increasing engagement, interaction, and real-world relevance. While grounded in legal education, the approaches and examples are transferable and can be adapted to other faculties and disciplines to foster collaboration, critical thinking, and meaningful learning outcomes.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Edith Koh, Kristof de Bruyn and Xiaohua Li

Low student attendance at formal teaching sessions is a growing concern, with potential implications for academic performance, retention, and student well-being. This seminar presents the context, approach, and preliminary findings of an investigation into the reasons for student non-attendance at lectures and tutorials for specific courses in FSE.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Janene van Loon

Rising enrolments mean instructors increasingly teach large classes, where fostering belonging, inclusion, and student voice is challenging. This 45-minute interactive seminar shares research-informed, classroom-tested strategies to build inclusive learning communities in large lectures. Participants experience practical approaches such as small groups, think-pair-share, and engaging icebreakers firsthand through collaborative learning activities.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Jona Frank and Sofia Cernakova

We will hold a discussion with students about their concerns and views on AI with time for questions from the audience at the end. Since AI is and has been a growing phenomenon recently, one that effects education strongly, how do discussions around AI relate look from the students side.

This session will be held in English.

Discover innovative educational projects and ideas during the poster session. Meet the presenters, exchange insights, and get inspired by colleagues passionate about enhancing teaching and learning.

The Education Festival 2026 will officially open with contributions from Rector Magnificus Jacquelien Scherpen and Jan Riezebos, Academic Leader of the Teaching Academy Groningen. The winners of the Best Practice Awards will be revealed, and the Educational Grant Laureates will be highlighting their projects and dedication to advancing teaching and learning.

The event will close with entertainment, offering a wonderful chance to explore innovative ideas, engage in insightful discussions with presenters, and connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed and informal setting. Grab a drink, share perspectives, and inspire new collaborations!

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Simon Dalley, Stacey Donofrio and Ben Gützkow

This interactive workshop draws on our recent research and social psychological theory to explore how relational teaching practices support students, especially those transitioning into higher education. Participants learn how to use normalising and self-disclosure to reduce psychological distance, strengthen teacher–student and student–student relationships, and promote engagement and belonging.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Swati Vartak

This workshop explores neurodiversity as a fundamental aspect of human diversity in educational settings, addressing the most common challenges faced by neurodivergent students while providing practical strategies for inclusive classroom environments. Emphasising student-centred approaches, the workshop encourages educators to engage directly with learners to understand individual needs and co-create supportive strategies.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Daniël Vullings and the members of the Community of Practice in Gamification

Many lecturers at the UG use games to teach more effectively. During this session, we will showcase different examples of such serious games to show how games can be used to both engage students and help them achieve the desired learning outcomes.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Bart Beijer

The board game introduces participants to current developments and discussions in education in a playful way, using 64 cards divided into eight themes. The game is tailored to the participants' level of knowledge and leads to concrete takeaways for action points. The game can provide basic knowledge, but also offers an opportunity to refresh knowledge and ideas and learn from each other's experiences.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Viktor Venhorst, Marjon Fokkens-Bruinsma and Nienke Renting

After a short introduction to the StudentLines initiative, participants will learn how StudentLines aims to understand and strengthen student voice and engagement. We will explore how knowledge and experiences of students and researchers can be better shared, and share experiences, ideas and possible forms of collaboration.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Charissa Roossien and Edith Koh

Biomedical engineering is a multidisciplinary field where student learning occurs through engagement with authentic, real-world challenges. This interactive workshop aims to provide participants with an experience of challenge-based learning by working in small interdisciplinary groups on real-life biomedical challenges. This approach is also applicable for other programmes.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Sander van Lien & Carola Veenstra-Jager

During this interactive workshop, we explore how privacy, information security, and ethics shape responsible education in the digital classroom. Using the privacy & security discussion picture (praatplaat), participants exchange experiences about values such as safe data use, GDPR, and digital resilience. They also reflect on how these values can contribute to an inclusive and safe learning environment.

This session will be held in Dutch.

Presenter: Jeremy Burman

I propose that "brainstorming" (which is considered "AI safe") be limited to how students respond to AI feedback in making a revision before submitting their text for peer review. (This changes the order of operations in the PAIRR model, to AIRPR, but for good reason: AI can encourage students to reflect on what's normal, in their field, so they and their peers can concentrate on what's interesting and good.)

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Inge Pot and Tracy Poelzer

The AI platform is a new central hub for teachers and educational support staff to develop and share their skills and knowledge in AI in Education. In this session we will showcase the new platform and talk about the Generative AI Challenge Lab: a low-stakes, high-support, challenge-based learning community. Afterwards you will be able to explore the platform and the AI chatbot yourself.

This session will be held in English.

Presentors: CoP Virtual Exchange

Virtual Exchange (VE) is transforming how we connect classrooms and foster global collaboration across disciplines. Join us for a dynamic panel discussion to explore how VE can enrich teaching, learning, and research in your field.

After a brief introduction to VE, the floor will open for a Q&A, where you can discuss how VE might fit into your own context, address challenges, and uncover opportunities for collaboration. Experienced teachers and researchers in VE will be on hand to connect and help you take the next steps.

Why attend?

• Discover the possibilities of VE and its added value for students, teachers, and researchers.
• Connect with the University of Groningen’s Community of Practice (CoP) on Virtual Exchange, a hub for expertise, resources, and networking.
• Bring your questions, ideas, or concerns, whether you’re new to VE or looking to deepen your practice.

Takeaways: Leave inspired with fresh ideas, practical insights, and new connections to further explore VE in your teaching and research.

This session will be held in English.

Presentors: Marjon Fokkens-Bruinsma, Irene Douwes-van Ark, Franka van den Hende

Dive into higher education research with us in this interactive workshop. Discover inspiring educational projects through pitches, engage in idea-sharing and (re)connecting speed dating, and join peer intervision sessions to discuss key themes in educational research and innovation. Connect, collaborate and learn with fellow higher education research enthusiasts!

This session will be held in English.

Presentors: Marije Bosch & Pauline Bakker

At the Schools for Science and Society, we have years of experience with education that transcends disciplines. During this session, we will delve into the concepts of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary education. With practical examples and direct application tips, you will leave the session inspired and equipped to enrich your own teaching.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Liset Rouweler & Dörte de Kok

How can we design our education in a way that supports students with dyslexia? In this interactive workshop, you will gain practical insights and concrete strategies to make your teaching more dyslexia-friendly—focusing on for example inclusive design, accessible materials, and realistic adjustments that benefit all students.

Presenters affiliation CDD (Center for Dyslexia and Dyscalculia).

This session will be held in English.

Second timeslot for poster presentations and the continuation of the "Playtesting UG educational games" session.

Presentor: Michael Lerch

Michael’s course innovatively blends escape-room elements and internationalisation to enhance diversity in science education. Through storytelling, co-created role models, and game-based learning, students design puzzles for an escape-room experience. This adaptable, inclusive approach fosters belonging and engagement, offering a creative model for broader university adoption.

This session will be in English.

The Centre for Learning and Teaching warmly invites you to the final symposium of the Senior Teaching Qualification (STQ). During this event, 14 innovative educational projects from across FSE programmes will be presented, highlighting inspiring examples of teaching development and curriculum innovation.

By making the STQ symposium open to all teaching staff, we hope to offer an opportunity to disseminate ongoing educational innovation from FSE to other faculties. During the STQ, one of the goals is vision development at programme level, which is articulated in the participants’ innovation projects. We hope the presenters can inspire colleagues and thus shape education this way!

Presenter: Manuel Reyes

This workshop is designed for faculty education policy officers at the RUG. We will explore the key concepts of Open Education and work together to integrate the Open Education Community of Practice vision into faculty implementation plans. This workshop is intended to specifically support the writing of an Open Education faculty implementation plan, as requested by the new RUG-wide institutional plan. The session focuses on translating institutional strategic goals into concrete actions at the faculty level, ensuring alignment and practical application.

This session will be held in English.

Presenter: Ruben C. Granson

This workshop explores how cultural differences shape conflict and social safety in academic environments. Through theory and interactive role-play, participants will practise adaptive strategies to foster inclusivity, strengthen collaboration, and build trust in diverse teams and classrooms.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Members of CoP Wellbeing

Sense of belonging is important for wellbeing. Worrisome behaviors can be an indication that a sense of belonging is lacking or it can reduce a sense of belonging. In this workshop we address how to recognize and address worrisome behaviors. How do you handle difficult conversations to foster wellbeing?

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Jane Mahoney & Jeroen van Engen

In this interactive seminar, we explore how learners can design tailored digital or physical environments to enhance language acquisition. We delve into strategies for resources, technology, and fostering habits that align with individual goals and learning styles. Ideal for educators and self-directed learners seeking to optimize their language learning journey.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Ranjita Bose & Prem Sundaramoorthy

Imagine a world where "passing" is just the beginning of the conversation. In higher engineering education, students do so much more than take exams—they build, solve, and innovate. The LAD-SIC project aims to make that effort visible. We are moving beyond the unidimensional grade to create a dashboard that visualizes a student's true strengths, from their grasp of complex topics to their growth in professional skills. Backed by the Comenius Programme and fueled by a tri-university partnership (TU Delft, RUG & TU/e), we are now capturing stakeholder needs for a tool that reflects the reality of modern learning.

This session will be held in English.

Presenter: Angelos Konstantinidis

This practical workshop guides educators in developing a proposal for the Open Pedagogy Incubator Fund. Learn to align your idea with core Action Principles (Access, Agency, Public Good), structure it using the application template, and receive peer feedback to craft a compelling, fundable project that empowers students and creates public value.

This session will be held in English.

Presenter: Philip Kocken

In a rapidly changing society facing social and environmental (and budget!) challenges, educators and students experience growing stress. When the body is often overlooked in educational contexts, this stress can manifest as fear, depression, paralysis, and even long-term illness - at a time when we increasingly rely on students to act as change agents and educators to guide them.

Embodied practices such as focusing, radical listening, mindfulness, close talking, and Social Presencing Theater strengthen the body–mind connection by bringing attention to embodied experience. They foster resilience and deeper engagement with urgent, complex challenges. In this workshop, you will explore their importance, experience key elements firsthand, and receive practical suggestions for integrating them into your teaching.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Franka van den Hende, Rina de Vries, Iain Johnston-White

Explore the world of educational grants and discover opportunities to fund your ideas to innovate and inspire your course or program. Gain insight into various funding opportunities (e.g., Comenius, Scholarships for Teaching and Learning), their specific focus areas, and the impact your innovation can have on fostering excellence in education. Whether you are a teacher, researcher, or educational developer, this workshop provides you with essential information and inspiring discussions with peers to turn your vision, voice, and values into reality with adequate funding and support.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Kai Yu Ma & Margreet Smit

In this workshop, we will let you experience a reflective workshop that we designed for personal development education for students at the medical faculty. In this session, we will let you experience this reflective workshop. We will let you explore the values behind your AI use, think about what is gained and/or lost, and offer reflective questions to make deliberate choices in the future.

We hope to inspire you with this non-technical AI workshop and show you the importance of reflection education in this technological age.

This session will be held in English.

Presentor: Deniz Haydar

This interactive workshop introduces Lesson Study as a collaborative, inquiry-driven approach for university educators to enhance teaching and student learning. Using a fictive multidisciplinary case, participants explore designing reflective learning activities, experience the Lesson Study cycle, and gain practical tools to start collaborative improvement in their own teaching contexts settings.

This session will take place in English.

Presenter: Sofia Cernakova

This seminar session presents an experimental master’s thesis in which AI is used transparently as a reflective thinking partner rather than a shortcut. Drawing on a student’s real working process, the session explores how AI can support close reading, critical thinking, and academic integrity, and invites educators to reflect on how students are already navigating these tools.

This session will be held in English.

Co-facilitators: Betzabe Torres Olave, Eduarda Boing Pinherio, and Luana Silveri

This workshop invites our community to critically examine visions of science-society relations through Forum Theatre. Participants will explore: Where do we direct our attention? What do we choose to look away from? Through embodied collective creation and spect-actor interventions, participants will cultivate an "attentive gaze" toward typically un-contemplated science-society tensions. This is not traditional acting, and you do not need theatre experience. You can participate in many ways—sharing thoughts in discussion, observing, creating scenes, or performing. You can choose your level of involvement at any time.

This session will be held in English.

Presenters: Inge Hovius, Rick Huizinga and Gabriëlle Visser

Many of you have mentioned to us that sharing experiences about your projects and other current topics in higher education with other STQ participants was your favorite part of the STQ programme. We wish to continue that idea for this event where you have the opportunity to meet fellow STQ alumni and facilitators (again). In the form of round table discussions, in a world café format, we invite you to share the effects of your projects, discuss the support you might need for future projects, and indicate how your experiences can be made more visible and valued in the university. We also hope to hear your ideas about a (possible) future STQ alumni network or events.

This session will take place in English.

Presenters: Angelos Konstantinidis and Sean R. White

An interactive workshop where participants explore Open Science and Open Pedagogy through guided play. After a brief introduction to the game’s aims, participants play UnExpected Values: The Open Future together and reflect on its potential as an educational and professional learning tool.

This session will be held in English.

End the festival on a high note with live entertainment and drinks. Relax, connect with colleagues, and continue the conversation in a festive and informal setting!