dr. H.G. (Helco) van Keeken
Helco G. van Keeken is Assistant Professor and Programme Coordinator of the Master's programmes in Human Movement Sciences and Sport Sciences at the University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). His work focuses on developing academic education that integrates human movement science, technological innovation, and practical application.
He coordinates the merger of both programmes into the new, broader Master's programme in Sport and Human Movement Sciences. A central aim is to educate embedded scientists: academically trained professionals who bridge the gap between science and practice. The redesigned curriculum integrates knowledge development, intervention and implementation, data-driven analysis, communication, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Programmatic assessment is a key principle underpinning the educational approach.
Van Keeken has experience in strategic educational development and external quality assurance. As Programme Director, he coordinated the New Programme Assessment (TNO) process and a programme conversion (PNC), for which ministerial approval was granted. He also has experience with external accreditation reviews and midterm evaluations, both for his own programmes and as an independent panel member and panel chair.
He graduated in Physiotherapy from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) in 1997 and subsequently worked in the Department of Rehabilitation at the Academic Medical Center (AMC, now Amsterdam UMC). As an operator of the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN), he was involved in the pioneering development and application of this innovative system for movement analysis and rehabilitation. In 2002, he continued his work with CAREN at the University of Groningen. He obtained his PhD in Medical Sciences with the dissertation Model and Measurement Studies on Stages of Prosthetic Gait, investigating prosthetic walking through mathematical modelling and experimental measurements. Since 2007, he has been affiliated with the UMCG as a researcher and Assistant Professor.
He has developed courses ranging from mathematics and programming to Skillslab, Signal Acquisition and Analysis, and Clinical Mobility Lab, emphasising the practical application of knowledge and critical interpretation of data. He also contributed to the development of the Master Monitor, supporting students' professional and personal development, and has supervised numerous Master's thesis projects.
Since 2021, he has been a Leading Academic Teacher at the UMCG. He also contributes to institutional governance through employee representation, serving on the joint employee representative committee for the Prevention, Public Health & Primary Care (PPP) and Psychiatry, Rehabilitation, Paramedical & Psychosocial Services (PRP) clusters. In addition, he is a member of the Finance Committee, which advises the Education and Research Council and employee representative committees.