Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences is one of the Netherlands’ top 3 universities of applied sciences, known for its personal approach, small classes (15-20 students) and for working closely with the business community and public institutes. At Windesheim higher professional education is taught. This means that besides theoretical knowledge, the student will get hands-on experience through internships, projects with the professional field, group work, workshops and guest lectures. After a four-year bachelor’s programme, students usually start their professional career.

Windesheim offers bachelor and master programmes to more than 20,300 students and thousands of other study participants in the areas of Education, Sports, Health and Care, Technology and Management and Business at sites in Zwolle and Almere. With up to 1,800 dedicated and skilled employees, Windesheim continuously aims for quality improvements and strives to offer studies that are connected to the professional practice and with that equipping students with the best possible point of departure for finding a job. Windesheim offers study programmes in fifty disciplines, with the emphasis on student-focused and profession-focused education. The university provides flexible learning opportunities leading to broadbased qualifications. Students from other countries can attend through exchange schemes, or take part in mainstream programmes. Windesheim’s mission is to make an active contribution to an inclusive and sustainable society. We strive to do so by educating valuable and principled professionals and by conducting practice-oriented research.

Windesheim is an important research centre for practice-based research. The university has several thriving research institutes studying a variety of themes, like: Exercise and Sport, Education, Health and Welfare, ICT, Media, Entrepreneurship, Technology, Theology and Security. All practices-based research aims to contribute to the quality of the programs, professional development of higher education teachers, the local community and related professional fields. In addition it is organised in close consultation with the professional field. Windesheim wants to be a strong University of Applied Sciences known for educating value conscious professionals in studies that are each above average in quality and of which there are several top educations with (inter)national allure. In the vision of Windesheim the focus in the research of the Research Centres and the connection with the Central Bachelor’s programs is of great importance. Practice-based research at universities of applied sciences is research at the core of society. The question underlying all this research comes from the daily practice of organizations and professionals. And this research is carried out together with partners from the field. Results find their way into professional practice and to future professionals via the study programmes. See for more information

Key persons in LIFT project

Dr Sui Lin Goei is a professor at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences and has headed the academic group ‘Teachers and Teacher Educators in Inclusive Learning Environments’ since 2018. She also holds a position as an assistant professor and programme leader of Lesson Study at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) at the Teacher Academy (upper secondary teacher training) and at Research Institute LEARN! Learning Sciences. Dr Goei is a well-seasoned researcher and has participated in many research projects either as a participant or as a coordinator. Currently, she is the coordinator of three national research projects funded by the Dutch Research Council involving Lesson Study. Internationally she is involved in a Horizon 2020 project in which she has been involved Lesson Study in designing behavioural lessons. In her research, Dr Goei focuses on how to design educational learning environments in the most inclusive way possible. One of Goei’s core research foci is how teachers can be professionalized in this matter via the Lesson Study approach. At Windesheim, she coaches Lesson Study teams of teachers and (teacher) educators as facilitator while simultaneously exploring how to better the training for Lesson Study facilitators by improving the professional conversations within Lesson Study teams. Dr Goei is one of the founders of the Dutch consortium Lesson Study NL uniting eight Dutch universities and has hosted the 2019 international World Association of Lesson Study (WALS) conference in Amsterdam. Per January 1st, 2023, has been appointed as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Lesson and Learning Studies (IJLLS). Dr Goei serves as the project coordinator of the LIFT project.

Dr Martijn Willemse is an associate professor in the academic group of ‘Teachers and Teacher Educators in Inclusive Learning Environments’ since 2018. He also has been vice-president of the association for teacher educators Netherlands (Velon) and chair of the European Association for Practice-based Research In Learning and professional development (EAPRIL). Dr Willemse focuses mainly on the professional development of (teacher) educators and other professionals in various contexts. At Windesheim, he conducts joint research with (international) colleagues on designing inclusive higher education programmes, professional development of (teacher) educators, improving teacher education curricula, Implementing SWPBIS, Lesson Study, research on collaboration with parents, the moral work of teachers and other topics. Dr Willemse serves as a member of the coordination team and oversees budget responsibilities of the coordinator and the partners and contribute to the development of the blueprint.

Dr Shirley Tan is a research associate at the International Centre for Lesson Studies, Nagoya University, Japan and a postdoctoral researcher at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands. She has spent seven years in Japan, observing lessons in schools and participating in Lesson Study and Lesson Analysis cycles. She is working closely with researchers and teachers in Japan. Dr Tan has fulfilled roles in various fields, including teaching at universities, coordinating reading programmes for disadvantaged students, and assuming the role of Editorial Assistant for the IJLLS. Dr Tan is a well-known early career researcher in the international Lesson Study community; she is a steering member of the PhD and Early Career Research (ECR) committee, organising various activities for doctoral students and ECR. Within the LIFT project, Dr Tan serves as the project manager.

Mrs Esther Welbergen – management assistant

Contact information

Dr Sui Lin Goei sl.goei[at]windesheim.nl
Dr Martijn Willemse m.willemse[at]windesheim.nl
Dr Shirley Tan s.tan[at]windesheim.nl
Mrs Esther Welbergen e.welbergen[at]windesheim.nl

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences https://www.windesheim.nl/