Jeroen Janssen appointed professor of Complex Learning Environments

Jeroen Janssen has been appointed professor of ‘Educational Sciences: Supporting students in complex learning environments’, effective 1 September 2024. Students use complex learning environments in various ways, for example to work on challenging, interdisciplinary issues and to take courses in which they try to find solutions to social issues in project groups. Janssen: “We want to educate our students in such a way that they can contribute to solving the complex issues facing society.”

As the newly appointed professor explains, complex learning environments ask a lot of the students' ability to regulate their own learning. “That can be very difficult for them. There is a risk that they will become frustrated, lose sight of the complexity and perhaps become demotivated.” Together with lecturers and students, Janssen aims to develop scientific knowledge about these learning environments and share it with the professional field of education. Ultimately, he hopes the research will contribute to more effective and enjoyable teaching.

What will change? Nothing and a lot.

Getting used to it

Janssen began his academic career at Radboud University. He was a research assistant there for two years before joining Utrecht University as a PhD candidate. Now that he has been appointed professor, years later, colleagues regularly ask him what will change for him. “Nothing and a lot, I reply. I’ve always been involved in teaching and research and I’ll continue to do so with great pleasure. But my duties are changing: I’m quitting as director of the Bachelor’s programme in Educational Sciences from 1 September to become head of the Department of Education. The latter is a completely new role for me, so it will take some getting used to. On top of that, I’ve already been warned that as a professor, people will be making a lot of demands on your time.”