As of 1 December 2018, Professor Dr Wieger Bakker will be appointed to the position of Dean for Lifelong learning at Utrecht University. The government encourages ‘Lifelong learning’ to ensure that adults can also continue to gain sufficient knowledge and skills in order to become or remain sustainably employable on the job market. Utrecht University shares this ambition and gives the Dean the 2.5-year assignment to further develop the offered range of degree programmes for professionals and connect it to the perspective of more flexible education and broad accessibility.
Utrecht University already has several degree programmes, training programmes and courses for professionals who like to keep on learning. The ambition to embed Lifelong learning can be found in the Strategic Plan and the university actively works on that in the form of the programme Lifelong learning. By 2020, the university wants to have an up-to-date and attractive offering of education that properly facilitates Lifelong learning and is adjusted to the demands of the job market, professionals and alumni. Recent research among alumni shows a big need for post-graduate courses. Professor of Quality and Innovation of Society Oriented Higher Education Wieger Bakker will encourage and support the vision of the university in the upcoming years.