Despoina Georgiou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences and a research lead and coordinator of the HER group at the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning at Utrecht University. She holds a Master’s degree in Research on Teaching and Learning from the Technical University of Munich and a PhD from the International Doctoral School REASON at Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich. Her research focuses on teaching and learning in higher education, particularly on how innovative learning environments can foster educators’ and students’ professional growth. She studies topics such as challenge-based learning, adaptive expertise, and the use of artificial intelligence in innovative higher education. Despoina also coordinates the EARLI Special Interest Group 4 on Higher Education.