The Joint Research Center Zeeland (JRCZ) has been nominated for the Dutch Education Award, the highest distinction in secondary vocational education (MBO) and higher education (HBO and WO).
On July 1st, during the Comenius Festival, it will be announced whether the JRCZ has won first, second, or third prize. These prizes come with a financial award of 1.2 million, 800,000, or 500,000 euro, respectively.
The JRCZ is nominated for its initiative of 'working with MBO, HBO, and university students on societal missions in makerspaces'. In these makerspaces, students from Scalda, HZ University of Applied Sciences and University College Roosevelt work on challenges in the fields of water, energy, and food, alongside teachers, researchers, and professionals from the field.
Crossing Boundaries
This all takes place using the principles of challenge-based education and technology-enhanced learning. In this way, students are prepared, across the boundaries of disciplines and educational programs, for a world in transition.
The JRCZ has been nominated in the HBO category. The two other nominees in this category are the project 'Hij Gezond & Wel' from Hogeschool Utrecht of Applied Sciences and 'Ready for the Nursing Internship Thanks to the Immersive Simulation Room' from Windesheim.
Educational Innovation
The award ceremony will take place on July 1st during the Comenius Festival in The Hague, an event that focuses on educational innovation.
The Dutch Education Award is presented as a mark of appreciation and as a stimulus for educational innovation and improvement in MBO, HBO, and WO. The prize is awarded each year to teams in post-secondary education that have developed an educational initiative within the past six years. The award is not only a recognition of what has been achieved, but also a vote of confidence in what they will accomplish in the years to come.