SOP Tweedaagse 2026

Theme tracks and programme overview

• Day 1 – Thursday 25 June 2026

  Themes

  Across the two days, workshops connect to six identity focused tracks. The themes of day one are:

  • Becoming the Teacher You Are 
    Reflection (and creative approaches) as a driver of teacher identity 
  • The Scholar Teacher Identity 
    Navigating research, teaching, and societal impact 
  • Identity Under Pressure, Identity Across Cultures 
    Resilience, adaptability, and identity in international, intercultural, and mixed classrooms

  Programme

  Activity	Time	Location
  Registration and welcome	09:30 – 10:00	Lobby Theatre
  Plenary opening	10:00 – 11:00	Theatre 5
  Workshop round 1	11:15 – 12:15	Novum
  Lunch	12:15 – 13:30	Lobby Theatre
  Workshop round 2	13:45 – 14:45	Novum
  Workshop round 3	15:00 – 16:00	Novum
  Dinner (optional)	17:00	De BierFabriek

  
  Opening SOP Tweedaagse 2026: Becoming the Teacher You Are

  The SOP Tweedaagse opens with a reflective session hosted by VU CTL. Together, we will introduce the theme Becoming the Teacher You Are and create space to think about teacher identity, professional development and connection in higher education.

  The central contribution will be an opening reflection on teacher identity by Janneke Waelen, Director of VU CTL. She will explore teacher identity as something that develops through practice, values, relationships and changing educational contexts.

  The session will be hosted by Stef Spoelder and Amrita Das, with contributions from the SOP Board and the EHON Board.

  Programme

  Time	Programme element
  10:00 to 10:10	Welcome and theme introduction by Stef Spoelder and Amrita Das
  10:10 to 10:45	Opening reflection on teacher identity by Janneke Waelen, Director of VU CTL
  10:45 to 10:55	Formal opening by the SOP Board and EHON Board
  10:55 to 11:00	Housekeeping and closing message by Stef Spoelder and Amrita Das

  
  Workshops

  
  Round 1

  Workshop 1.1: Mixed Classroom Impact Research
  In this workshop, the impact research of "Inclusive Teaching & Learning practices" transfer from the BKO/UTQ program to teachers' own context will be presented, alongside some recommendations from the research. This impact research was conducted by Gabriel Peralta Alvarez, to understand better what 'transfer' is realized through our BKO/UTQ trainings at the VU.
  Workshop leader: Gabriel Peralta Alvarez
  Location: NU-2A59

  Workshop 1.2: The Faculty Development Debate
  Dive into a fast‑paced, debate‑style workshop where we explore what shapes us as teachers. Using fresh research and playful discussion rounds, we’ll challenge ideas, swap perspectives, and rethink our evolving teacher identities—together and with lots of energy!
  Workshop leaders: Lianne Loosveld, Marie Gillet & Herma Roebertsen
  Location: NU-2A25

  Workshop 1.3: Embodiment of the Leary Model: Exploring Teacher–Student Dynamics through Movement
  In deze ervaringsgerichte workshop maken docentopleiders kennis met een methode om Leary’s model voor interpersoonlijk gedrag vanuit Embodied Pedagogy te behandelen. Deelnemers onderzoeken de dimensies Invloed (leidend–volgend) en Nabijheid (samenwerking–oppositie) via beweging, ruimtelijke werkvormen en rolimprovisatie. Door posities binnen de Leary Circle fysiek te ervaren, krijgen zij inzicht in de relatie tussen lichaamshouding, toon, afstand en pedagogische interactie. Reflectie en experiment ondersteunen het expliciteren van huidige en gewenste positioneringen.
  Workshop leaders: Sibel Telli & Karin Smit
  Location: NU-2A54 

  Workshop 1.4: Defining the Identity of the Senior Teacher
  Join this interactive workshop to help shape the identity of the Senior Teacher and the future of SUTQ trajectories. After a brief introduction to key theoretical perspectives and the national SUTQ framework, we’ll explore six dimensions of identity through an engaging gallery walk. We’ll close with a shared reflection on one guiding question: What should every SUTQ trajectory include?
  Workshop leader: Sonja Borst
  Location: NU-2A55 

   
  Round 2

  Workshop 2.1: Developing a teaching identity in the workplace. The GO credential as a tool for better guidance and development
  Good education starts with good support. The GO credential, Growth in Education, is the quality mark for programmes that provide excellent guidance and development opportunities for new lecturers in higher education. Since 2022 VU has worked with a Dutch consortium of education institutions on the development of the credential. In this workshop we like to share our story. After an introduction the, GO-awarded, bachelor programme movement sciences will tell more about GO for their teachers. We will finalize the session with a world café setup where we invite everyone to share thoughts with us on proper teacher guidance and development in higher education. We hope to welcome you, let’s GO.
  Workshop leaders: Bo Janssen (Projectleider GO), Yolanda Koevoets (Teacher Trainer CTL), Geert Buijtenweg (Opleidingscoördinator bachelor bewegingswetenschappen), Emilie Maas (docent bewegingswetenschappen)
  Location: NU-2A59 

  Workshop 2.2: The Hands of Ubuntu: Sculpting Our Collective Teacher Identity
  Discover the power of Ubuntu ("I am because we are"). In this hands-on workshop, you will explore your professional identity by sculpting core values in a clay figurine. Inspired by the philosophy of Ubuntu and the Inner Development Goal (IDG) framework, we move beyond theory into tactile reflection.  Through "connection threads" and collaborative mapping, you will bridge your personal mission with a collective vision, creating a physical model of your shared identity and purpose.
  Workshop leaders: Hubertie Kroon, Marca Gresnigt & Hannelie Dupreez
  Location: NU-2A25

  Workshop 2.3: Designing a DEI&Belonging trajectory for higher education teachers
  We present our process for designing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) trajectory for higher‑education teachers. An honest look at the complexity of shaping inclusive learning environments. Our goal is to inform and inspire, showing both the promise and the challenges of working in such a broad, evolving field. By sharing our approach, we invite educators to reflect, engage, and recognize that meaningful DEI&B design requires curiosity, courage, and continuous learning.
  Workshop leader: Robert Middelburg, Chrissa Manoli and Lotte Bijen
  Location: NU-2A54 

  Workshop 2.4: Who is today’s teacher? Co-creating a shared profile in an AI-influenced era
  AI is reshaping higher education, transforming teaching contexts, practices, and expectations. In this interactive co-creation session we will explore how AI influences teachers’ role regarding for example course design, feedback, assessment, and student engagement, and what this means for the profession. Together, we will work on a shared teacher profile, focusing on shifts in teaching and learning and their impact on core teaching skills and implications for professional development and certification like the UTQ (BKO).
  Workshop leader: Mirjam Mekhaiel
  Location: NU-2A55 

   
  Round 3

  Workshop 3.1: Dialogue on inclusion
  LLInC recently designed a card set that is based on Leiden University’s UTQ- module: inclusive education. ‘Dialogue on inclusion - from talk to action’ focusses on stimulating dialogue on educational matters that touch the concepts of ‘diversity, inclusion and equity’ in an interactive, contemporary and playful manner.
  Workshop leader: Najat El Hani
  Location: NU-2A59 

  Workshop 3.2: VR experience to empathize with neurodiverse community members
  Workshop description:. Step into a neurodiverse experience through Virtual Reality and see how everyday situations can feel completely different.
  Workshop leader: Miroslava Silva Ordaz
  Location: NU-2A25 

  Workshop 3.3: Guiding principles for educational communities
  At the University of Twente, many teachers and educational staff collaborate in communities to improve teaching and learning. A checklist and guiding principles has been developed to support community coordinators and members in starting, developing, and sustaining educational communities. It helps identify what kind of community you want to be and shares best practices and principles on what works in educational communities.
  Workshop leader: Peter Hagenaars
  Location: NU-2A54

• Day 2 – Friday 26 June 2026

  Themes

  Across the two days, workshops connect to six identity focused tracks. The themes of day two are:

  • Identity in Community 
    Mentoring, peer feedback, and learning with the student and the other 
  • Teaching From What You Stand For 
    Integrating personal values into teacher identity and practice 
  • Digital Self, Digital Classroom 
    How digital transformation reshapes teacher identity

  Programme

  Activity	Time	Location
  Registration and welcome	09:30 – 10:00	Lobby Theatre
  Workshop round 4	10:15 – 11:15	Novum
  Workshop round 5	11:30 – 12:30	Novum
  Lunch	12:30 – 13:30	Lobby Theatre
  Workshop round 6	13:45 – 14:45	Novum
  Plenary closing	15:00 – 16:00	Theatre 5

  
  Closing SOP Tweedaagse 2026: Reflection, Recognition and Celebration

  The SOP Daagse closes with a reflective and celebratory session hosted by VU CTL. The session brings together the central insights of the day and honours the work and contribution of Anja Swennen.

  The session will be hosted by Stef Spoelder and Amrita Das, with contributions from Anja Swennen, Janneke Waelen, Director of VU CTL, the SOP Board and the EHON Board.

  Programme

  Time	Programme element
  15:00 to 15:05	Reflection on the SOP Tweedaagse by Stef Spoelder and Amrita Das
  15:05 to 15:30	Contribution by Anja Swennen
  15:30 to 15:40	Felicitation by Janneke Waelen, Director of VU CTL
  15:40 to 15:50	Thank you message by Stef Spoelder and Amrita Das
  15:50 to 16:00	Final closing message by the SOP Board and EHON Board
  After 16:00	Borrel in honour of the SOP Tweedaagse closing and Anja Swennen

  
  Workshops

  Round 4

  SOP Special Interest Groups
  This time and space have been reserved for the SOP Special Interest Groups to meet:

  1. UTQ-BKO Coordination
  2. AI
  3. Curriculum Design
  4. Diversity & Inclusion
  5. Other SIG groups

  Workshop 4.2: Outside the Classroom Walls: Activating Teacher Identity Work through Nature-Based Learning in the UTQ
  In this workshop, you will get to know the Mixed Classroom Educational Model (MCEM). The focus will be on introducing the phases of the model and key activities, so you can familiarise yourself with them and hopefully integrate them into your teaching practices. The workshop will be set up as an MCEM workshop, so you can experience it firsthand. We hope you share your experiences and are inspired by the Model and your colleagues' experiences.
  Workshop leader: Wouter Buursma
  Location: NU-2A25 

  Round 5

  Workshop 5.1: Practical introduction to the MCE model
  In this workshop, you will get to know the Mixed Classroom Educational Model (MCEM). The focus will be on introducing the phases of the model and key activities, so you can familiarise yourself with them and hopefully integrate them into your teaching practices. The workshop will be set up as an MCEM workshop, so you can experience it firsthand. We hope you share your experiences and are inspired by the Model and your colleagues' experiences.
  Workshop leader: Iokasti Perganta
  Location: NU-2A59 

  Workshop 5.2: Navigating through generative AI developments in teaching and learning
  In this session we take a practical approach to map the parts of education that are influenced by current technological developments and we will analyse in what way this affects teaching and learning. This holistic view will help you address generative AI from diverse didactical angles and help you understand the interconnectedness of interventions and initiatives in curricula. 
  Workshop leader: Esther Schagen
  Location: NU-2A45 

  Workshop 5.3: Facilitating inquiry-based learning
  Explore Facilitating Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) in this hands-on workshop for teachers and educationalists. Discover how to adapt activities and approaches for each phase of inquiry, orientation and conceptualisation, to foster student-driven exploration. Through collaborative exercises and reflective discussions, participants will learn to facilitate group dynamics, learning, and activity design, while connecting inquiry-based methods to their teaching identity. Ideal for those eager to inspire curiosity and autonomy in learners.
  Workshop leader: Agata Szperl
  Location: NU-2A54  

  Workshop 5.4: Outside the Classroom Walls: Activating Teacher Identity Work through Nature-Based Learning in the UTQ
  Step away from the daily grind to explore teacher identity work through slow learning. By entering a methodical dialogue with nature, you will activate your investigative ability and non-linear thinking to address complex professional questions. Move beyond the classroom to find inventive solutions through creative detours. This session offers a dedicated space to enrich your thoughts alongside colleagues, discovering pearls of insight in the in-between time.
  Workshop leader: Wouter Buursma
  Location: NU-2A25 

  
  Round 6

  Workshop 6.1: Who Am I in the Age of AI?
  This workshop explores how AI is reshaping education and student learning. Participants engage with real-world examples, gain insight into emerging developments, and redesign a learning activity to reflect these changes. The session emphasizes practical adjustments and concludes with reflection on how teaching roles and identities may need to evolve in response to AI. 
  Workshop leader: Ella Hafermalz
  Location: NU-2A59 

  Workshop 6.2: T.E.A.C.H.E.R.S.: A Reflective Framework to Professional Identity Learning
  In response to the growing need for teachers to act as strategic agents who can fully realize and access their potential, especially in the age of AI and technology-mediated classrooms where shifting roles are reshaping their professional identities, this workshop offers a practical space for reflective and active identity learning.
  Workshop leader: Niloufar Daneshkhah
  Location: NU-2A45 

  Workshop 6.3: Working with differences: holding space for difficult conversations
  Teaching controversial or sensitive topics asks you to teach from who you are — to bring yourself into the room and work with the differences that emerge. In this one‑hour workshop, we explore how to hold space for disagreement and practise dialogue using actual differences in the group. Drawing on UvA research and using principles from methods such as Deep Democracy and non-violent communication, we look at what helps educators to navigate tension, silence, and conflict. You leave with practical tools and more confidence to work with differences.
  Workshop leader: Erjo Beitler
  Location: NU-2A54 

  Workshop 6.4: What role should Gender Equality and Intersectionality have in higher education?
  In this workshop, we will dive into the current teachings and dialogues around this question. We would like to invite you to think along with us and share the best practices as well as challenges that you encounter. This workshop does not aim to find one clear answer to this question, but it attempts to bridge diverse minds and experiences. Lewis Jon Grace who is a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Political Science and Public Administration will empower us with a short introduction, later we will put our best practices and challenges to the table.
  Workshop leaders: Selin Yağmur Çakmak & Lewis Jon Grace
  Location: NU-2A55