At the VU Education Lab, part of VU Centre for Teaching & Learning (VU CTL), Nadia is team leader of the student assistants and project leader of some innovation projects. She helps think about how VU CTL can further advance education. She uses her VU-wide network to connect lecturers or teaching staff from different departments, faculties or services. Nadia also co-organises VU-wide teaching events for lecturers.

Close friendships within a collegial team
Nadia gets the most satisfaction from leading the student team. Nadia: “That's 7 to 12 students, each with their own background and talent. It makes me proud that this team is always close, despite the many changes due to graduation or internships, for example. New team members feel welcome and everyone is there for each other. Friendships are even formed that last after graduation!”

Your VUture: blended board game
Nadia's best project so far? “The development of the game Your VUture: a blended board game for students. That means it is a combination of online and offline. Your VUture helps students think about what they want to get out of their studies. The game also teaches them about all the possibilies after graduation.” The game is very well received by teachers and students. Study programmes are increasingly using it.

As you read, Nadia likes everything. “I was trained as a biologist and neuropsychologist, and I also worked in care for the disabled. After graduating, I was education coordinator at Utrecht University and at VU Faculty of Social Sciences.” Within this position, the focus was always on setting up new things. “Think of a new programme for prospective students, a new introduction programme for first-year students or a new knowledge network for lecturers,” says Nadia. “After that I naturally moved on to VU CTL, where we are always working on 'new things'. We often call that ‘doing fun things’.”

Do you want to know more or get in touch with Nadia? Send an email to onderwijswerkplaats@vu.nl.  Or visit NU 1A-25.