The LLO Accelerator supports VU lecturers and researchers in developing short professional education programmes. Over the course of three months, participants work alongside colleagues from different disciplines to transform an initial idea into a practical, market-oriented offering.
Jan Baan, assistant professor in the Educational Master’s Programme for Primary Education (EMPO), used the pilot programme to develop a professional learning programme for primary school teachers who want to strengthen their inquiry skills in everyday classroom practice. What did he gain from the LLO Accelerator? And what can other VU lecturers and researchers learn from his experience?
You decided to join the LLO Accelerator. What was your main motivation?
“As a university lecturer, it’s important to think carefully about how you put your expertise to use. We have a wealth of academic knowledge that is highly relevant to professional practice. Our academic knowledge deserves to have a greater impact in professional practice. But that requires a conscious effort to bridge academia and practice, as well as recognition for colleagues who help build those connections. I believe there’s enormous potential there.”
At what stage is the LLO Accelerator most valuable?
“It’s particularly useful if you already have an idea but aren’t yet sure how to shape it. You don’t need a fully developed plan. A clear direction is enough. The LLO Accelerator helps you take your idea several steps further and encourages you to think about aspects you might otherwise overlook.”
What challenge from your own teaching practice did you want to address?
“Within EMPO, we educate academically trained primary school teachers. It’s still a relatively small and emerging group of professionals. Many of them are unsure about the added value they bring to primary education or how they can apply their academic and inquiry skills in their daily work.
I wanted to develop an additional professional programme to support them during their first years as teachers. The idea was to work together with school boards to create a programme that helps teachers use an inquiry-based approach to strengthen their own teaching practice. The concept, however, was still quite broad, and I was looking for a way to make it more concrete.”
What helped you turn the idea into a concrete plan?
“The very first question we were asked was: who exactly is your programme for? That turned out to be incredibly valuable. Initially, I focused on academically trained teachers, but that’s a relatively small audience. By broadening the focus to inquiry-minded teachers or teachers with an academic mindset, my target group became both clearer and much larger.
I also learned to think beyond the content itself: how do you position a programme, how do you organize it together with school boards, and what costs need to be considered? Those kinds of questions help transform an idea into a viable educational offering.
The plan was eventually developed into a flyer and a website and shared with several school boards. One school board has already expressed interest. We’re deliberately starting on a small scale so we can learn, evaluate and refine the programme along the way.”
What made the programme particularly valuable?
“The group. Participants came from a wide range of faculties, which meant you received completely different perspectives on your own idea. The sessions also created accountability. You set aside dedicated time, regularly presented your progress to others, and kept moving forward. That really works.
The practical tools were equally valuable. For example, we worked with the Business Model Canvas, which helps you systematically think through questions such as: who are your customers, what value do you offer, and who do you need to make your programme successful? By presenting your story again and again, it became increasingly focused and convincing.”
Are you also interested in joining? The next edition of the LLO Accelerator kicks off on 30 September 2026.
