What does The Tilburg Educational Profile imply for our lecturers?
To educate students to become critical 'thinkers with character', lecturers at Tilburg University challenge students to reflect critically on themselves and others and encourage students to show initiative and act socially responsible. Lecturers talk about their experiences and teaching methods to help students grow in this manner.
Stories from our lecturers
"New boot camp teaching method defies pigeonholing."
"Thanks to innovative teaching, I have more time for interaction, discussion and reflection."
"I want to mold students into critical academics, who can contribute something that society needs."
TEP Toolbox
To meet lecturers' needs for more information and practical tips about TEP, a number of best practices have been collected. This collection is called TEP Toolbox (login required) and can be found on the intranet.
Read more stories about our lecturers
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What can philosophers contribute to society?
Knowledge, skills, and character: the Bachelor’s program in Philosophy embodies these three pillars of the Tilburg Educational Profile (TEP). Not for nothing does every Bachelor’s program at Tilburg University include a course in philosophy, tailored to the theme of the program. How does the Bachelor’s program in Philosophy itself exemplify TEP? Lecturer David Janssens explains.
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Character building is a fundamental aspect of theology
Developing knowledge, skills and character has always been part and parcel of the classes of the Dutch and English-taught Bachelor’s program of Theology. Assistant Professor Harm Goris explains how Theology puts the Tilburg Educational Profile into practice.
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‘Before you dream up a solution, you need to put yourself in the user’s shoes first’
In the course of Human Centered Design, second-year students of Communication and Information Sciences work among other things on developing their empathic abilities. The idea behind it is that you understand what people experience as a problem and to put yourself in those people’s shoes. What do these persons need? What are the circumstances? How do these persons talk to themselves? Only then can you begin to design a solution that really meets their needs.
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Societal Challenge: Combining knowledge and skills in a social project
10th May 2022In March 2022, the first edition of the Societal Challenge took place at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences. As part of this challenge, students work together in multidisciplinary teams for one day on social challenges, in the context of the overarching theme of "Digital Humanities".
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'You must remember that your own perspective is not the whole story'
If there is one thing which can help you cope in a rapidly changing world, it is character. To develop character calls for ‘slow education’, according to Tilburg University’s new educational vision. Students must step outside their own ‘bubble’ and engage in critical self-examination.
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“Entrepreneurship has become sexier”
05th November 2020Wynand Bodewes (53) is an academic director and senior lecturer in entrepreneurship of the brand-new Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation bachelor’s program. He takes along twenty years of educational experience in entrepreneurship. “I like research, but my heart lies in education.”
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Lecturer Ellen Dreezens: How character building improves you and the world
Look at your course of study as an experience rather than as a diploma you are buying, truly reach out to others and offer them something of yourself – a smile, a compliment, a small gift - and, be your own hero. In her Last Lecture, Ellen Dreezens, lecturer in the Liberal Arts and Sciences program, shares her life lessons and offers some advice. On character building and how to make your own life and that of others a little better.
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TEP Talk Meindert Flikkema: The university as a beacon of humanity
During Night University Meindert Flikkema was the first speaker in the series of TEP talks that the Project Group for the Implementation of the Tilburg Educational Profile will be organizing in the months to come. This econometrist, affiliated to VU University and winner of many educational prizes, had 13 minutes to present his views on the future of academic education.
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Knowledge, skills and character in practice
Professor Hein Fleuren is Professor Econometrics and Operations Research at Tilburg School of Economics and Management. He teaches the course Professional Business Analytics Skills (PABS). At the end of this course, the students give a final presentation of their work. Professor Fleuren is “proud, really proud!”. He and his colleagues have seen many good future BAOR (Business Analytics & Operations Research) consultants! He writes the following about the implementation of the Tilburg educational profile 'Knowledge, skills and character' within the subject PABS:
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What students can learn from their moral heroes
Every once in a while, special individuals stand up who inspire millions of people. Non-violent Mahatma Gandhi, dauntless Rosa Parks or, more recently, the spirited Greta Thunberg. Who are these moral heroes of our students and what can they teach young people in this day and age? That question is central in the coming academic year in a special Tilburg University project. An interview with political philosopher and project leader Bart Engelen (TSHD) and junior researcher Renée Zonneveld (TSB).
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“To me, character means: educating students to become resilient citizens of the world”
When Emile Aarts first became Rector Magnificus, the current Tilburg Educational Profile ‘Knowledge, Skills, and Character’ was adopted and implementation of the profile was initiated. A few years down the road, now seems a good moment to look back with the Rector and take stock. What characterizes the Tilburg Educational Profile? Where do we stand now? What, in this view, should be the next few steps? And what is his own definition of character?
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Interview with Merlijn van Hulst: ‘I want to close the gap between educational vision and educational practice’
Merlijn van Hulst, Associate Professor at Tilburg Law School, is keenly interested in the developments within education at Tilburg University following the Tilburg Educational Profile and educational innovation. He has read the essay ‘Exploring an Educational Vision for Tilburg University’ by Alkeline van Lenning and Herman de Regt with interest and enthusiasm and ‘feels the need to close the gap between vision and educational practice.
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'We involve students in everything we do'
Students should take charge of their careers, according to Vice Dean Jeroen Kuilman. A discussion about the quality of education, lecturing during corona, and studying abroad. “Of course, it’s also great to travel, to meet new people, and to party with them.”
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Video lecture 'The Resilience Project: fail, fail again, fail better' - Tessa Leesen and Ellen Dreezens
During the Education Bazaar 2019 Tessa Leesen and Ellen Dreezens gave an interactive session on 'the Resilience Project'. They discussed several topics regarding resilience with the audience.
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View of the world
Many students can count on their fair share of mathematics and statistics during their studies. But anyone who thinks they see little of “the real world” because of this is wrong. Thanks to initiatives like De Smeetskring and Improving Society Lab the doors to society are open wide .Both initiatives are great examples of how Tilburg University students use their knowledge and skills to play a meaningful role in society.
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TEP Talk Josette Dijkhuizen: Where do knowledge, skills, and character stand out more than in entrepreneurship?
Many of us are familiar with great entrepreneurs like Richard Branson and Elon Musk, but who has heard of Ziad and Saba? Josette Dijkhuizen introduces us to an unknown group of entrepreneurs who are deploying their knowledge, skills and character in running their own company and in increasing the wellbeing of their community.