Education projects

As leaders in online education, we work with academic and governmental partners, as well as sector companies and organisations to ensure we continue to provide cutting edge, quality education and an optimal learning experience. To this end we participate in several national, European and international projects aimed at innovating various aspects of (online) education. 

Most recent projects

ENHANCE+: a European University of Technology

The ENHANCE Alliance is a coalition of 10 major research-intensive universities focusing on science and technology, laying the foundations for an innovative European University of Technology. Its objective is to empower students, researchers, and society to effectively advance a sustainable digital and social transformation.
Over the next decade, ENHANCE plans to fulfil its mission within three transformation clusters: One Campus, Future Knowledge, and Innovative Organizations - with initiatives across education, research, innovation, and service to society. 

, whereby the Extension School plays a vital role in identifying such skills, sharing its Lifelong Learning (LLL) approach, collaborating on joint educational offerings, and leveraging expert knowledge through innovative teaching & learning formats. Visit the Allianceโ€™s learning opportunities catalogue.
 

AdLap Systems: versatile modular Advanced Laparoscopy robot platform

A convergence between TU Delft technical knowledge and health sciences expertise from (amongst others) the Amsterdam and Leiden Universities Medical Centres, and the Reiner de Graaf and Haga Hospitals in the Netherlands, aims at revolutionizing laparoscopic surgery with an advanced modular robot platform. It is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) under the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda (KIA) for Key Enabling Technologies.


With a focus on affordability and sustainability, the system hand-held, cable-less instrument actuators are fully reusable, easy to clean, and environmentally friendly. Led by the expertise of Assistant Professor Tim Horeman (Sustainable Surgery & Translational Technology, and Academic Portfolio Director Medical Technology), the project team is committed to making advanced robotic surgery accessible to hospitals worldwide. 

Digital credentials and blockchain technology

As founding members of the international Digital Credentials Consortium, comprising 12 leading universities, we work to develop new digital systems for academic credentials, using blockchain technology to create a shared infrastructure that will become the standard for issuing, storing, displaying, and verifying such credentials.

Following the launch in 2022 of the open-source app Learner Credential Wallet (for both iOS and Android) to store digital credentials, efforts continue to release a web verifier application whereby academic institutions and potential employers can check on validity, and to research the use of digital credentials for employment pathways. We also participated in a pilot to assess cross-border credential exchange between the Netherlands and Singapore, using digital wallets and considering GDPR implications, collaborating with the Dutch Embassy in Singapore and Accredify.

Energy Switch initiative

The availability of well-trained employees with the right knowledge and skills in the energy transition sector is a critical factor for a successful shift to a low-carbon economy. This demand-driven, non-commercial project thus seeks to strongly improve cooperation between current initiatives โ€“ often aimed at reskilling and up training to meet future labour market demands โ€“ and to help 1,000 people to develop or transition to another job. It is part of the Growth Agenda within the Human Capital Agreement of the Economic Board of South-Holland.
 

The partners in the initiative are diverse: training institutions and universities, governmental bodies, companies, and business associations. Each of them deals with one or more elements of the complex chain in the energy transition. Over 20 organizations have already joined Energy Switch Zuid-Holland. If your organization is interested and wants to explore what the initiative can do for you, please contact Jacqueline van Krieken, Project Manager Energy Switch, TU Delft Extension School for Continuing Education (j.vankrieken@tudelft.nl).

More information (in Dutch). 

Microcredentials Framework Pilot

In the context of lifelong learning provision for professionals, we represent TU Delft in this Dutch national project โ€“ comprising over 30 institutions โ€“ to develop a standardized way to certify smaller, stackable units of higher education (i.e., a course, training module) of between three and 30 ECs or credits. On successful completion of the educational unit, the Microcredentials are awarded in the form of a digital certificate โ€“ an Edubadge on the SURF platform, which is verifiable, portable and has no expiry date. 
TU Delft issued its first Edubadges in December 2022 for three online academic courses by the faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

More information.

4TU.Federation โ€“ Lifelong Learning Sector Plan project

This initiative focusses on helping to reduce the shortage in the labour market in the disciplines of computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering. The target group is alumni with a background in those disciplines and workers who want to (re)train in these fields at university/higher-vocational education level.
It connects with national developments and initiatives in the field of lifelong education, such as those by the VSNU-Association of Universities in The Netherlands (e.g. national catalogue), VH-Association of Applied Sciences and SURF (e.g., flexibilisation and microcredentials).

More information (in Dutch).

Erasmus+ Program Projects

Erasmus+ funds projects that help us move towards a more circular, green economy, where little is wasted, and pollution is minimised. Other projects nurture the democratic process in Europe and its influence globally. Some projects focus on inclusion of those who are socially or economically marginalised, while others help prepare todayโ€™s youth for an increasingly digital world. Overall, the programs aim to help generations of Europeans to become active citizens, with the skills, knowledge and experience to tackle the challenges facing our society, both now and in the years to come.

One of the projects we are active in is RAPIDE - Relevant Assessment and Pedagogies for Inclusive Digital Education. Started in March 2021, it runs for two years to co-create, implement and share innovative pedagogies and aligned assessments for relevant and inclusive digital education in order to deal with similar crises to the Covid-19 induced one, and to support the meaningful digital transformation of Higher Education Initiatives. 

More information.

DigiTeL Pro strategic partnership

DigiTeL Pro stands for Professional Development for Digital Teaching and Learning. It provides a framework and resources to meet the needs of institutions and their lecturers in the post-pandemic future, reinforcing their ability to provide sustainable, high-quality, international and multi-campus, digital education. Funded by the EU through the Extraordinary Erasmus+ Coronavirus response, it involves seven European universities for the creation of innovative models of blended and virtual mobility.

In 2021 and 2022, it launched courses that give lecturers the instruments to design and deliver for three key educational scenarios: a synchronous hybrid scenario (groups of students conduct the same activity at the same time but in different modes โ€“ online and on campus); an online and distance learning scenario (teaching and learning happen exclusively digitally); and an in-between scenario โ€“ blended (lecturers teach on campus to students who are physically present in class and also incorporate activities that are not face-to-face but done remotely and online).

More information.

VEP โ€“ Virtual Exchange Program

This initiative gives students the opportunity to broaden their portfolio and gain credits for their study program by taking a high-level, short course at a number of world-class partner institutions, without the need to travel. Students benefit from the online format, gaining specialist knowledge in areas of interest within a global context. Universities increase their reach to interested cohorts of international students, whilst enhancing their visibility and recognition in the areas of internationalisation and innovative education.

The program was set up as a 3-year pilot (2017-2020) with an extension to end June 2023.