Duty of Care and the role of the educator

We teach not only with our head but also with our heart. A 2023-2030 Dutch national student welfare framework has been established, consisting of student organisations, colleges, universities and the government, with the goal of joining forces for better student welfare. TU Delft are now taking action in putting our ‘Duty of Care’ (Zorgplicht) policy into practice. We define this as ‘organising education and the educational environment in such a way that it supports student welfare. We are responsible for creating an open, safe and inclusive environment that enables students to flourish in their academic and personal development, as well as responsible for providing guidance to students who need it to successfully start, follow and complete their study.’

One essential aspect we aim to explore is the pivotal role of educators and supervisors in promoting student well-being. Numerous studies highlight the educator's significance in this regard, emphasizing factors such as social skills, psychological safety, and lecturer competence. However, the Trole of university educators in students' psychological well-being often goes unnoticed, overshadowed by their academic responsibilities.

To address this, we believe there is room for improvement in teacher professional development, particularly in enhancing the instruction of 21st-century skills that encompass student well-being.

But, first things first,  we want to hear from you. Where do you see yourself in the context of student well-being? Your insights are invaluable, and we invite you to join us for a lively and interactive forum theatre event. Led by professional actors, this event will include a dynamic plenary discussion, followed by lunch.

Unable to attend? Join our 'Duty of Care & Educator's Role' elective on December 7th and 14th, 14:00-16:00. Contact Katie Barry, Educational Psychologist (k.barry@tudelft.nl) for details. Apply by November 28th.