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Workplace Education Research Utrecht

WOU is the abbreviation for Werkplaats Onderwijsonderzoek Utrecht (Utrecht Educational Research Workshop), and its aim is to strengthen a culture of research in primary schools in the city by working closely with knowledge institutions. After a pilot project funded by a grant, the organisations involved have decided to continue the project for two years using their own resources.

Description

The working principle of Werkplaats Onderwijsonderzoek Utrecht (WOU) is that a teacher working at a primary school works in a “WOU team” on an educational issue that is relevant to their own primary school. The WOU team consists of several colleagues from the school, sometimes students, and a researcher from a partner knowledge institution. The starting point for WOU is that the school’s question determines the focus of the research. Since January 2020, there has also been WOU-GO: the Utrecht Educational Research Workshop – Equal Educational Opportunities. This project is part of WOU and is an extension focused on equal educational opportunities.

Who exactly is it for?

Schools affiliated with the KSU, PCOU or SPO Utrecht school boards can participate in WOU. The participating knowledge institutions are: Utrecht University, University of Humanistic Studies, Marnix Academy and Utrecht University of Applied Sciences.

What is the aim of WOU?

The aim of WOU is to strengthen a culture of research in schools. This is also referred to as “evidence-informed” working. Through close and equal cooperation between schools and knowledge institutions, the aim is to better connect education and research: strengthening the so-called knowledge infrastructure. This allows knowledge from research to find its way into practice more easily, and knowledge institutions are better informed about the urgent issues in educational practice and how knowledge can find its way into this sometimes complex practice.

Pilot (2016-2018)

In Utrecht and Amsterdam, a group of primary school boards, colleges and universities received funding from the National Coordination Point for Education Research (NRO) for an “education research workshop”. In a two-year pilot, they built a structural, sustainable link between education, educational development and research. This pilot project with educational research workshops is a joint initiative of the PO-Raad and the NRO.

Researchers

Partners

(Co-)funding

The first subsidy in the pilot phase was provided by the National Coordination Point for Education Research (NRO).

Also see

Contact

Dr. Isolde de Groot, i.degroot@uvh.nl