In memory of Peter Bouhuijs

At the age of 69, Peter Bouhuijs passed away after a period of illness. Peter will be remembered as one of the pioneers of the education system at Maastricht University.

He was appointed as an education expert at the then Rijksuniversiteit Limburg on 1 November 1975. As the university did not yet have legal personality, Peter was initially employed by the Ministry of Education and Science. The university was establishing the eighth Dutch degree programme in Medicine at the time, and had made a revolutionary and daring choice for Problem-Based Learning (PBL). This education model, which originated at the Canadian McMaster University, was further developed and refined in Maastricht. The Seven Steps method (zevensprong) made Maastricht famous. Its model of well-considered choices founded on pedagogical insights was unique to Maastricht.

Many student cohorts knew Peter; for example, through the booklet Onderwijs in taakgerichte groepen (Education in task-oriented groups), which he co-authored with his long-time colleague Henk Schmidt. The booklet, which is still on the market today, was issued to all students for reference and use during their course of study. Peter would write many more books on PBL both at home and abroad. He was one of the first to study internship-based learning and wrote his doctoral thesis on the subject. Later on, he also immersed himself in the organisation and management of PBL. These efforts were recognised when he was appointed board member at the Faculty of Medicine tasked with – of course – education, a position which he held from 1980 to 1983. Peter was promoted to senior academic staff member on 1 May 1980 and to associate professor on 1 July 1984. Between 1 January 1987 and January 1992, he was acting president of the Educational Research and Development Department.

Peter was widely recognised as an eminent expert in the field of education. Many were the advisory roles that he fulfilled, also abroad. For instance, he was instrumental in establishing the new PBL programme in Medicine at the Suez Canal University in Egypt. The power of his analytical mind to survey an educational problem or institution was unparalleled, while his expertise safeguarded the success of countless educational reforms. These qualities also stood him in good stead outside of higher education; for example, when he co-founded the ECAL Expertise Centre for Active Learning. In this centre, institutions of higher and secondary education could benefit from educational consultancy. Peter was the director of ECAL until his retirement on 1 December 2005, after which date he retained an honorary position. He continued to serve in various educational projects even during his retirement.

Peter was driven by a strong passion for education. Thankfully, he was able to pursue this lifelong passion at our university. We are proud to have known him and extend our sincere sympathy to his wife, children and grandchildren in their sad loss.

Prof. C.P.M. van der Vleuten
Director of the School of Health Professions Education

Prof. E.W. Driessen
Chair of the Educational Research and Development Department