SHE Collaborates: updates from the past weeks

During November it was our honor to engage with Tartu University on their journey towards revision of their medicine curriculum. Thank you to all our colleagues involved! The next steps in this new collaboration have already been taken, so stay tuned. This is what our friends at Tartu had to say.

“The Tartu University team was thoroughly impressed by the student-centred approach on both the micro- and macro levels of learning and educational systems. On the micro level, we got to experience and reflect on our own habits and practices by getting a taste of the 7-step approach to PBL and by discussions with student representatives. On the macro level, the fidelity on how learning is approached through (very) numerous roles- the teacher, facilitator, tutor, mentor, coach, was eye-opening. We were convinced that deep learning is structural through the ways that the university values education as both a vertical and a horizontal career for the faculty.” Joel Lumpre

A message from SHE Collaborates colleague, Laury de Jonge:

''In mid-November, I was in Sierra Leone. And I had a very good reason for being there: together with Marijke Kruithof and two local facilitators, I had the privilege of kicking off a new Enabling Learning Course for Health Professions Educators in Freetown.

Over the past few years, Marijke has rolled out the Enabling Learning concept countless times, in Sierra Leone and far beyond. Throughout this process, she has consistently and deliberately invested in training local participants to become (co-)facilitators. That investment clearly shows. The course is now deeply embedded in the local context. The facilitators bring not only strong content expertise, but also an authentic and complementary perspective on the day-to-day learning and working environment.

It therefore came as no surprise to me that this course, in its slightly adapted form, is now being delivered entirely without direct support from Maastricht. That is sustainability in action.

What struck me once again with this new group was the natural willingness of health professionals to work together across disciplines, regardless of background or seniority. Simply because learning from each other’s perspectives is valuable. And because it makes education better.

A fitting Christmas thought, wouldn’t you say?''

On 24 and 25 November, SHE Collaborates (SHEC) and the Maastricht School of Management (MSM) participated in the AU–EU Business Forum 2025 in Luanda, Angola. Tchitula Teuns (SHEC) and Dr. Diederik de Boer (Director, MSM) represented the two units at this major platform for dialogue between African and European partners, held alongside the AU–EU Summit.

The Forum brought together stakeholders from government, industry, finance and development organisations to explore how the AU’s Agenda and the EU’s Global Gateway strategy can translate into concrete collaboration. Key themes included sustainable energy, connectivity, digitalisation, agriculture, health and skills development.

For SHEC and MSM, the event offered valuable opportunities to connect with partners active in EU–AU cooperation and to position UM’s expertise. Discussions with representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Angola highlighted potential areas for contribution. MSM shared its experience in entrepreneurship, sustainable business development and executive education, while SHEC contributed perspectives from its work in health professions education and capacity building.

The combination of these strengths, linking private-sector development with human capital growth, resonated strongly with partners and aligns with current EU–AU priorities. The visit marked a promising starting point for deeper engagement in the region, with several follow-up conversations already planned.

Want to know more? Contact Tchitula Teuns. (t.teuns@maastrichtuniversity.nl)

We are pleased to share that the project CURIOUS – Capacity bUilding for higheR educatIOn institUtions in Somalia has been awarded funding under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme.

Led by SHE Collaborates in partnership with Somali National University, East Africa University, and Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), the project aims to strengthen health professions education in Somalia. CURIOUS focuses on curriculum modernisation, faculty and leadership capacity development, and improvements to physical and digital education infrastructure. A cross-cutting emphasis on accessibility and equity supports students and staff with fewer opportunities.

The project applies evidence-informed educational principles, with a strong focus on co-creation and institutional ownership.

The project officially started 1 December 2025, and upcoming activities include:

• Stakeholder consultations and a national health workforce survey
• Initial study visits between partners
• Sensitising workshops on innovative pedagogy and global best practices
• Co-creation sessions to develop the curriculum guiding framework

We look forward to engaging colleagues across the SHE Community as the project progresses and sharing insights that may be relevant for other international initiatives.

For more information, feel free to reach out to Emmaline Brouwer, Project Manager.

Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.