Sjoerd Claessens appointed Professor of Legal Education Development

UM's Executive Board has appointed Dr Sjoerd Claessens as Professor of Legal Education Development as  of 1 February 2025. With this chair, the faculty takes an important step towards  investing in the quality of legal education.

Sjoerd, who has published a steady stream of articles and book contributions on various aspects of legal education research since 2003, is currently an Associate Professor in our Faculty  and he also fulfils the role of Vice Dean of Education.

As professor, he will provide academic leadership in educational innovation and curriculum design, including as academic director of the Maastricht Institute for Legal Education (MILE). He will not only translate educational insights into the legal discipline, but he will also make experiences in legal education accessible to the field of education. This is in line with the objectives of the Faculty's strategic programme and of UM as a whole.

In order to stay in touch with educational practice - especially at the bachelor level - and to apply and test research findings in his own educational practice, Sjoerd will continue to coordinate and implement teaching. He will also be actively involved in setting up, participating in, and disseminating educational professionalisation activities within and outside UM.