UM Education Days 2025 recap: "Learning never stops"
"What was the best part of the UM Education Days 2025?" we asked our participants via Wooclap during the wrap-up lunch session on 12 June, and their responses could not have been more gratifying: "The vibe!", "meeting colleagues", "learning from peers", "hearing the student perspective", "having the time to reflect", "building connections", "sharing ideas". One remark captured the general feeling: "Learning never stops!"
Over two energising days, education professionals and students from across Maastricht University came together to exchange experiences, challenge assumptions, and rethink what meaningful education can look like. Together, we reflected on classroom experiments, insights from education research, and best practices on topics ranging from co-creation and learner agency to mentoring, the role of AI, and more.
Some numbers
The UM Education Days brought together the Maastricht University teaching community for 2 days of exchange and inspiration. In total, 140 participants, including 61 speakers, shared their ideas and experiences.
The programme offered 20 sessions on a wide range of topics. It featured 3 plenary sessions and 4 sessions led by students. Teachers shared hands-on experiences in 7 sessions on classroom practices, while 4 sessions focused on AI and technology.
Participants also explored 4 sessions on educational design and 4 sessions on student guidance. They discussed assessment in 2 sessions and explored collaboration during 2 sessions on co-creation.
During the opening session, participants teamed up to paint 10 commandments for the “fabulous future of UM education”.
10 commandments for the future of UM education
Participants imagined what, in their view, really matters for the future of education at Maastricht University. Brushes and colours in hand, they captured their ideas in playful simple, bold messages that reflect shared hopes and ambitions for the years ahead.
Here are their commandments for the fabulous future of UM education:
- Thou shalt stick together, students and staff
- The fabulous future of the UM is together
- Embrace changes for what they are
- Prioritise living over legacy
- Set your direction
- Students as learners, not as customers
- Thou shalt put students and teachers both at the centre
- Make education great again
- Embrace challenge, diversity, the future!
- Listen, learn, reflect
What was new in 2025?
Each edition of the UM Education Days builds on the previous one and integrates wishes and suggestions from our community. This year, we took into account the need for:
- Stronger student involvement, with several sessions co-designed or led by students.
- Creative and hands-on formats, such as outdoor coaching, interactive games, and design thinking activities.
- In-depth discussions on AI and its impact on feedback, student engagement, and the ethics of assessment.
- Sessions on how to include and assess Global Citizenship Education skills and competencies in education.
What did our participants learn?
During the last plenary session, we asked our participants about their takeaway thoughts. Here's a selection of their reflections:
"Passionate stories inspire."
"I’m inspired to explore co-creation more in my courses."
"We are a real community. "
"Experiment, fail, and try again."
"GenAI is not a threat."
"Learn to use our voice effectively."
"Support curiosity."
"Apply the GROW model in mentoring."
"Open education practices."
"Good output requires good input, also when using AI."
We also heard bold ideas and questions
"Ask students what's missing from the reading list."
"Design thinking allows to bring a creative approach to problem-solving in education."
"Self-assessment can actually work, especially now that AI complicates old formats."
"In the face of new developments in education, do we need to change or adapt?"
"The university must be cherished as a place where disagreement is possible and valued."
"Make your students their own teachers."
"How to develop a practical rubric to assess Global Citizenship Education?"
"How to bring social impact into education?"
"Give space to experiment with co-creation at the curriculum level."
Suggestions for future editions
Finally, we received valuable suggestions for next year's event.
- More student-led sessions
- More space for cross-faculty sharing
- Continued reflection on AI in education
Any further ideas or suggestions are welcome!
A big thank you to all for your participation and contributions. We look forward to continuing the conversation on teaching, learning, and the future of education at UM!
UM Education Days 2025 in pictures
Relive the vibe of the event through our photo gallery!
Photo credits: Joey Roberts
