Maastricht University receives funding to strengthen its role in national education programme Npuls

One of 30 institutions selected

Npuls selected 30 institutions out of 46 applicants to receive this support. The selected group includes universities, universities of applied sciences and vocational schools. The goal is to help these institutions strengthen their internal teams and improve how they adapt to new educational needs and digital developments.

A year-long project to strengthen UM’s approach

The grant will fund a year-long project from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026. At UM, the project will focus on reviewing the university's connection to Npuls. The goal is to enhance impact and ensure long-term benefits by better aligning with Npuls programmes (hubs) and giving an internal boost to initiatives within this framework. 

During the grant period, the project will be supported with financial resources and expert guidance.

Connecting across the university

In early 2023, UM brought together staff from different faculties and departments to explore how the university could benefit from the Npuls programme. These discussions led to the formation of a core team, which includes representatives from EDLAB, the CI office, the Student Services Centre, the University Library and two vice-deans of education. Their role is to monitor developments at Npuls, evaluate their impact on our goals, and take actions that align with UM's educational vision and the digitisation strategy adopted in 2024.

UM also appointed liaison contacts for each Npuls hub. These colleagues help link national developments to UM’s activities, ensuring the university stays up to date and aligned with the programme.

Making the most of new opportunities

Thanks to its early involvement, UM has already made successful use of Npuls funding schemes, including support for projects like EDLAB’s CTL project and two innovation programmes: OpenUP and GetConnected.

The university is now taking a more active role in several Npuls hubs and programmes, with support from the UM Education Platform (board of vice-deans of education, chaired by the rector).

Looking ahead

The impact of Npuls on education is significant. UM’s core team recognises that decision-making and implementation need to be better embedded in existing university structures. It also acknowledges that communication about Npuls needs to reach more people and have greater visibility.

With the start of this new project, UM aims to ensure the core team is well-positioned to make a meaningful contribution throughout the second phase of Npuls. This will help shape the future of learning, both at UM and across the Netherlands.

For more information about Npuls at UM, visit this intranet page or contact the project team  directly.