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Npuls at Maastricht University

Since 2022, Npuls has been a National Growth Fund programme focused on the digital transformation of education. Running over an eight-year period, it includes all public vocational education training schools, universities of applied sciences, and research universities in the Netherlands. The programme is currently completing phase 1 (2023–2025) and preparing for phase 2 (2025–2031).

EDLAB works within and beyond Maastricht University through various teams and collaborations, bringing together knowledge and initiatives that contribute to Npuls objectives*. Together, we invest in technological and knowledge infrastructures and share expertise. We experiment and develop solutions to enhance education quality and increase the agility of the educational system. We also explore new technologies such as AI and XR and strengthen the digital skills of both lecturers and learners.

UM Npuls core team

Each institution has established a core team (sleutelteam in Dutch) to coordinate activities related to the Npuls programme. The members of the UM core team are:

  • Ellen Bastiaens (chair) and Gaby Lutgens (coordinator), EDLAB
  • Anke Sambeth (FPN) and Sjoerd Claessens (LAW), representing the faculties / Education Platform
  • Claudia van Oppen and Rina Vaatstra, University Library
  • Marita Keurentjes and Perry Heymann, CI-office
  • Birgitte Hendrickx and Philipp Walz, SSC

Npuls levels of participation

Npuls defines three levels of participation:

  • Level 1: Participating (Meedoen): Active participation in a hub, requiring resource allocation (funded by Npuls or through staff hours).
  • Level 2: Thinking along (Meedenken): Contributing by providing feedback on ideas developed in a hub, mainly based on our own practices and projects.
  • Level 3: Observing (Meekijken): Following developments without active input, for example, through monthly sprint updates or by attending events.
     

Participation at levels 1 and 2 requires approval from the Executive Board and is therefore discussed or decided upon by the core team. Currently, our participation is mainly at levels 2 and 3. Exceptions include UM’s involvement in the CEDA project* (on data analytics) through secondment, the CTL project*, for which we received funding, and faculty-based pilots under the OpenUP incentive scheme*. 

UM activities in line with Npuls focus areas

Based on input from a UM think tank – comprising representatives from all faculties and service centres—the UM core team decided to engage in two overarching focus areas:

  • Knowledge infrastructure, including the CTL project
  • Technological infrastructure, such as preparations for a new registration module to replace Studielink


The core team has also assigned liaisons to all Npuls hubs to align UM activities with Npuls programmes and track relevant opportunities.

Npuls EU OCW logo

For more details on UM activities, hub developments, and a list of liaisons, please visit UMployee*. Liaisons serve as the first point of contact for discussing or sharing ideas related to specific hubs.

* Some links on this page refer to pages on the EDLAB group on UMployee (UM Intranet login) or an external community page for which you can register.