I am a full professor in economics of education at the department of Macro, International and Labour Economics (MILE) of the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics (SBE). I focus on the economics of education.

My current research focuses on the analysis of the assessment of student performance, the role of tests in education, the role of social-emotional skills, the identification and support of gifted students and differences between students by socio-economic background or gender.  A more detailed description of my research is found under ‘research’.

I am programme manager of the ‘Educatieve Agenda Limburg’. This is a cooperation between the institutes of higher education in the region (Maastricht University, Zuyd Hogeschool, Fontys Hogescholen and Open University), the vocational education institutes (MBO), schoolboards in primary and secondary education, and the Province of Limburg. Main goal of this project is maintaining and expanding good education in the region. Education in which students learn things that fit their talents and interests, and which matches the needs of future education, or the labour market. We believe that by collaboration between all relevant actors, and active monitoring of progress, this can be achieved. More about my activities in this programme is found under ‘activities’.