WUR Transformative Learning Hub

The Transformative Learning Hub (TL Hub) seeks to blur the boundaries conventionally drawn between research and teaching. Organised as a horizontal community of learners, it expressly brings together researchers, educators, students, changemakers and activists across different disciplines and fields at Wageningen University and beyond who are committed to engaging with transformative learning theory and practices in our teaching, research and societal engagement.

While definitions of transformative learning abound, the Transformative Learning Hub embraces the notion that we are all learners and, as such, seeks to foster members’ critical and constructive efforts to challenge learners of diverse backgrounds and in diverse settings ‘to critically question and assess the integrity of their deeply held assumptions about how they relate to the world around them’ (Mezirow & Taylor, 2010, p. xi) and to engage in cognitive, socio-emotional and behavioural work towards articulating and bringing about the change they’d like to see in their lives, the lives of others and the world in which they are part.

In monthly gatherings, participants engage in peer-to-peer coaching in an affirmative setting that enables them to tap into each others’ wisdom and experience in order to reflect on and respond to real-life teaching and research challenges related to timely themes (e.g., engaging with Black Lives Matter and anti-oppression movements, climate change, etc.); to experiment with existing transformative learning techniques and prototype ones they are developing; and to empathically connect as fully human (physical, emotional and reflective) beings with these themes as well as with one another. 

The TL Hub draws on Theory U as a framework to structure the monthly meetings. 

Events:

  • Transformative Learning Online programme (Nov. 2020 – Apr. 2021)
  • PhD course in Transformative and Participatory Qualitative Research Methods (Period 4)
  • U.Lab (Feb.-Jun. 2020)
  • CSPS Annual Day 2020
  • CSPS Indicators Working Group
  • Monthly Transformative Learning Hub Meetings
    • Sept ’20 | Inaugural Session | with Meghann Ormond & Anke de Vrieze
    • Oct ’20 | Black Lives Matter & Anti-Oppression | with Sierra Deutsch and Elisabet Rasch
    • Nov ’20 | Education for Sustainable Development & our embodied relationship to climate change | with Robin van der Sluijs and Dave Pendle
    • Dec ’20 | Remoteness in research and teaching | with Lucie Sovova, Daniela Chavarria, and Anne-Joëlle Derksen from Otherwise
    • Jan ’21 | Transformative Learning and Sustainable Development | with Guus Wink, Anneke Schaardt & Jasmin Josin
    • Feb ’21 | Facilitating and Organizing Transformative Change Processes | with Josie Chambers
    • March ’21 | Care and Transformations | with Angela Moriggi
    • April ’21 | Be Prepared to be Surprised: curiosity as research protocol | with visual artist Heidi Linck

Contact persons:

Researchers:

WUR staff & PhD candidates:

  • Laura Bouwman (HSO)
  • Michiel Koehne (SDC)
  • Trista Lin (GEO)
  • Oona Morrow (RSO)
  • Meghann Ormond (GEO)
  • Elisabet Rasch (SDC)
  • Lucie Sovova (RSO)
  • Lenneke Vaandrager (HSO)
  • Anke de Vrieze (RSO)
  • Marjan Wink (ELS)
  • Valentina Tassone (ELS)
  • Marieke van Schaik (ESC)
  • Hubertie Kroon (ESC)
  • Reineke van Tol (FNP)
  • Kate Foster (GEO)
  • Kees van Veluw (FSE)
  • Dienke Stomph (GEO)
  • Angela Morrigi (RSO)
  • Lèneke Pfeiffer (Science Shop)

External participants:

  • Dave Pendle (Leadership developer)
  • Philippa Collin (Hogeschool INholland)
  • Petra Groen (artist, innovative arts education)
  • Giulia Sonetti (Politecnico di Torino)
  • Melanie Studer (EPFL, Lausanne)