Inclusive Teaching and Learning in Diverse Classrooms
The University of Groningen (the Netherlands) and Stellenbosch University (South Africa) are collaborating on a summer school on the theme of inclusive teaching through peer learning and sharing teaching practices. This edition of the summer school will be taking place in Groningen.
Following this premise, the aim of this summer school is EQUIPPING ourselves and each other for inclusive teaching and learning in diverse classrooms. Special focus will be brought to an inclusive and international dimension in the practices of participants, the diversity in backgrounds of our students as a potential resource for teaching and intended learning, and principles that help us to unravel challenges and turn them into opportunities.
This summer school is based on the EQUiiP programme (see also below for more details) and is open for lecturers who are interested in Continuing their Professional Development (CPD), integrating inclusive teaching practices into their own course designs and strengthening their network of inclusive practitioners. Participants should have some teaching experience and be willing to share these with other participants. While we focus on the higher education context, participants from secondary education are welcome as well.
Next to obtaining a certificate of participation, participants have the possibility to gain a digital badge (Proof of Competence) to acknowledge participation and engagement with the content. Learners who have completed a proof of competence can obtain a digital badge via the EduBadges platform managed by SURF— the cooperative of Dutch education and research institutions. The digital badge is stored on this platform and contains metadata, making the content, learning outcomes, study load hours and language of instruction of the educational activity clear and transparent (example). The digital badge is therefore verifiable and can be shared on, for example, a CV or LinkedIn.
For more information, please see this article that mentions the first edition of the school that took place at Stellenbosch University.
Practical Information
Dates & location
|
16 - 20 June 2025 |
Level
|
Lecturers interested in sharing and developing inclusive teaching practices in diverse classrooms |
Fees |
€ 650 for UG and ENLIGHT participants
€ 750 for participants that apply before the early-bird deadline (15 April 2025) |
Academic coordinators |
Catherine Meissner (UG)
Estelle Meima (UG)
Vernita Beukes (SU) Equipping; TAG |
Contact
|
equipping@rug.nl |
Requirements
This summer school is designed for lecturers and trainers who are teaching or lecturers and trainers that will be teaching in multicultural and diverse classrooms. Participants should be University lecturers with at least one year of teaching experience.
Participants are expected to have a sufficient command of English.
Schedule
More information will follow.
Learning outcomes
After completing this summer school, participants will be able to (based on EQUiiP competence profile):
1. Promote inclusive behaviours
2. Develop and facilitate learner-centred programmes
3. Promote intercultural engagement and effective intercultural relations
4. Enable and embed a global learning experience
5. Embed social responsibility in the curriculum
6. Apply learning from different international and disciplinary contexts
7. Embed the various means of creating, critiquing and exchanging knowledge
8. Engage in critical reflection and continuous professional development
Workload
Workload
One week: 35 hours on site
Preparation (optional): 5 hours
Portfolio (optional): 5 hours
The EQUiiP programme (from the EQUiiP platform)
The summer school consists of the following four EQUiiP modules.
These four modules are supported by the module on Feedback & Reflective Processes, which is integrated into the other four modules and addressed in an optional portfolio assignment and brief presentation. In this optional assignment, participants will be asked to reflect on what they have learned, how they will integrate it into their teaching and course design and how they anticipate this will benefit their students. This will provide the opportunity for participants to make their learning explicit and receive a digital proof of their Continuing Professional Development activities (digital badge certificate) which they will be able to add to their CV. This badge comes with information about the higher education institution that has issued it, the learning outcomes, and assessment that has been applied so that learners can demonstrate their competences.
A generic outline of the EQUiiP programme can be found here. Recommended timings may be adjusted for local use.
Lecturers

Carole Fuller (MA Applied Linguistics) is a lecturer and professional learning facilitator at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. She obtained her masters degree with a specialisation in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and now focuses on teaching English for Academic Purposes. Carole has a strong interest in topics related to the inclusive international classroom and delivers professionalisation workshops around these themes, as well as leading the University of Groningen’s Community of Practice for Diversity & Inclusion.

Vernita Beukes has been teaching for the past 17 years. She loves opening up a new language and culture for students who start learning Afrikaans. She believes in establishing a relationship of trust with her students from the start and creating an encouraging environment for them. She is also enthusiastic about using technology to aid learning.

Anika Berning-van Zyl is a lecturer and researcher in the field of Sustainability and Strategic Management, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She is in the process of finalizing and submitting her dual PhD degree at the Vrije University of Amsterdam and Stellenbosch University, with the aim of graduating December 2023. Anika has a passion for research, specifically management control systems and sustainability within corporate organizations in South Africa. She is currently guiding various post-graduate students with their research theses in this particular field, as well as developing new research projects in the context of South Africa, an emerging economy. Anika also has a management consulting company which she started in 2020. Her consultancy endeavors are mostly aimed at small business and non-profit organizations in South Africa as she aims to bring the academic world closer to these struggling organizations in practice.

Catherine Meissner is a curriculum developer in international education at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, associated with the Teaching Academy Groningen. She has specialised in the internationalisation of curricula, with a focus on inclusion & diversity and on Continuing Professional Development of lecturers. Currently, she facilitates the embedding of international classrooms in study degree programmes, working with lecturers and educational developers from all disciplines.
Building on the outcomes of the Erasmus+ EQUiiP project (2016-2019) and through her work in the UG EQUIPPING team Catherine practices a bottom up approach that actively involves practitioners to exchange good practices in inclusive teaching and learning.

Estelle Meima (University of Groningen) has been teaching in higher education for more than 20 years now, first as an English language teacher and language assessor and now as a facilitator supporting lecturers and education developers with embedding the international classroom in study degree programmes. She has a special interest in diversity and inclusion in higher education.
Application procedure
To apply, please fill out the online application form. Please note that you will be asked to upload the following documents:
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CV (brief overview of professional background)
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Letter of motivation (max 1 page)
The early bird deadline is 15 April 2025 (lower fee applies).
The application deadline is 1 May 2025 (regular fee applies).

Last modified: | 24 February 2025 11.47 a.m. |