R. (Robert) Wagenaar

Management assignments

Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies (2003-2014):                                   Number of BA and MA programmes covered:                                19/30               Number of students enrolled each academic year:                       5000-5500

President Consortium International Joint Master (2005 -)                                         Joint Master of Excellence EUROCULTURE: Society, Politics and Culture in a Global Context / EUROCULTURE Consortium of 8 EU and 4 Non-EU Universities: Deusto (Bilbao), Göttingen, Groningen, Krakow,  Olomouc, Strasbourg, Udine, Uppsala plus Pune (India), Osaka (Japan), UNAM (Mexico) and Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis (USA). The two-years programme enrols some 100 new students every year. Its success rate is 96%.

Curriculum innovation

• (Co-)initiator of new degree programmes on European Studies / Euroculture; Humanitarian Action; Journalism; Middle Eastern Studies; European Language and Cultures at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Groningen.
• Co-director of EU project TUNING to define the Tuning European Qualifications Frameworks for the subject areas Business Studies, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Education Sciences, European Studies, History, Mathematics, Nursing, Physics (2001-2008).
• Director of EU project HUMART to define the Tuning European Qualifications Frameworks in the Humanities for Literature Studies; Linguistics; History, Art History, Theology and Religious Studies (2010-2012).
• Director of EU project CALOHEE I to define the European Tuning European Qualifications Frameworks for Civil Engineering, History, Nursing, Physics and Teacher Education (2016-2018) and CALOHEE II to define an assessment instrument for these academic fields (2020-2021)
• Co-director of EU project CALOHEE Extension to define the European Tuning European Qualifications Frameworks for Applied Arts, Business Administration, Information Technology, International Relations and Medicine.

Teaching assignments

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Course Euroculture                                                    

• Thesis supervision

History/Journalism

• Course unit History of Journalism (80-100 students per academic year) (1993-1998)
• Thesis supervision 

Workshops / Training Seminars

• Lecturer at Intensive Programmes (Pisa, 1998 and Reykjavik, 2000).
• Higher Education Workshops / Training seminars delivered in for example Belgium (Brussels), Canada (Vancouver), The Netherlands (Eindhoven, Groningen, Utrecht, Wageningen), Norway (Oslo), Russia (Moscow), Spain (Madrid), Thailand (Bangkok), Israel (Tel Aviv), (Japan) Tokyo. 

International Key Notes (selection)

• Lifelong learning for lifelong employability. Enduring learner of the (near) future. THE (Times Higher Education) Europe Success Forum. Madrid, 5 July 2019. 
• ECTS foundations and development. 30 Years ECTS: 1989 – 2019. ECTS Conference Prague 2019 (Organised by Czech Ministry of Education), 25 June 2019.
• Some relevant concepts and frameworks for project FORTH. PROJECT FORTH - Formation of Teachers in Challenged Areas. Davao (Philippines), 11 June 2019.
• Joint EU-China TUNING Study – 2nd Phase: Main aims and objectives explained. Third Combined Conference Shanghai SIPO Polytechnic. 7-8 June 2019. Shanghai, 7 June 2019.
• Work-based Learning in Higher Education: the Future. WEXHE Workshop 2019 – University of Warwick – 21-24 May 2019. Warwick, 24 May 2019.
• Integrating Entrepreneurship and Work Experience in Higher Education. EURASHE 2019 Annual Conference in Budapest. Breakout session: Professional Higher Education Based on Work-Based Learning Approach. Budapest, 16 May 2019.
• International Tuning Academy and Tuning Methodology. Tuning Asia: South East Conference. Iloilo, 22 February 2019.
• Project FORTH. Teachers in Challenging Areas in the Philippines. Launch of project. Manilla, 13 February 2019; Davao, 18 February 2019; Bacolod, 19 February 2019; Iloilo, 21 February 2019.

• The State of Tuning Around the Globe. Discussion Panel. Annual Conference of the American Historical Association. Chicago, 4 January 2019.
• CALOHEE: Filling the missing link for making the EEA a reality (and keep HE relevant)! ET2020 Working Group, DG EAC, 11 December 2018.
• CALOHEE: A new innovative approach towards quality assurance?. 13th European Quality Assurance Forum. Broadening the scope of QA. Vienna 16 November 2018.
• Relevant outcomes for joint programmes and degrees of the recent meeting of the EHEA Ministers of Higher Education, Paris, May 2018. International Conference ProDeJIP (Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree), Brussels, 26 October 2018.
• Lifelong Learning and Higher Education: The contribution of the Tuning EU-China Joint Study 2013 – 2019. 2018 EU-China Higher Education Platform for Cooperation and Exchange (HEPCE) Meeting. Beijing, 20 October 2018.
• Closing remarks. International Conference on Tuning Higher Education Quality and Credit System. Organised by the National Center of Education Development Research of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Beijing, 19 October 2018.
• Tuning Methodology and its Application in the world. International Conference on Tuning Higher Education Quality and Credit System. Organised by the National Center of Education Development Research of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Beijing, 19 October 2018.
• European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System: past and present. International Conference on Tuning Higher Education Quality and Credit System. Organised by the National Center of Education Development Research of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Beijing, 19 October 2018.
• ‘Is global awareness of international students truly measurable?’ Session 09.01. EAIE Annual Conference, Geneva, 14 September 2018.
• ‘European Studies and Europe: Twenty Years of Euroculture’. Euroculture Conference, Krakow, 29 June 2018.
• ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES. Measuring and Comparing Achievements of Learning Outcomes in Higher Education in Europe (CALOHEE). Education & Training 2020. Working group for the Modernisation of HE, DG EAC, Brussels, 25-26 June 2018.
• ‘Integrating Entrepreneurship and Work Experience in Higher Education’ (with Andre Perusso). Creating Relevant Learning Experiences; employers’ involvement with higher education. Leuven, 14 June 2018.
• ‘Bologna & the Erasmus Charter: from policy to practice’. Amersfoort, 29 May 2018.
• Towards a more reliable model for evidence-based learning and quality assurance and enhancement: Measuring and Comparing Learning Achievement of Learning Outcomes in Higher Education in Europe (CALOHEE). DG EAC Brussels / Commission staff, 20 April 2018
• ‘Learning Gain in International Perspective: Towards a more reliable model for evidence based learning and quality assurance and enhancement’. HEFCE’s Learning Gain National Conference. Birmingham, 7 February 2018.
• IMPACT OF SUBJECT SPECIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION. Measuring and Comparing Achievement in Higher Education systems: Holy Grail or Curse? 4th ASIIN/EASPA Global Conference 2017 “Professional Higher Education Accreditation – why does it matter more than ever?” Düsseldorf, 11 December 2017.
• Measuring and Comparing Achievements of Learning Outcomes in HE in Europe. UNICA - EduLAB Meeting 2017: Innovation in teaching and Employability. University of Lausanne, 30 November / 1 December 2017.
• ‘Making better use of the frameworks on overarching (European) level: TUNING and CALOHEE initiatives’. Transnational Cooperation Activity Recognition of Credit Mobility in Higher Education DAAD. Leipzig. 28-29 November 2017.
• Towards a more reliable model for evidence based learning and quality assurance and enhancement. Peer Learning Activity organized by Ministry of Education Norway and European Commission, Oslo,16-17 November 2017.
• A GLOBAL CHALLENGE. Student-centred learning in comparative perspective: Second phase of the Tuning EU-China Joint Study. EU-China High Level People-to-People Dialogue (HPPD). Brussels, 27 October 2017.
• Is the Bologna Process dead? Share your input! (with Gabrielle Abermann) EAIE Annual Conference, Valencia, 12-15 September 2017.
• Learning outcomes and learning incomes – where Mastermind, CALOHEE and Tuning meet. MASTERMIND Final Conference VU – Amsterdam 5-7 July 2017.
• Measuring and Comparing Achievements of Learning Outcomes in HE in Europe. ECA workshop and Annual Meeting. HCERES – Paris 22-23 June 2017.
• DEVELOPING A HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE AND COMPETATIVE (INTER)NATIONAL PROGRAMME. American Studies Seminar. Groningen, 20 June 2017.
• Overcoming the skills mismatch: measuring learning outcomes’. South Africa-EU Policy seminar on Modernisation, Innovation and Driving Continental and International Development. Stellenbosch, 4 May 2017.
• Measuring and comparing achievements of learning outcomes in higher education in Europe. Advancing large scale and classroom assessment through research and practice. NCME 2017 Annual Meeting, San Antonio, USA, April 30, 2017.
• ‘Student Learning Outcomes and the Changing Face of Quality Assurance’. CHEA International Quality Group 2017 Annual Meeting. Quality and Quality Assurance in a Changing World. Washington, February 1-2, 2017.
• ‘Measuring and Comparing Achievements of Learning Outcomes in Higher Education in Europe (CALOHEE)’. Ministry of Education (MEXT). Tokyo, 31 October 2016.
• ‘Measuring and Comparing Achievements of Learning Outcomes in Higher Education in Europe (CALOHEE)’. LUMINA – SSRC meeting. New York, 29-30 September 2016
• ‘The proof of the pudding: comparing learning achievements across Europe’. (with Tom van Essen and Simon Roy). EAIE Annual Conference – Liverpool,12/16 Sept. 2016.
• ‘Presentation of the project - objectives and general design’. Multiplier Event DARE+, University Foundation, Brussels,15 July 2016.
• ‘CALOHEE’. University of Utrecht – Graduate School, 18 May 2016.
• ‘European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS): Role of Learning Outcomes and Student Workload in European Perspective’. Tuning Middle East and North Africa: T-MEDA Workshop ‘Students’ workload and ECTS. Groningen 14-15 November 2016.
• ‘Measuring and Comparing Achievements of Learning Outcomes in Higher Education in Europe (CALOHEE)’. Workshop 3: EASPA - Third Global Conference of Professional Accreditation in cooperation with ASPA (American Network for the Specialized and Professional Accreditation). Berlin, 2-5 May 2016.
• ‘TUNING and its new focus on achieved learning outcomes’. 2016 ASIIN International CONFERENCE in Berlin “Quality Management in Higher Education - the unsolved Mystery of its untapped Potential”. How to jointly tackle the five remaining grand challenges? Third Global Conference for Specialized and Professional Accreditors in cooperation with ASPA: New Initiatives in Quality Assurance based on field-specific Learning Outcomes. Berlin 2-5 May 2016.
• ‘Defining, promoting and measuring transferable skills, social and civic competences: trends and challenges in higher education. Introductory considerations’. Developing future skills in higher education. ET2020 Working Group on Modernisation of Higher Education: Peer Learning Activity (PLA). DG Education and Culture. Brussels, 25 February 2016.
• ‘The contribution of the Tuning Process around the world: placing the student at the centre’. SEMINARIO NAZIONALE. Promuovere l’apprendimento incentrato sullo studente nelle istituzioni di istruzione superiore. Università di Pisa, 10-11 December 2015.
• ‘Permeability, Learning Outcomes and Learning Recognition.Developing Competences through work and International Mobility’. Bled, Slovenia, 13 November 2015.
• ‘Teachers’ professional development and the Tuning approach: strategies for designing academic programmes’. COME FORMARE OGGI LA DOCENZA UNIVERSITARIA? LA RICERCA, L’ESPERIENZA E LA PROPOSTA DEL PROGETTO “PRODID” Padua, 30 October 2015.
• ‘Measuring and Comparing Achievements of Learning Outcomes in Higher Education in Europe (CALOHEE)’. Satellite Conference EU-Australia Measuring Quality Outcomes in Higher Education. Singapore, 15 October 2015.
• Update on Tuning and associated developments in various contexts. TUNING AFRICA PHASE II. Cairo, 12 October 2015.
• ‘New trends in competence development’. DARE + Workshop II: Train-the-Trainers. Groningen, 21 September 2015.
• ‘Tuning the world for the internationalisation of higher education’. (with Deirdre Lennon, EC, Ann Katharine Isaacs). EAIE 2015. Glasgow, 16-18 September 2015.
• ‘EU – CHINA TUNING JOINT STUDY’. Third round of EU-China High Level People-to-People Dialogue (HPPD), Brussels, 15 September 2015.
• ‘General presentation of the Tuning Project and its development. What is Tuning and what does it offer to Higher Education?’ TUNING AFRICA PHASE II. Policy Forum 6-7 July 2015 Antananarivo, Madagascar.
• International mobility and cooperation: A promising strategy to further opportunities for employability. Session Employability and International Cooperation. EURASHE 25th Annual Conference – Lisbon 17 April 2015.
• LEARNING OUTCOMES and CREDIT(S): ECVET and ECTS – the two transfer (and accumulation) systems for education and training. TCA Permeability VET-Higher Education. Amsterdam, 13-14 April 2015.
• TUNING Model for Designing, Implementing, Delivering and Enhancing Higher Education Curricula (with Pablo Beneitone), Workshop Tuning Japan. Tokyo 19-20 March 2015.
• Tuning: Methodology to Design, Deliver, Maintain and Enhance student centred degree programmes (Ba/Ma/Doctorate) based on the Competences and Learning Outcome approach. Workshop Tuning Japan. Tokyo, 19-20 March 2015.
• Competence Development. Mastery Levels, Indicators and Descriptors. Workshop Tuning Japan. Tokyo, 19-20 March 2015.
• ‘The Implications of University-Business Cooperation in Europe: the TUNING perspective’. EMCOSU conference, Brussel, 26 February 2015.
• ‘The Shift to a Learner Centered Approach: Implications and Tools’. (With Tim Birtwistle and Courtney Brown). AIEA Annual Conference 2015. Washington, 17 February 2015.
• ‘Competence Development. Mastery Levels, Indicators and Descriptors. Tuning EU-China Joint Study II’. Preparatory Meeting at Ministry of Education. Beijing, 12 October 2014.
• ‘Latest Tuning Global Initiatives Unveiled’. EAIE 26th Annual Conference 2014, Prague, 18 September 2014.
• ‘Brave new era: where is the evidence of learning outcomes?’ (with Tim Birtwistle and Courtney Brown). EAIE 26th Annual Conference 2014. Prague, 16-19 September 2014.
• EU – CHINA TUNING JOINT FEASIBILITY STUDY. "Higher Education Platform for Cooperation and Exchange" (HEPCE). Beijing, Ministry of Education, 6 September 2014.
• Global strategies for supporting academic innovation: the experience of the TUNING Project . Convegno Nazionale Preparazione alla professionalità docente e innovatione didatttica. Padua, 30 June 2014.
• TUNING Competences Frameworks: Key Tools for Educational Reform and the Assessment and Comparison of Learning in Global Perspective. Coimbra Meeting. University of Groningen, Groningen, 11 June 2014.
• TUNING Competences Frameworks: Key Tools for Educational Reform and the Assessment and Comparison of Learning in Global Perspective. TUCAHEA workshop University of Groningen, Groningen, 21 June 2014.
• "Tuning" Higher Education: Initial Teacher Education? Ministers of Education Balkan Countries, DG EAC. Brussels, 19-20 June 2014.
• Learning Outcomes and Frameworks in International Education OR, AS WE HAD IT “Seeking rigor in learning (home and abroad)” (with Tim Birtwistle and Courtney Brown). NAFSA Conference, San Diego, 27-30 May 2014.
• Enhancing and Strengthening Higher Education in a Global Context. TUNING and Japan – Japan and TUNING. Key note at Opening Ceremony of the MORI Arinori Center for Higher Educational and Global Mobility. Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 27 May 2014.
• “What will bring the Future for Universities in the European Higher Education Area ?” Key note at Conference on Innovative Curricula Design „Higher Education in 2020“ University of Tartu, 10 April 2014.
• “The role of Profiles, Competences and Learning Outcomes in Program Design and Delivery: the Tuning Approach”. Developing Competence based Degree Programs Quality Assurance through Tuning and Learning Outcomes Assessments. Kyoto, 12 December 2013.
• “Tuning Competences Frameworks: Key Tools for Educational Reform and the Assessment and Comparison of Learning in Global Perspective’’. NIER Symposium 2013: Quality Assurance of Higher Education in an Age of Globalization – What can we learn from TUNING and OECD-AHELO? MEXT Conference Hall, Tokyo, 10 December 2013. (Organizer and host Ministry of Education of Japan).
• “Tuning: A New Strategy for Modernising Higher Education Degree Programmes”. International Conference: Cooperation Between HEI and Business – Why do we need to cooperate? University Business Cooperation, Employability & Higher Education Policy. Ljubljana, 25 October 2013.
• TUNING Model for Designing, Implementing, Delivering and Enhancing Higher Education Curricula. Workshop:TUNING EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURES AND OECD-AHELO: Educational Reform and the Assessment and Comparison of Learning in Global Perspective IDC Herzliya, 30 October 2013.
• “Tuning Educational Structures and Major Trends in policies and practices for the reform of higher education degree programmes and a model for practical implementation”. Tuning Seminar, Hiroshima University, 19 October 2013
• “Tuning: A Strategy for Educational Change, Student Success, and International Cooperation”. Key note at Conference Global Cooperation of Government, Industry and Academics Through Tuning. Hitotsubashi University, 17 October 2013. 9. “Tuning Educational Structures”, International Conference 'QUALITY ASSURANCE, TRUST AND RECOGNITION', Brussels, 20 September 2013 (Organizers: European Commission and Flemish Ministry of Education and Training)
• “Tuning Educational Structures”, International Conference 'QUALITY ASSURANCE, TRUST AND RECOGNITION', Brussels, 20 September 2013 (Organizers: European Commission and Flemish Ministry of Education and Training) (Central focus: the particular needs for linking practice and policy between Europe and Asia)
• “Tuning Methodology for the Design, Delivery and Enhancement of Degree Programmes”, International Conference “Tuning in Russia”, Faculty of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 20-21 June 2013 
•  “Tuning Educational Structures and Major Trends in Higher Education in the World”, Thai – EU Academic Conference “Internationalization of Education Reform and the TQF”. Bangkok, June 14, 2013 (350 participants)
•  “Outcomes-based learning: The Assessment of Learning Outcomes”, TQF and the Paradigm Shift of Higher Education in the World, Bangkok June 13, 2013 (350 participants) 
•  “The Tuning Approach and (Subject-based) Quality Assurance – Benefitting from each other?” EASPA Conference. Brussels, 21 May 2013.
• “Tuning: A Strategy for Educational Change, Student Success, and International Cooperation”, Annual Conference AIEA - New Orleans, 19 February 2013
• “Tuning Educational Structures around the World: An overview of the developments in different regions”. International Conference Tuning in the World: New Degree Profiles for New Societies, 21 November 2012 (700 participants)
• “Measuring Learning and Boosting Recognition and Employability”. EAIE Conference 2012. Dublin, 12-15 September 2012.
•  “”Strategies for demonstrating the relevance of Arts education: the Tuning approach. A University-driven Approach to Enhance Degree Programmes”. Conference Arts Education at the Crossroad of Cultures. Lemesos, Cyprus, 25- 27 June 2012
•  “MAKING SENSE OF LEARNING OUTCOMES”. EU-STEP Washington conference, Washington, 26 January 2012.
• “Tuning project(s) around the world – What is being learned. THE 21ST –CENTURY STUDENT, QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORKS AND STUDENT LEARNING.3rd US-EU EDUCATION POLICY FORUM LAUNCH” , Washington, 9-10 November 2011 (Host: Deputy Minister of Education, USA Government)
• “Tuning Educational Structures in the World. A University-driven Approach to Enhance Degree Programmes”. Conference ASSESSING HIGHER EDUCATION PERFORMANCE: Initiatives and Implications.  Melbourne, 20-21 October 2011. (Organizer and host: L.H. Martin Institute)
• “TUNING AMERICA: Boosting Recognition”. EAIE Conference 2011. Copenhagen, 13-16 September 2011.
• “What’s Happening in Europe? European Programmes: Tempus and Erasmus Mundus”. AEUA President’s Meeting. Groningen, 3-6 July 2011.
•  “Comparing US and European approaches to Tuning - a process designed to clarify learning outcomes for different levels of degrees in particular fields. European Higher Education Study Tour for US and Canadian Higher Education Leaders”, Valencia, 29 June 201122.         “Student Study and Work Placement Mobility. Bologna” ,Tuning Experts International Seminar.London, 14-15 May 2009
•  “‘Tuning Revisted’. Modernisation of Curricula in Europe and Beyond: Are we failing? Or are we not?” Seminar for Bologna and Higher Education Reform Experts, Oslo, 6-7 June 2011
• “The Tuning Process: A University-driven Approach to Enhance Degree Programmes”. NAFSA 2011 Annual Conference and Expo, Vancouver 1 June 2011.
• “What’s Happening in Europe? Modernization of Higher Education Programs in Europe:  Student-Centered and Learning Outcomes Based”.  Conference: Measuring the Value of a Postsecondary Education, Toronto 19-20 May 2011.
• “Quality Assessment and Control in Education and the Effect of Internationalization on University Education Programmes”. Nordverbund. Hamburg, 3 March 2011
• “RECOGNITION IN EUROPE. Principles of the Lisbon Recognition Convention: implementation and remaining challenges”. EU-African Union Conference: Nyerere: Supporting Academic Mobility and Revitalization of Higher education in Africa. Cape town, 23-24 November 2010 (Organiser African Union and European Commission).
•  “TUNING THE AMERICAS.  Lessons learned and interconnections of the Tuning America Latina and the Tuning USA projects”. Conference of the Americas on International Education, Calgary, 20-23 October 2010.
•  “Tuning Educational Structures in the World: What is Tuning offering our world partners?” European Commission - DG-EAC  – Brussels 19 October 2010.
• “No Mobility Without Recognition: Curricula Related Issues. Conference Student Mobility and Study Periods Abroad”, Ljubljana 11-12 October 2010
• “QUALITY AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF BOLOGNA ON EU”, Seminar Review of Bologna Process and its Impact on Higher Education, Riyadh, 10-11 May 2010. (For University Presidents of all public universities in Saudi-Arabia)
•  ‘’Using CLIOHRES Results in History Learning and Teaching Worldwide’’. Research Network of Excellence CLIOHRES 2005-2010. Final Conference "CLIOHRES: A New History Research Agenda for Citizens of a Growing Europe", Royal Flemish Academy of the Sciences and Arts, Brussels, 19 March 2010.
• “DEFINING A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF DESIRED/EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES IN ENGINEERING”, CLAIU – EU Conference “Engineering Master Degrees in Europe”; Brussels, 12-13 February 2010
•  “Learning Outcomes: The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)”. European Higher Education Study Tour of Australian & New Zealand Senior Executives. STEP, Valencia, February 2010.
• “TUNING EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD: Tuning Australia. The Tuning Process: A European View”. Australian Embassy. Washington, 14 October 2009.
• “CHANGING THE CULTURE. From policing to effective professional practice in quality assurance: The European Approach. University Reform and the Modernisation Agenda”. Inaugural European Union – Australia Policy Dialogue. Melbourne, 2 March 2009.
• “European trends in policies and practices for international collaboration in higher education”. EAHEP Workshop on ‘Student Mobility, Joint Degree Programmes and Institutional Development’., Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 16-17 February 2009.