‘Look beyond the borders’

Educational scientist Adri Visscher has been affiliated with the BMS faculty for over forty years. In 1983, he started as a university lecturer and progressed to associate professor and later became a full professor. In addition to his personal development, he also saw how the organization changed. ‘Together, you can achieve more than alone.’ n the early years, say 1981, Applied Educational Science was a Subfaculty, so-called back then’, says Visscher. With a bachelor’s and master’s according to current terms. The programme differed from other educational programmes on certain spearheads. ‘The emphasis was on training educational engineers. We thought that was appropriate within the Technical High School, as it was back then. Our students systematically worked on problems according to the educational technology model. The study also paid attention to training and learning in the business world and to computers in education, which was still new at the time.’

Despite its distinctive character, the programme did not receive sufficient intake. And that, according to Visscher, is quite explainable. ‘Doing research into education is especially fun and interesting if you have experience with education. For example, we are now seeing a lot of influx from the PABO (teacher training program for primary edu cation). Teachers who have plenty of experience in front of the class. The result was that the bachelor’s had too little growth. It was then decided to shut it down. ‘The master’s in Educational Science & Technology remained, as did the innovative character of the programme. Visscher, who recently retired to part-time, also remem bers the merger between the faculties of Behavioural Sciences and Management & Government as well.

‘Educational Science ended up at the Department of

Learning – interdisciplinary learning science and technology research. By putting people together, you can achieve more than as a scientist alone, or by working only within your section/department. I think that is the positive effect of the merger. Something beautiful is created and you can work together on calls among other things, although a lot depends on the attitude of colleagues. Be open to it and look beyond the borders. I would think it would be a great shame if the cooperation within and between different departments were not given even more shape than is currently the case. I wish that for the faculty and the UT.’