Doctoral Grant from EAIE to Eveke de Louw

Researcher Eveke de Louw, from the research group Global Learning, has been awarded a Doctoral Research Grant from the European Association for International Education (EAIE) for her PhD research. The research group is part of the Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.

The EAIE Doctoral Research Grants were launched in 2024 to support early-career researchers in developing innovative ideas around internationalisation in higher education. From a diverse pool of candidates worldwide, the winners were selected based on the quality and relevance of their research proposals, and their potential to make a meaningful contribution to international higher education in Europe and beyond.

Personal response

“When I received the email with the good news, I first messaged my supervisors. After the cheering, I thought: what incredible recognition! It shows that this topic matters and is supported in the field,” says Eveke.

About the research

As a PhD candidate at the University of Groningen, Eveke is investigating the role of educational developers and advisors in the internationalisation of the curriculum. This means looking at how programmes design their education so that students are better prepared for an increasingly international society and labour market.

She aims to understand how these professionals view their work, the challenges they encounter, and how they navigate within their institutions. By collecting and comparing stories and experiences from various European universities and universities of applied sciences, she hopes to identify both effective practices and areas of opportunity. The ultimate goal is to develop a practical framework that supports these professionals in their work, ensuring that internationalisation is not treated as an add-on, but becomes a natural part of education.

“Educational developers and advisors are a crucial stakeholder in curriculum internationalisation,” Eveke explains. “But in practice, they are rarely involved. With this research, I want to highlight their educational contribution to the process and the factors that can influence their involvement.”

Importance for THUAS 

This research shows that THUAS has strong expertise in internationalisation and that it fits well with what the university stands for in education and research. The key idea is that international perspectives should not be added afterwards, but built into the way curriculums are designed from the start. This helps students learn how they can contribute to a fairer and more sustainable world. 

Arend Hardoff, member of the Executive Board, explains: “The great thing about Eveke’s work is that it shows how research at THUAS makes our education more innovative and meaningful. In doing so, we prepare our students more effectively to contribute as global citizens to a sustainable and just society. We are proud that this research is already receiving international recognition and look forward to its future outcomes.” 

About Eveke de Louw

Eveke de Louw has over twenty years of experience in the field of internationalisation in higher education. At The Hague University of Applied Sciences, she has held several coordinating and leadership roles, including International Student Co-coordinator, Team Leader, and Senior International Officer. She currently works as a researcher and academic developer at the Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning, where she conducts action research on curriculum internationalisation and supports programme teams through training and advice.

And what does she hope to achieve with her PhD research?

“I hope this research will help embed internationalisation into processes of educational development and innovation, so that it is not added later as a separate component, but included at the core. Only then can internationalisation truly lead to transformative education.”

With this grant, her research gains both international recognition and practical support to further contribute to the development of knowledge and practice around curriculum internationalisation.

Want to know more about the research ‘The Role of Educational Developers in Internationalisation of the Curriculum (IoC)’? Contact Eveke at: [email protected]