Guusje Tavecchio Appointed Professor of Inclusive Education and Global Citizenship

The Hague University of Applied Sciences has appointed Dr. Guusje Tavecchio as Professor of Inclusive Education and Global Citizenship. Effective October 1, 2026, she will lead the Research Group within the Faculty of Social Work & Education and the Centre of Expertise Global & Inclusive Learning (GIL). In her role, she will further expand research on inclusive education and global citizenship at THUAS.

Tavecchio earned her Ph.D. in 2020 from VU University Amsterdam for her research on summer bridge programs: preparatory programs that provide underrepresented students with access to higher education. In recent years, she worked as an Inclusion Officer and senior researcher in Diversity & Inclusion at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. Prior to that, she served as the Erasmus+ Inclusion Coordinator at Nuffic and as a postdoctoral researcher on the NRO research project “Mentoring Urban Talent” at Erasmus University and VU Amsterdam.

One principle is central to her work: focusing on students’ potential, not on what they might lack. As a professor, she connects the four themes that the Research Group brings together: inclusive education, global citizenship, inclusive participation, and inclusive leadership. In doing so, she builds on methods developed by the Research Group, such as Community-Led Research and Action and the Pedagogy of Discomfort.

“Inclusive education and global citizenship are not ideals for the future. They determine how we teach, collaborate, and deal with differences right now,” says Tavecchio.

The Research Group collaborates with schools, municipalities, and civil society organizations, and is active in European partnerships. Tavecchio continues this approach and strengthens the connection with education, from primary and secondary schools to teacher training programs. Her international experience, ranging from research at American universities to European collaboration on inclusion, provides a solid foundation for the theme of global citizenship.

“Guusje Tavecchio brings inclusive education and global citizenship together at a time when it really matters. She builds on the strengths of students and teachers. That is exactly the direction we want to take as a faculty and as GIL,” says Alaoui Alaoui, director of the Faculty of Social Work & Education.

The Inclusive Education and Global Citizenship research group is part of the Centre of Expertise Global & Inclusive Learning. The Executive Board is extending the Research Group’s term by six years.