Diana van Dijk

Diana van Dijk serves as Senior Lecturer in Research at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences' Institute of Social Studies since 2022, while concurrently leading research projects at the Knowledge Centre for Talent Development (KCTO). She supervises Master's students in Pedagogy conducting participatory design-based research and collaborates with social work students on refugee integration studies. As a member of the university-wide Research Ethics Committee, she maintains active engagement across institutional frameworks.

Her research focuses on refugee integration through multiple lenses:

• Vocational education pathways for status holders
• Labor market participation barriers and enablers
• Higher education access for refugee-background students
• Participatory action research methodologies
• Youth resilience development in vulnerable contexts

Current projects include Safe & Brave (diversity-sensitive professional practice), SPRONG (national collaboration framework), and Promising Entrance (transition support systems).

Distinguished with the 2019 Teacher-Researcher of the Year award for her work supporting refugee-background students, her publication portfolio demonstrates consistent thematic focus on migration, education, and social inclusion.

• Teacher-Researcher of the Year award (2019)
• National SIA grant for SPRONG collaboration project

Her supervision spans Master's students in Pedagogy and social work trainees engaged in refugee integration research. Major funded projects include Career and Talent Development of Status Holders (KCTO), Studying with Refugee Background (Rotterdam University initiative), and SPRONG collaboration framework. She leads the KCTO research team focusing on practical implementation of evidence-based approaches.

As project leader at the Knowledge Centre for Talent Development, she directs multiple research streams connecting academic inquiry with municipal policy implementation. The KCTO serves as critical bridge between Rotterdam University's research capacity and practical social sector challenges, particularly regarding refugee integration and youth activation.