Leonie le Sage

Dr. Leonie le Sage serves as Lecturer in Professional Identity at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, working within the Knowledge Center for Talent Development at the Institute of Social Education. Appointed to this position in December 2020, she focuses on strengthening the professional identity of social workers and social worker educators, with particular emphasis on collaboration with healthcare and technology professions.

Dr. le Sage earned her PhD from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) for interdisciplinary research on the development of the conscience of juvenile delinquents and juvenile criminal law, conducted across the Faculties of Psychology & Education and Law. Prior to joining Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences in January 2008, she spent four years as a university lecturer at VU Amsterdam. She also serves as a board member of the National Social Work Training Council since 2018 and participates in the National Social Work Training Document implementation group.

Her research examines how social workers can better demonstrate their added value in interprofessional collaborations. She investigates how social workers' critical and investigative skills can be strengthened, contributing to methodology development and collaboration with knowledge and practice partners in healthcare, housing, energy sectors, technology, and welfare organizations. Her work addresses what constitutes the professional identity of a social worker, what characterizes their working methods, and how social workers can better raise their profile.

Dr. le Sage's publication record shows a progression from foundational work on authority in social work practice (2013) to more recent work on implementing national training documents (2022) and monitoring community-based projects (2024). A consistent theme across her work is strengthening the professional identity of social workers through methodologically sound and normatively critical approaches, with increasing focus on interprofessional collaboration around societal challenges like inequality, polarization, and ecological sustainability.

As a senior lecturer, she chaired the Pedagogy curriculum committee, contributed to drafting the National and HR Educational Document for the Social Work program, and co-designed the Social Work program's graduation program. Her research at the Knowledge Centre for Talent Development has focused on learning and family support, with projects like 'De Katrol' examining the effects of learning support at home on children's school results and parental involvement.

Dr. le Sage leads the Professional Identity of the Social Worker research group, which investigates how the professional identity of social workers can be strengthened, particularly in light of interprofessional collaboration in care and technology. Her work contributes to the ISO Social Work Samen op Koers (Social Work Together on Course) improvement plan at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, addressing significant societal challenges like creating sustainable, livable urban environments and promoting healthy lifestyles through interprofessional collaboration.