Liesbeth Eelens

Liesbeth Eelens is a Full Professor at the Erasmus School of Philosophy and holds the Transdisciplinary Education Innovation professorship at Codarts, University for Performing Arts. She is currently Director of Education at the Erasmus School of Philosophy. Her work focuses on transformative academic education, particularly in transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral initiatives like the Rotterdam Arts & Sciences Lab (RASL), a Double Degree program collaborating with Codarts and Willem de Kooning Academy. Her expertise spans educational innovation, social impact of academia, and policy-making in higher education.

Education & Background:

• PhD in 2010 (dissertation discussed central bank presidents' roles in crises)
• Early career contributions to tutor groups at Erasmus School of Economics, earning the EUR Teacher of the Year Award (1997)

Research Interests: Liesbeth’s research emphasizes transdisciplinary education models, societal impact of academic practices, and the integration of arts/sciences. She has pioneered action research in problem-based learning and led initiatives like RASL to bridge disciplinary divides. Her work aligns with UN SDGs, particularly addressing societal challenges through innovative educational frameworks.

Awards & Grants:

• Comenius Leader Fellowship
• Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership grant
• ESE Impact Award (formerly Visibility Award)

Advisory & Grants:

• Co-chair of the Comenius network, influencing higher education policy
• Member of the RVS Council for Public Health and Society
• Chaired the Female Academics Movement (FAME) at EUR since 2019

Labs/Teams: Leads the Rotterdam Arts & Sciences Lab (RASL), a pioneering interdisciplinary initiative fostering collaboration between arts, sciences, and humanities.