Nicole Sanches

Nicole Sanches serves as a Lecturer and researcher at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool van Amsterdam), actively contributing through the Centre of Expertise Urban Education and Centre of Expertise Education and Upbringing. Her professional identity centers on collaborative action research addressing systemic inequities in higher education.

Her research explores critical intersections of racism, gender equality, and opportunity access through participatory methodologies. Key focus areas include deconstructing power dynamics in educational settings, analyzing internship disparities through qualitative lenses, and designing co-created interventions with education professionals. This work consistently employs action research frameworks to transform theoretical insights into institutional practice.

Recent publications (2023-2024) reveal a concentrated investigation into structural barriers within applied sciences education, particularly examining racism in professional dialogues, gender representation among professors, and unequal internship pathways. Her methodological signature combines qualitative depth with stakeholder co-creation to generate actionable equity solutions.

Sanches actively translates research into practice through eight documented professional activities including organizing the Bijeenkomst gelijke stagekansen (Equal Internship Opportunities Meeting), presenting at the EAN Conference, and contributing to media discussions on co-creative research methodologies. Her work positions education professionals as central agents of institutional transformation.