The Erasmusarts 2030 (EA2030) curriculum has been awarded the Dutch Education Prize (Nederlandse Onderwijspremie), worth half a million, by the National Knowledge Institute for Education (Nationaal Kennisinstituut Onderwijs, in short NKO). With this prize, the NKO expresses its appreciation for the innovation in the medical curriculum and the joint efforts of everyone who has contributed to this over the past few years.
The assessment committee describes an enthusiastic and well-organised team which, through an evidence-informed approach, strong teacher engagement and a focus on student participation, is delivering an impressive educational reform.
'The strength of our curriculum lies in our shared ambition to train doctors who are prepared for the healthcare of tomorrow'
Dr Suzanne Peeters
Programme Director Erasmusarts 2030
Education community
The development and implementation of Erasmusarts 2030 are the result of the efforts of a broad community of lecturers, students, coordinators, educationalists, educational advisers, teaching support staff and many other colleagues involved.
'Above all, this award is a tribute to all our colleagues and students who have shaped Erasmusarts 2030 and continue to improve it every day,' says Dr Suzanne Peeters, programme director of Erasmusarts 2030. 'The strength of our curriculum lies in our shared ambition to train doctors who are prepared for the healthcare of tomorrow. We are particularly proud that this commitment is now being recognised at a national level.
Prof. Dr Kamran Ikram, Director of the Medicine programme (Geneeskunde), also sees the award as confirmation that the programme is on the right track. 'Erasmusarts 2030 stands for future-oriented medical education in which scientific training, person-centred care and social responsibility come together. This award shows that the choices we have made together are being recognised and appreciated.
Erasmusarts 2030 is a forward-looking medical curriculum in which students learn through practical experience from the outset, with an emphasis on academic development, technology and social engagement. The programme is characterised by a reduced focus on lectures in favour of practical teaching methods. It combines medical knowledge with skills such as person-centred care, prevention and digital innovation, ensuring that doctors are better prepared for the healthcare of the future.
The courage to innovate
The development of Erasmusarts 2030 required courage. The programme chose to completely overhaul the existing curriculum, guided by the question of what sort of doctors society will need in the future and how best to train them. This meant not only developing new teaching methods and learning activities, but also letting go of familiar structures and building a new educational culture. The award underlines that educational innovation is a process of continuous development. The curriculum therefore remains in a state of flux, informed by the experiences of students, lecturers and educational professionals.
Students as pioneers
What is remarkable is that the first cohorts of students embarked on a curriculum that had never before been implemented in this form anywhere. For them, the launch of Erasmusarts 2030 marked the start of an adventure full of new opportunities, but also uncertainties.
Students became co-designers of the curriculum. Their feedback, experiences and suggestions played a key role in further refining teaching activities, assessment and guidance. In doing so, they not only completed their own degree programme, but also actively contributed to its development.
'The first students were the pioneers of Erasmusarts 2030: a revamped curriculum where the broad outlines were clear, but where, simultaneously, certain elements were further refined and developed during implementation. That required trust, flexibility and commitment,' says Dr Gijs Elshout, programme director of the Bachelor's programme in Medicine. 'It is precisely thanks to their openness and critical eye that we have been able to shape Erasmusarts 2030 into what it is today, and we will continue to develop it further in the years to come.'
Investing in the future of education
The education prize also offers opportunities for this further development. Although the exact details are still being finalised, the intention is to use the prize money to fund new educational innovations and further improvements to the curriculum.
- More information
Read more about the Erasmusarts 2030 programme (in Dutch).
