The Philosophy section at the University of Twente offers a range of classes, workshops and courses for learners who are interested in philosophy but do not wish to study for a full degree. We have experience in delivering engaging, accessible, and high-quality educational content to a wide range of audiences and always tailor the courses to fit the needs and prior experience of the participants.
Are you interested in gaining new insights, growing as a professional, or looking for a customized in-company training? We offer customized education in the following topics:
· Ethics and artificial intelligence
· Business and management ethics
· Sustainability
· Philosophy of medicine and healthcare
· Critical thinking
· Ethics by design / Value sensitive design
· Applied ethics for European projects and funding proposals
· Public speaking, rhetoric and argumentation
· Human-compatibility of technology / Human-technology interaction
lifelong learning courses
Do No Harm: Ethics for Drone Data Projects
Associate professor Michael Nagenborg is one of the lead instructors of a course that focuses on drone data ethics. The course, which is offered via ITC’s Geodiversity platform, is targeted at geospatial data analysts, drone pilots, critical remote sensing specialists, and humanitarian aid professionals. Its goal is to provide tools to identify ethics concerns, consider stakeholders, apply ethics-by-design, and critique projects to make responsible decisions.
Data and ethics in public management
Starting in 2024, the University of Twente's LLL MSc in Public Management now includes a course in Ethics and Public Values as an integral part of its curriculum. It philosophically explores central public and ethical values (e.g., justice, sustainability, privacy) and how to involve them in practical decision-making, including how to deal with value conflicts.
‘Data and Ethics’ is one of the modules for the LLL course in Digital Transformations. This module combines elements of flipped classroom learning and workshops with lectures and testimonials from professionals.
Philosophy, AI, & the future of medicine
In 2024, we offered a half-day workshop to general practitioners as part of their yearly further training (‘Nascholing huisartsen’). In this interactive in-class workshop, the participants got the opportunity to learn about the new developments in medical AI and reflect on how AI will impact their professional lives and the patient engagement.
Feedback on the workshop: “[A] very nice program - exactly what we needed... and more.”
See also the description of a workshop Ethics of Technology for Medical Professionals.
Responsible AI in movie production
We joint a consortium led by Filmboard Karlsruhe to obtain a grant to develop an expert meeting on the use of AI in the movie industry. The grant enabled preparing an interactive session on the responsible use of AI in movie production.
Cybersecurity, cybercrime, and risk
Each year we offer a one day intensive class on ethical theories, issues, and approaches to cybersecurity and cybercrime, that is part of a larger professional development program on cybersecurity, cybercrime, and risk.
PhiloFilm
Philofilm is a monthly series, in which, on each first Monday of the month, a film is introduced and discussed by a philosopher from the University of Twente. The evenings are entirely in the English language. Philofilm is a collaboration between Concordia and Ideefiks, the study association for Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Twente.
Online LLL Courses
Philosophy of Science for the Engineering Sciences
An Online Philosophy of Science in Practice Course by Prof. Dr. Ir. Mieke Boon https://people.utwente.nl/m.boon University of Twente, The Netherlands
In science and engineering education, you're trained to work with mathematical models, formulas, and experimental methods. But have you ever wondered where these models come from, how we know they work, or what makes them scientific? This course invites you to explore the philosophical foundations of engineering science—bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Philosophy of Technology and Design: Shaping the Relations Between Humans and Technologies
4.7 (43 reviews) 10,592 enrolled on this course Duration: 4 weeks Weekly study: 4 hours
In every aspect of our lives we make use of all kinds of technologies. Technologies can anticipate needs or solve problems, and they can extend or enhance human capacities and activities. Technologies have made life easier, but also complicated our world. In this course you will get acquainted with some key approaches in philosophy of technology and design. The course focuses on the relations between humans and technologies. You will learn how philosophy can help us understand the social implications of technologies. And you will find out how to apply these insights in the practice of design.
Examples of our expertise
Jan Peter Bergen has designed and taught applied ethics courses for professionals, including those working in insurance and the public sector (tax office, land registry, municipalities, etc). These courses are meant to support life-long learners in ethical decision-making by combining philosophical insight with more application- and solution-oriented approaches.
Bas de Boer has delivered courses in applied philosophy of science for policymakers, as well as in the ethics and philosophy of medicine for medical professionals. He also has significant experience in bridging academic philosophy to the general public. For instance, in delivering coursework on the relationship between technology and democracy, technology and power, as well as on key topics in contemporary continental philosophy.
Y. J. Erden has delivered sessions on argumentation, logic, and rhetoric. These highly interactive sessions provide a foundation for a range of practical, cognitive, and applied skill. These include public speaking and presentations, debate and discussion, formal logic, logical analysis and reasoning, and fallacy recognition. Training in the course includes the application of these skills to real world cases, such as media analysis and political discourse.
Together with Philip Brey, Erden has delivered training to European Commission staff and ethics experts. Centred on the topic of human enhancement, the training focussed on the use of ethics guidelines to evaluate research with enhancement potential.
Adam Henschke has delivered regular coursework on leadership and integrity, ethics and national security, and the ethical impacts of disruptive technologies on national security to the members of police, intelligence, military, and other parts of government working on national security.
Michael Nagenborg has been involved for many years in a series of workshops on Medical Philosophy, which were accredited as professional learning opportunities by German Medical Chambers.
Contact Information
Do you have questions or want more information about our lifelong learning courses? Contact Saana Jukola (s.j.jukola@utwente.nl).