In 2016, Martin van der Hoef was Teacher of the Year and won the ‘Centrale Onderwijsprijs’. This did not stop his development as a teacher but instead stimulated him to do more.
Martin van der Hoef was educated as an applied physicist at the University of Twente but was always interested in different disciplines. During his studies, he also took classes in philosophy and afterwards continued with a PhD at the intersection of physics and chemistry at the AMOLF institute in Amsterdam. After a Postdoc at Oxford University, Martin returned to the University of Twente to become an associate professor.
At the time University College Twente was founded, Martin van der Hoef was working as a researcher and teacher in Chemical Engineering. When his research group moved to the Technical University of Eindhoven, his students started a petition to keep him here, because they did not want to lose their valued teacher. The petition was successful, Martin stayed in Enschede: “I have always had a passion for education and this was the moment to continue with teaching. When I heard about University College Twente, it very much appealed to me. I find it refreshing to cooperate with students and teachers from different faculties. It is very interesting to combine disciplines and to compare them.”
According to Martin van der Hoef, there is no optimal teaching method: “It is a continuous search for the best way, but since society is changing so fast, it is hard to keep up. Within University College Twente, we offer problem-focused learning. We provide the students with open problems, allowing them to be creative, but also to practice their problem-solving skills. This fits in the ever-changing world, but we should not forget that before you can solve a problem, you need to master some basic techniques. To do so, traditional forms of education are sometimes necessary; a balance between theory and practice should be established.”
When asking the question about what makes teaching at University College Twente so much fun, Martin quickly responds: “The motivated students, no doubt. Students do not study to get a good grade, but because they truly want to understand it, which is very rewarding for teachers.”
University College Twente continues to develop every year, but it is important to keep the focus on what makes it special. Martin: “Combining technology and society within classes and projects is what makes it unique. This is also what students should make use of. Do not choose too soon for only one discipline of master program, but continue to develop your interests in both technology and society. Keep an open mind and use your time at University College Twente to its fullest.”
University College Twente offers a unique bachelor’s programme, Technology, Liberal, Arts and Sciences, to top students. Visit the University College Twente website for more information about the college and Technology, Liberal, Arts and Sciences website for more information about the bachelor program. Or visit us during the open day, a student-for-a-day or an insight-day.
