| Email: | wolfensberger@geo.uu.nl |
| Institution: | Utrecht University/Hanzehogeschool Groningen |
| Address: | Faculty of Geosciences, The Netherlands |
| Phone: | |
| Institution Type: | Public Research University, 49 Bachelors (3 years) & 196 Master ProgramsUndergraduate Enrolment University Utrecht: 6500Undergraduate Enrolment Geography & Planning: 200 (Geosciences total 430) |
| Program Type: | Disciplinary Honors Program within Department, & honors within Faculty & within university. |
| Program Enrollment: | Geography & Planning: 15 (total freshmen enrolment: 190)Total Geo Faculty: 21 (total freshmen enrolment: 400)Active University Honors Enrolment: 350? (total freshmen enrolment 6500) |
| Previous Honors Positions: | Senior advisor education honors programs at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Amsterdam (2003 – 2005). Co-founder and board member of the Dutch Plusnetwerk (2001-2007), present: sleeping organisation. Professor at Christelijk Gymnasium Utrecht High School & Secondary School (1991-1999) with special projects for advanced courses and gifted education. |
| Present Position: | Professor Talent development in Higher Education and SocietyProfessor at Hanzehogeschool Gronigen |
| NCHC Member Since: | 2003 |
- I visited 4 NCHC conferences and participated in a panel and joined and gave workshops and presented papers.
- I visited approximately 15 honors programs throughout the States.
- I wrote 2 articles in the Journal of NCHC; and a chapter in the celebrating teaching & learning book. Students wrote also an article in the Honors in Practice Journal.
- I am a member of the Research Committee
Activities in other areas or organizations related to honors assessment or site visits, workshops, etc. regarding honors programs/colleges and/or other academic areas:
- Professor Talent development in Higher Education and Society at the Hanzehogeschool Utrecht (2009 – present). Wolfensberger set up a research group on the theme. Eleven tenured researchers are working in her institute. Besides research, they give advice, work on faculty development and create & teach courses. On her wish list are (inter)national conferences on honours, more publishing and sharing on honours education.
- Member of the Advisory and Assessment Committee Sirius, a national board to assess and advice higher institutional projects aiming at evoking excellence (2008-present)
- Designer, director and lecturer honors program at the Faculty of Geosciences,
Utrecht University (1997 – present). Wolfensberger set up the honors program in 1997. Since then, almost 200 students have participated in the program, and it has been structurally implemented by the Faculty of Geosciences. In 2000 Wolfensberger received a national award for educational innovation (‘ISO-prize’) from the Dutch Secretary of Education. Wolfensberger is one of the main educators of the honors program. - The content and character of the honorsprogram are such that besides academic knowledge, active learning, developingresponsibility (leadership, initiative, ethical reflection), and communication andpresentation skills are encouraged. An international academic experience can be part of the honors program, amongst others through conducting research in a foreign country.
- John Zubizaretta site visited the program in 2005. Together with an honors team, Wolfensberger wrote one of the winning national faculty proposals of Ruim Baan voor Talent and got half a million dollars (2005). She helped the faculty and Utrecht University with the second round called Sirius. This Sirius project will start end of 2008. Utrecht University was again one of the winning proposals and will get 5 million dollars from the government; 5 million will be matching money. On her wish list for the Geographical honors program are more activities executed by honors alumni and a stronger relation with secondary schools and master programs.
- Senior advisor education honors programs at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Amsterdam (2003 – 2005). Wolfensberger’s mission was to develop honors programs throughout the University of Amsterdam. Within one year, seven Faculties started disciplinary honors programs. In addition the University of Amsterdam decided to also create a university-wide interdisciplinary honors program. Wolfensberger was also involved in faculty development, for more example on the development of interdisciplinary courses. She developed (and gives) a leadership course to relate ethical and personal questions to education.
- Research on the field of honors and excellence within Higher Education in the Netherlands began end nineties. Wolfensberger began publishing on this theme in 2003. Wolfensberger’s research activities entail an international comparative research on honors programs. Together with the Plusnetwerk she wrote a national research proposal which was honoured (218,000 dollars) and was involved in this multi-institutional research project on honors during 2004-2008. Her work has been published in (inter)national professional magazines and specialist journals. She wants more research time and more (inter)national collaboration on the field.
- Site-visiting experiences go back to 2001 when a group of 4 including Wolfensberger established the Dutch Plusnetwerk (little sister from NCHC). Since then Wolfensberger is asked on a regular basis for informal site-visits and advice. She was connected with the national Ruim Baan voor Talent program. Now, She is one of the five members of the National Assessment Committee for Sirius. This Committee assessed 37 institutional proposals how to evoke excellence in Higher Education and prepared the advice for the minister of Education. She visited around 15 honors programs around the United States and 1in Canada in order to get an international view on honors. Also she has connections with the Danish and German (Bayern’s) initiatives on honors. Doing more official (inter)national site-visiting is on her wish list.
- Relation with secondary and gifted education. Wolfensberger was a geography teacher and class tutor at the ’Christelijk Gymnasium’, Utrecht (secondary school) (1991 – 1999). Next to the normal curriculum Wolfensberger developed projects amongst others about the United Nations and social equality, excursions (e.g. Paris), interdisciplinary and extracurricular activities and special projects for the gifted. Several of her pupils won prices in het National Geographic Olympiad. She gave a workshop at the World Council on Gifted and Talented children, Warwick, 2007.
- Other activities concerning honors: She had been involved in and co-responsible for the contents and execution of in-depth consultations, expert meetings, institutes, study days and conferences in the field of talent development. She initiated a national inventory of honors programs at universities the Netherlands, including policy advice with respect to talent development and education consultations (2001 – present). There is a carefully beginning of setting up training modules for university lecturers in the field of talent development: teaching strategies for talented students. Also an expertise Centrum for Research on Excellence in Higher Education is on the wish list.
Board memberships and voluntary work (both limited to honors)
- Core member and co-founder (2000) of the “+Network”, the national academic platform for honors programs (2000 – present). Its aim is to cooperate and to promote the circulation of knowledge on honors programs.
- Member of the board of directors of the “Nationale Aardrijkskunde Olympiade”, the Dutch Geographical Olympiad for secondary school students (1996-2006). The board organises this test every year. 2100 students from 150 secondary schools participate in this test.
- Member of the Research Committee of NCHC (small task).
- Advisory and Assessment Committee Sirius, a national board to assess and advice institutional.
Other activities relevant to those seeking honors program/college site visitors:
I will bring an international and interdisciplinary view from Europe on your honors program. Flying Costs from Amsterdam are not so high any more. I am passionate about education and I celebrate teaching and learning every day of my life. I do also research on the topic of evoking excellence (by honours education) within Higher Education. The power of melting research results and education practices is great. It would be wonderful sharing experiences. A site visit can really help you to improve your honors experience. I feel honoured if I may be part of your growth.
Besides English I speak Dutch, French and a bit German. See also my abbreviated curriculum vitae.
Marca Wolfensberger Curriculum Vitae
On the Role of the Site Visitor as Consultants & Program Reviewers
It is my dream that every student entering Higher Education who is motivated and gifted can join an honors program or honors college. I believe a good learning environment creates excellent students. Site visiting can help every honor program to evoke excellence among faculty, administers and students.
I am an educator. I believe people enjoy learning and appreciate learning during their entire lives. For my site visiting is a life long learning process. I give people a safe haven and space to develop, to learn and to bring out the best in them. I support the idea that people should express themselves creatively, that they travel in order to discover their world, and thus be able to form their own ideas. International contacts are in my eyes a guide to forming wisdom. We are in need of world citizens committed to make a difference. International site visiting can underline this vision.
I am professor of the Institute Excellence in Higher Education and Society at Hanzeschool Groningen. Our group consists of 12 people (tenured) and freelancers. I do research (PhD), and publish work. I am part of an international community, which is actively involved in research into (honors) education. I am respected for my knowledge and capabilities. I enjoy establishing and maintaining contacts in order to learn together, and pass this knowledge on. Collaboration is a source of pleasure for me. All the exciting activities within education test my tenacity because my focus on writing for high ranked journals (PhD) diminished, but now I am on track again. I enjoy writing and feel it is important to publish my work. The goal of my research is to promote educational contexts within which people enjoy learning, are motivated and strive for excellence. Site visiting can help honors to be ongoing and dynamic so the spin off to the regular program sparks all students.
My teaching is filled with stories, based on research, and is focused on personal freedom and growth. Autonomy, competency and relationships are central in my teaching. Professor and student carry a shared responsibility. Honors teaching can be challenging, surprising, fun and sets high standards. Site visiting can shine new lights on existing curricula.
I enjoy organizing and initiating extra activities. I aim my work is productive, that students, professors and supporting staff feel valued. I shape the different aspects of my work with care and respect – teaching, faculty development, development of honors programs, consultations and my research. I challenge people so that it may promote growth. Sometimes I may be too direct and a Dutch ‘aunt’. Site visiting is my commitment to the inviting institution – helping by giving feedback.
Love is my key to life. I am committed to the people around me and deal carefully with my promises, although sometimes I say ‘yes’ too often. I highly respect my parents and cherish my friends. I love horseback riding, walking, and enjoy traveling. I believe in God, regularly go to Church, and discuss this with others. I have the courage to stand up for myself and for my loved ones. Site visiting is a way to use my gifts to encourage others.
I am the mother of Marek, Mere and Renard. I joke with them, hug and go for walks with them. Sanne is my loving husband and I support him with all due respect. We are together as a family, laugh a lot, are outside often, and everyone is of equal importance. We live in a beautiful house filled with history which we share with others. I am proud of the fact that we have managed to form an involved and active family. Site visiting is my contribution to tomorrow’s world.
Marca Wolfensberger
