ICO introduces new membership: Affiliate fellow

ICO has introduced a new membership category: the Affiliate Fellow. This development creates a formal position within the ICO community for educational scientists who are not employed by an ICO university but who actively contribute to ICO’s activities and academic mission.

Until now, there has been no appropriate membership status for researchers outside ICO universities who would be eligible to play an active role within the organisation, such as lecturers or theme group coordinators. In addition, PhD supervisors working at universities of applied sciences and other higher education institutions have expressed a wish to become more closely involved in ICO.

At present, these researchers may remain connected to ICO as alumni. However, ICO alumni status is intended for former PhD members who primarily wish to stay informed via the ICO newsletter, and who are not employed in a research position at an ICO university. Alumni do not hold an active role within ICO. As a result, this designation does not adequately reflect the contributions of educational scientists who are actively engaged in ICO’s academic work.

The introduction of the Affiliate Fellow addresses this gap. The admission requirements for Affiliate Fellows will be aligned with those of ICO Fellows, with one important distinction: an appointment at an ICO university will no longer be mandatory. As with existing Fellowships, candidates will be assessed against ICO’s established quality standards, ensuring that academic rigour and research excellence remain central.

Importantly, the guidelines for ICO PhD membership remain unchanged. For PhD candidates to become ICO members, at least one of their supervisors must be an ICO Fellow or Senior Fellow. Supervisory teams may also include Associate or Affiliate ICO Fellows. This approach ensures that the formal responsibility for PhD training continues to rest with the universities, safeguarding quality assurance within the existing academic framework.

Benefits for HBO Researchers

For researchers at universities of applied sciences (HBO institutions), the new Affiliate Fellowship offers formal recognition of their role in PhD supervision and academic collaboration within ICO. It provides a clearer professional identity within the network and enables more active engagement in ICO’s research community, including participation in theme groups and broader scholarly exchange.

The new membership also creates a structured pathway for lecturers and external supervisors to contribute to and benefit from ICO’s academic environment, strengthening ties between universities and universities of applied sciences.

Benefits for ICO

For ICO, the introduction of the Affiliate Fellow category broadens the organisation’s active membership base. By welcoming educational scientists from outside its member universities, ICO expands its academic network and, consequently, the network available to its PhD candidates.

Moreover, by formally admitting external supervisors without altering its core membership structure, ICO positions itself for the future. The new category enables the organisation to recognise and include high-quality contributions from beyond the university sector, while maintaining its established standards and governance framework.

With the introduction of the Affiliate ICO Fellow, ICO reinforces its commitment to inclusivity, academic quality and collaborative research, ensuring that all active contributors to its mission have an appropriate and recognised place within the community.

If you want to join ICO as an Affiliate Fellow, check our website on ICO membership for fellows and alumni.