Education

The ICO educational programme provides a conceptual basis and organizing framework with the aim of supporting PhD candidates to develop themselves to the highest possible level of professional researcher in the field of education and training. To this end, ICO establishes formal educational structures and networks of PhD candidates together with experienced researchers to build communities of learning and practice.

Course registration regulations
Course registration procedure and fee
Requirements within the educational programme for ICO PhD candidates (full-time and part-time PhDs)

Courses 2025-2026

This table and further information on the courses and dates will be updated in due time.

  • Indicated course days relate to physical meetings, unless otherwise stated
  • To obtain a course certificate, attendance is mandatory on all course days, unless they are optional components.
  • All courses are worth 3 ECTS, unless otherwise stated
  • All courses will take place in Utrecht, unless otherwise stated

Preliminary planning; more information about these courses ánd more courses will be added to this list soon!

Thematic courses 
Theme groupCourse / subjectCourse coordinators/TutorsDates
26-T5Domain-specific education and learningBjörn Wansink (UU),
Michiel Veldhuis (UU)
5 – 6 February
12 – 13 March  2026
Registration deadline: 17 December ‘25  
25-T6Conducting Educational Design ResearchSusan McKenney (UT)
Ruben Vanderlinden (UG)
f-2-f:
2-3 October 2025
11-12 December 2025
Online: 9 November
Registration deadline: 15 August ‘25
FULL  
25-T7Critical Perspectives in Educational and Pedagogical Research  Sanne Akkerman (UU)
Zehra Çolak (UU)
Nina Hosseini (UvA)
Monique Volman (UvA)  
October 31 and November 7
Registration deadline: 19 September 2025
ECTS: t.b.d.
26-PhEPhilosophy of EducationAnders Schinkel (VU)
Michael Merry (UvA)
Johannes Drerup (VU)
Julien Kloeg (EUR)
2, 9, 16 and 23 June 2026
13:00-15:30 h
Registration deadline: 21 April 2026
Location: VU University or Utrecht University, t.b.d.  
General or methodological Courses
25-T1-I BasicsLearning and Instruction: Basics and Beyond (part I – Basics)Michelle Helms-Lorenz (RUG)
Maryam Asoodar (UM)
Anne de Bruijn (VU)
with assistance of Anna Isahakyan (PhD, UM)
Face-2-face meetings:
Introductory meeting, online: week 41 (8/10 or 10/10 – in the morning)
1st meeting, Utrecht week 51 (afternoon of 17/12 or 19/12)
2nd meeting week 10 (afternoon of 4/3/2026 or 6/3/2026).  
Registration deadline: 1 October (ECTS: 2)
25-ICFICO Introductory course Fall 2025Jeroen Janssen (UU)
Boukje Compen (UM)
Liesbeth Kester (UM)
9 October 2025
13 November 2025
Registration deadline: 7 July 2025  
FULL
26-ICSICO Introductory course Spring 2026  Tim Mainhard a.o.t.b.d.
25-MQL-BIntroduction to Qualitative Research – Basics courseMichiel Dam (UL)
Lysanne Post (UL)
12 November 2025
28 November 2025
Location: Leiden
Registration deadline: 1 October 2025
26-MQL-AQualitative research methodology – Advanced Larike Bronkhorst (UU),
Zehra Çolak(UU)
t.b.d. Spring 2026
Event 
25-NSSICO Graduate Spring School 16-17 April 2026

Looking for something else? Also check our page on courses that are given by other parties: Non-ICO Courses