WIMEK Transformative Research for Sustainability Challenges

Contact

Contact person: AJ (Anouk) de Plaa MSc
Lecturers:

• Josephine Chambers (UU)
• Esther Turnhout (UT)
• Maria Tengo (SRC)
• Jeanne Nel (WUR)
• Anouk de Plaa (WUR)
• Esha Shah (WUR)
• Jessica Duncan (WUR)
• Jonas Colen Torrens (UU)
• Jillian Student (WUR)
• Ruth Brennan (Trinity College Dublin)
• Marja Spierenburg (LU)

Scope

“Transformative Research for Sustainability Challenges” provides PhD candidates with exciting concepts and methods to enhance the potential of their research to beneficially contribute to society and the environment. Participants are guided through a process designed to surface and examine fundamental assumptions that underpin their research approaches, to inspire future trajectories both within and beyond their PhD. This course is taught by a range of scholars in Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Utrecht University (UU), University of Twente (UT), Leiden University (LU) and Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC), who will guide students through critical concepts, methodological innovations, and tricky dilemmas that have challenged and enabled their own work. The course content focuses on four main aspects of transformative research identified in the 71 Visions Report. This course received an Education Innovation Award in 2021, and is supported by WIMEK and the Urban Futures Studio.

Main aspects of transformative research: Video

Education innovation award: Video

Aims and Learning goals

After the course, students should be able to:

• Explore different approaches to transformative research in case studies that aim to bring about just and sustainable futures. 
• Develop skills to evaluate how key aspects of research design, implementation, analysis and communication affect the contribution of research to addressing sustainability challenges.
• Build knowledge, confidence and ability to apply transformative processes /methods in your own present and future research and navigate emerging challenges to maximize its beneficial impacts.
• Connect with a growing network of diverse researchers to further your inspiration and capability to undertake transformative research in collaboration with others.

Assumed knowledge

No previous knowledge is assumed. All who are enrolled as a doctoral candidate (at any university) at the time of this course are welcome to apply.

Outline of the course

The introduction to the course is split across two days to explore: what is “transformative research", and what roles does it entail? This will be followed by full-day trainings, on the topics of pluralizing, empowering, politicizing and embedding research in society, and one final day of harvesting collective insights. The course involves the following main components:

•    Lectures and dynamic exercises that explore transformative concepts and methods, delivered by a broad range of scholars undertaking transformative approaches in their research
•    In-depth engagement with novel case studies that involve diverse societal actors to transform possible futures
•    Crafting of your own personal narrative of how your research can contribute to just and sustainable futures
•    Participation in peer-to-peer learning sessions and walks
•    Home study (readings, videos, writing) in between sessions
•    Informal social interactions with peers and teaching team

General information

Participants selection

Note that we are aiming for a diverse group of PhD candidates and have a maximum of 35 participants; hence, places for the course will be decided based on the motivation of the PhD candidate when registering, and a good balance in disciplinary backgrounds. We will select participants based on 1) the diversity of interested PhD candidates, such as in terms of scientific background, research focus, and institute and 2) on the answers to the following questions in the registration form: 

1. Why do you want to take this specific course? And why now? (max 250 words)
2. What does 'transformative research' mean to you? (max 250 words)

We will contact you on the outcome of the selection procedure by early October 2026. Please note that after being selected for the course, your registration becomes final, which means that payment of the course fee will be required, and the cancellation policy will apply. 

Registration

Registration is open from 20/08/2026 to 27/09/2026 The first step to register is to fill out this form 

If you are selected for the course you will receive a link to the official registration form.

We will contact you on the outcome of the selection procedure by early October 2026. Please note that after being selected for the course, your registration becomes final, which means that payment of the course fee will be required, and the cancellation policy will apply.

Course duration

2 weeks

Credit points

3 ECTS

Language

English

Group size

20-35 people

Fee

The course fee includes: the course, a drinks reception with all participants and lecturers, 7 lunches, coffee and tea during breaks, and a dinner with all participants and lecturers.

The course fee does not include travel, accommodation and all other meals. We will share details on affordable accommodation.

Scholarships

We are pleased to offer three partial scholarships to support the participation of PhD candidates from institutions based in the Global South. These scholarships will cover accommodation and the course fee. Travel and meals are not covered by the scholarship. If you want to apply for this scholarship, you can indicate this on the registration form. You will be informed by early October 2026 if you are selected for this scholarship.

Cancellation conditions

•    Up to 10 (ten) weeks prior to the start of the course, cancellation is free of charge.
•    Up to 6 (six) weeks prior to the start of the course a fee of 50% will be charged.
•    Up to 4 (four) weeks prior to the start of the course the full fee will be charged.

Note: If you would like to cancel your registration, ALWAYS inform us.
Also note that when there are not enough participants, we can cancel the course. We will inform you if this is the case a week after the registration deadline. Please take this into account when arranging your trip to the course (I.e. check the re-imbursement policies).