Fontys Secures €200,000 in Comenius Grants for Education Innovation
Eindhoven, Thursday, 19 June 2025.
Fontys University received €200,000 in Comenius grants to enhance teaching and student engagement. Projects funded aim to innovate educational approaches, with a focus on inclusivity and practical learning.
Fontys University Awarded Comenius Grants
Fontys University has been granted a significant boost in funding, receiving three Comenius grants totaling €200,000. These grants, awarded on 17 June 2025, include two grants of €50,000 each and one of €100,000. The primary aim of these grants is to foster educational innovations that enhance teaching quality and student engagement across various projects at Fontys [1][2].
Focused Funding for Innovative Projects
The sole recipient of the €100,000 grant, Marlinde Melissen, a lecturer-researcher in Social Pedagogy, intends to develop a learning environment that empowers youth professionals with the necessary skills and influence to affect children’s lives positively. This initiative prioritizes children’s voices and their interests, which are often overlooked in formal educational structures [1].
Projects Promoting Inclusivity and Embodied Learning
Among the €50,000 grants, one is dedicated to the Inclusiecafé, managed by Yucata Lienga and Karin Verouden. This initiative addresses inclusivity by discussing challenging societal themes and aims to ensure that no groups are marginalized within the educational framework. Another portion of the funding goes to Zeynep Gündüz from the Fontys Academy of the Arts. Her project introduces a new pedagogical framework for Dance Arts in Context, integrating theoretical content with embodied learning. This innovative approach emphasizes the importance of physical embodiment in the learning process, promising a paradigmatic shift in arts education [1].
Impact on Dutch Education System
The Comenius Programme, under which these grants are awarded, seeks to enhance educational quality across vocational, higher, and academic education in the Netherlands. It emphasizes professional development, recognizing and supporting passionate educators in their careers. Fontys University’s achievement in securing these grants highlights its commitment to educational renewal and improvement [1][2].