Chair of Entrepreneurial Learning

About the chair

Through this chair, we aim to develop scientific design principles that can be applied to the support, coaching, and guidance of part-time self-employed professionals. The goal is to foster entrepreneurial growth and facilitate a responsible transition to full-time self-employment.

About the research

A partnership between VUB, HOGENT and Xerius

This chair provides a PhD student with the opportunity to develop a design-focused thesis. It builds on the long-standing collaboration between the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and HOGENT, combining the fundamental knowledge of universities with the practical expertise of colleges, creating powerful synergies.

This multidisciplinary partnership enables the rapid implementation of innovative solutions. College students benefit from the university's scientific depth, while university students gain valuable hands-on experience through applied research at HOGENT. This not only drives innovation but also broadens the societal impact of the research.

Objectives of the chair

Over a four-year period, the chair aims to achieve the following goals:

Year 1: Explore the experiences of individuals starting out as hybrid entrepreneurs.

Year 2: Develop and test a guidance and coaching program for self-employed professionals and college students.

Year 3: Finalize the program.

Year 4: Develop and optimize the implementation strategy for the program.

Donor

The chair is funded by Xerius.

Academic coordinator

Prof. dr. Nico De Witte, with a PhD in Educational Sciences, brings extensive experience in researching societal challenges and innovative solutions. His areas of expertise include vulnerability, malnutrition, loneliness, and the quality of life for the elderly.