Hello everyone! My name is Adina Imanbayeva, and I am originally from Astana, Kazakhstan. My academic journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in Hungary. Throughout my studies, I had the opportunity to volunteer and teach in different countries, which deepened my interest in education. Driven by my passion for innovative learning, I moved to the Netherlands to pursue a Master’s in Educational Science and Technology at the University of Twente. During this time I became particularly interested in transdisciplinary learning and creating impact in and through education.
During my studies, I worked as a project assistant at the European Consortium of Innovative Universities, where I supported the development of Challenge-Based Learning practices and helped disseminate emerging knowledge on CBL. This experience led me to my current role as an Educational Development Officer at UT, where I support teachers in their continuous professional development, with a particular focus on innovative teaching approaches.
Building on this expertise, I started my PhD last year with the support of 4TU.CEE and UT’s Centre of Expertise in Learning and Teaching. My research focuses on Student Empowerment in Higher Engineering Education.
I aim to develop a professional development intervention that supports teachers in fostering student empowerment. Currently, I am working on conceptualising student empowerment and exploring effective learning and teaching methods that promote it. My PhD is supervised by Klaasjan Visscher and Cindy Poortman as my promotors, with Marcus Pereira Pessoa and Robin de Graaf as my co-promotors.
Beyond my academic work, I love to travel, explore new hobbies, and spend time with my cuddly cat. I look forward to further connecting with the 4TU.CEE community!