Good news: StudentLines is launching! Starting January 1, 2026, Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the University of Groningen (RUG) will collaborate for four years on this major initiative. Together, they are committed to strengthening the connection between education, research, and the labor market.
StudentLines lays the foundation for improved education and strong career prospects in the Northern Netherlands. They will achieve this by developing a regional infrastructure that brings together people with educational questions and educational data. In a safe and responsible way, we will use this data to research how students, from secondary vocational education (MBO) to research universities (WO), learn, progress, and find their place in the labor market. Themes such as student success, well-being, and engagement are central, and the research will result in practical tools for educational innovation.
Developing and retaining talent for the region
The goal is to develop and retain talent in the region by creating stronger alignment between educational institutions and the professional field. By making smart use of educational data and student experiences, we aim to drive meaningful educational innovation. In doing so, StudentLines supports lecturers, researchers, policymakers, and students. By gaining better insight into what works in education, institutions can invest more effectively in student success, well-being, and opportunities within the region.
In the longer term, other universities of applied sciences (HBO), vocational (MBO), and secondary education (VO) institutions may join under the umbrella of the University of the North, allowing StudentLines to grow into a broad regional knowledge platform. The funding confirms the importance of regional collaboration and gives Groningen the opportunity to structurally strengthen educational innovation.
StudentLines projects within Hanze
The National Program Groningen (NPG) has awarded a €4 million grant for StudentLines, and both participating institutions are providing substantial co-financing. RUG acts as the lead applicant and coordinating institution. Within Hanze, the project is anchored at the Centre for Talent and Learning, but it will be implemented across the entire university. Together, they will work on various work packages and set up PhD and pilot projects focusing on communication, ethics, well-being, labor market transitions, and talent development. Student involvement and collaboration are central throughout.
Hanze and RUG collaborate on all work packages within the project, with Hanze taking primary responsibility for four:
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External synergy and further development – Professorship in Labor Market Transitions
How do we connect StudentLines with other projects and build a regional infrastructure for educational data? -
Communication and user experience – Professorship in Communication, Behaviour & the Sustainable Society
How do we ensure that students, researchers, policymakers, and the professional field are aware of and actively use StudentLines? -
Legal aspects and ethics – Professorship in Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship
How can we use educational data safely, structurally, and in compliance with the GDPR within the regional context? -
Longitudinal data and scope – Professorship in Talent Development in Higher Education and Society
What relevant data should be collected over time in relation to student success, student career paths, and well-being? How does this relate to data that is already being collected?
In addition, the following Hanze research groups are involved in PhD projects within StudentLines: Learning in Learning Communities, Talent Development in Higher Education and Society, and Labor Market Transitions.
Spurce article and picture: Hanze
