Wim Veen

Wim Veen is a full professor of Education and Technology at the Delft University of Technology, and responsible for the EduTec section. The aim of EduTec is to teach e-learning and to implement new forms of learning and training in the public and private sector. Veen's research activities focus on the development of new learning concepts.

Changes in the regular education system are not only propagated by the government. To meet new demands from the labour market, clients and students, a growing number of educational institutions are developing new forms of learning that might have an influence on the way organisations are run. Corporate learning is a major focus and together with a team of researchers Wim Veen contributes to the development of new e-services for learning in organisations where new learning needs are emerging. He is convinced future learning cultures will fundamentally change traditional teaching and the roles of all stakeholders in the education field, such as teachers, publishers and other suppliers.

Virtual networks enable self-directed informal learning in the workplace to become a continuous activity. that is directly linked to the company's business targets. In the future, knowledge will no longer be 'managed' by using data bases, but will be stored inside the heads of 'knowledge entrepreneurs' who together form the social capital of an enterprise. Wim Veen takes a particular interest in the net generation and its cyber culture. Young people who grow up with a mouse in their hand and a computer as their first window to the world. He thinks this new generation, Homo Zappiens, is a leading factor in the development of future scenario's for learning and working, organisational, didactic and as regards to content. Wim Veen is a popular keynote speaker at conventions all over the world.

Previously Wim Veen was a didactic teacher trainer at the University of Utrecht. In 1986, he established a research team for the educational application of Information and Communication Technology. He was involved in a great number of national and international projects to introduce computers into schools, develop and translate computer software and make use of telecommunications. He worked as a consultant for public and private organisations, edited a number of books and published many articles on the use of ICT in schools.