Summary
Martin Mulder (1951) is Emeritus Professor of Education and past chair of the Department of Education and Competence Studies of Wageningen University, the Netherlands. Most of his recent research is in the field of competence-based vocational, professional and higher education, training and development. He edited ‘Competence-Based Vocational and Professional Education. Bridging the Worlds of Work and Education’ (2017, Cham, Switzerland: Springer), and co-edited the Handbook of Vocational Education and Training (2019, Cham, Switzerland: Springer). He (co)authored and edited numerous books and articles in peer-reviewed scientific research journals in the field of vocational education, higher education, teacher education, science and engineering education, technology-enhanced learning, management, entrepreneurship and mainstream educational research. The work of Mulder has been widely acknowledged. He received an Outstanding Reviewer Award of the Journal of Workplace Learning twice (2017 and 2018), the European Researcher of Vocational Education and Training Award by the European Commission (2016), and is founder and honorary member (since 2011) of the Vocational Education and Training Research Network (VETNET) of the European Educational Research Association . Furthermore, he has several Awards more from Dutch, American, Asian, and other European organizations. Martin Mulder has served, and still serves, on a number of editorial committees of international journals, and held various leadership positions in national, European, American and World educational research associations. He has presented his work widely in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Currently he was chair of the Academic Board of NCOI University of Applied Sciences, and is owner-director of MM Consultancy for Education and Training.
Curriculum Vitae Martin Mulder
February 2026
Education
1992
PhD Dissertation University of Twente, the Netherlands.
Advisors: † Em. Prof. dr. Tjeerd Plomp; Em. Prof. dr. Wim J. Nijhof
1982
Master in Educational Sciences at the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Advisors: Dr. Henk A.M. Franssen; Dr. Cees A. van Vilsteren
1974
State Teachers College (Rijks Pedagogische Academie), Meppel, The Netherlands
1971
State HBS-B (pre-university secondary education), Meppel, The Netherlands
1968
MULO-B, Meppel, The Netherlands
Career – positions
2017 – present
Director-owner MM Consultancy for Education and Training, Almelo, The Netherlands
Professor emeritus Education and Competence Studies Wageningen University, The Netherlands
2019 – 2024
Chair of the Academic Board of NCOI University of Applied Sciences, Hilversum, The Netherlands
2016-2018
Member of the Program Council of the Netherlands Qualification Framework, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
2013 – 2019
Member of the Academic Board of NCOI University of Applied Sciences, Hilversum, The Netherlands
2013 – 2015
Visiting Professor University of Toulouse, Business School, Toulouse, France
2004 – 2005
0,75 fte Seconded National Expert at Cedefop (the European Agency for the Development of Vocational Education), Thessaloniki, Greece
1998 – 2017
Full Professor and Head of the chair group of Education and Competence Studies, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
1998 – 2000
0,5 fte Full Professor and Head of the chair group of Education and Competence Studies, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, and
0,5 fte Associate Professor Department of Educational Organisation and Management, Faculty of Educational Science and Technology, University of Twente, The Netherlands
1997 – 2000
Associate Professor, Department of Educational Organisation and Management, Faculty of Educational Science and Technology, University of Twente, The Netherlands
1996 – 1997
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Organisation and Management, Faculty of Educational Science and Technology, University of Twente, The Netherlands
1984 – 1996
Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum Technology, Faculty of Educational Science and Technology, University of Twente, The Netherlands
1983 – 1984
VET expert at the Netherlands Organisation for Teacher Training in Vocational and Technical Education, Ede, The Netherlands
1981-1983
Teacher in research methodology and statistics at the College for Health Care, Leusden, The Netherlands
1981
Teacher trainer at the Teachers College, Utrecht, The Netherlands
1980 – 1983
Curriculum developer and teacher trainer at the Teachers College in Nursing, Leusden, The Netherlands
1974 – 1979
Elementary school teacher and deputy director elementary school De Werkhof at Werkhoven (municipality of Bunnik), The Netherlands
Boards, committees (1995 – 2017)
2016
Chair of International conference Competence Theory, Research and Practice, Wageningen University, Netherlands
2016
Member of the international scientific committee of the iEECBHU conference Varanasi India
2015
Chair assessment committee NRO-NWO
2015
Chair VOR HO and ICT symposium on MOOCs in Wageningen
2015
Co-organiser of the Netherlands Association of Academic Skills Education study day in Wageningen
2015
Chair organization committee AIAEE-ESEE conference in Wageningen
2013 – 2017
Chair Division Higher Education (HO) of the Netherlands Association for Educational Research (VOR)
2013 – 2014
Member of the Supervisory Committee of the Policy Evaluation of the Green Plus Means, Ministry of Economic Affairs
2013 – 2017
Member of Departmental Council, Department of Social Sciences of Wageningen University
2013 – 2014
Chair Dissertation Award Committee American Educational Research Association Special Interest Group Work Place Learning
2013
Immediate-past Chair American Educational Research Association Special Interest Group Work Place Learning
2012 – 2017
Member of the Board of the Education Institute of Wageningen University
2012 – 2017
Chair of the Tenure Track Appointment Advisory Committee Social Sciences Wageningen
2001 – 2017
Chair of the Education Committee of the Mansholt Graduate School
2012
Chair organisation committee Educational Research Days 2012 (ORD2012)
2012
Chair American Educational Research Association Special Interest Group Work Place Learning
2012
Member of the Supervisory Commitee of the 3rd Evaluation of the Measure on Education and Entrepreneurship
2010 – 2012
Chair of Examination Committee Department of Social Sciences Wageningen University
1998 – 2011
Member management team ICO (Research School in Educational Sciences)
2011
Member of Steering Group of Evaluation of the Tenure Track system in Wageningen
2006
Advisor of the Flemish Education Council (on competence developing education)
2006
Member of the test-visitation committee of the EHSAL in Brussels, Belgium
2006
Member of the Visitation Committee for Education in Technology and Management for the University of Groningen, QANU, the Netherlands
2004 – 2005
Member of the Visitation Committee for Education in Technology and Management, Association of Cooperating Dutch Universities (VSNU)
2002 – 2004
Member of the Visitation Committee for Education in Technology and Management, Association of Cooperating Dutch Universities (VSNU)
2001 – 2004
Member of the Board of the Educational Institute of Social Sciences, Wageningen UR
1998 – 2004
Member Advisory Council Training & Development Journal (Netherlands)
1996 – 2004
Member Advisory Council Didacta (Training Trade Show – Netherlands)
2000 – 2003
Member Board Foundation Information Provision Agricultural Education
1999 – 2012
Member of the Interuniversitary Committee for University Teacher Training (VSNU)
2001 – 2002
Commissioner De Boertien Groep, the Netherlands
2001 – 2002
Chair Interdepartemental Committee Entrepreneurship and Education, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Education, The Hague, the Netherlands
1998 – 2002
Co-opted Member Executive Committee European Educational Research Association
1996 – 2002
Chair Division Corporate, Vocational and Adult Education and Training of the Netherlands Association for Educational Research
1996 – 2002
Member General Board of the Netherlands Association for Educational Research
1996 – 2000
Member of the managementteam department Educational Organisation and Management
1996 – 2000
Founder and Chair of the Network for Vocational Education and Training of the European Educational Research Association
1995 – 1999
Secretary of the Board of the Netherlands Association for Educational Research
1995 – 1998
Member of the Board of the Faculty of Educational Science and Technolgy, Associate Dean for Research
2001 – 2002
Chair Interdepartemental Committee Entrepreneurship and Education, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Education, The Hague, the Netherlands
1998 – 2002
Co-opted Member Executive Committee European Educational Research Association
1996 – 1997
European coordinator of the Academy for Human Resource Development
1995 – 1997
Chair of the Special Interest Group Training in Business and Industry of the American Educational Research Association
Research Grants – Program Supervision (2000 – 2017)
| 2013 – 2017 | Team learning and innovation in vocational education (NWO) |
| 2013 – 2014 | Wageningen University Research and Knowledge Sharing (WURKS I) – educational research for green education |
| 2012 – 2016 | Curriculum development and research for education and training in the field of horticulture in Kenya (NUFFIC) |
| 2012 – 2016 | Life Long Learning in Europe (EU – FP7) |
| 2012 – 2013 | Development of Master Track on Sustainable Entrepreneurship (ZHI) |
| 2011 – 2012 | Academics in front of the classroom (Ministry of LNV) |
| 2010 – 2011 | Professional development of teachers in green education (Ministry of LNV) |
| 2008 – 2012 | Argumentation-Based Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning in Higher Education (MSRT) |
| 2008 – 2013 | Western Balkans Rural Extension Network (EU) |
| 2007 – 2011 | Capacity building for sustainable development of horticulture in Ethiopia (2 Working Packages) (NUFFIC) |
| 2006 – 2010 | Capacity Building in the Floriculture Sub Sector in Uganda (2 Working Packages) (NUFFIC) |
| 2006 – 2008 | Entrepreneurship in Higher Agricultural Education (PhD project) (MSRT) |
| 2006 – 2010 | Multidisciplinarity in Food Safety Education (PhD project) (0,5 VHL) |
| 2004 – 2010 | Competence of Open Innovation Professionals (0,5 Mansholt Graduate School) |
| 2004 – 2007 | Research Programme Competence Development in Agriculture (Ministry of LNV) |
| 2004 – 2005 | Research Programma: Knowledge circulation: between research and education (Ministry of LNV) |
| 2003 – 2007 | Computer-supported collaborative learning in Higher Agricultural Education (PhD project) ( MSRT) |
| 2003 – 2006 | Gender equality in universal primary education in Uganda (PhD project) (NUFFIC) |
| 2003 – 2004 | Research Programme Sustainable Entrepreneurship in agriculture (Ministry of LNV) |
| 2003 | Extension of Brainport – Life long learning in agriculture (Ministry of LNV) |
| 2002 – present | Research Programme Competence development (Ministry of LNV) |
| 2002 – 2006 | Competency profiles development for agricultural instructors in Esfahan (PhD project) (MRST) |
| 2002 | Inspiring learning environments for innovative entrepreneurs in horticulture (Ministry of LNV) |
| 2000 | Brainport – Life long learning of workers in agriculture (Ministry of LNV) |
| 2000 – 2001 | Job and Training profiles of purchasing professionals (NEVI) |
| 2000 | Market research for Continuing Training at Wageningen University (WU) |
Experience in teaching courses and facilitating workshops
- Assessing quality of training programs
- Competence-based florist education and training
- Competence-based international education
- Competency profile development
- Cost-benefits and cost-effectiveness of training
- Curriculum development
- Curriculum development
- Designing instructional systems
- Development of vision of education and training in purchasing
- Development of vision of education and training in purchasing
- Education and training in developing countries
- Education in Developing and Changing Societies
- Future of Education
- Human Resource Development and Performance Improvement
- Lifelong learning: care for competence, inspiration and effectiveness in retraining of psychiatrists
- Lifelong learning: care for competence, inspiration and effectiveness in retraining of oncologists
- Lifelong learning: care for competence, inspiration and effectiveness in retraining of psychiatrists
- Lifelong learning: care for competence, inspiration and effectiveness in retraining of oncologists
- Personal development plans
- Personal development plans
- Policy developments in higher education
- Publishing
- Purchasing training programs
- Research methodology and statistics
- Research policy development
- Teacher training
- Tenure Track
- Training consultancy
- Training design
International cooperation
Europe
Western-Southern-Northern Europe (wide coverage); (Former) Eastern-Europe (Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Bulgaria); Western Balkans (FYR of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia);
2004-2005 VET Expert Cedefop – Greece/EU
Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South-Africa
Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam
Northern-America
USA, Canada (wide coverage)
1993 – Visiting Professor University of Syracuse, New York, USA
Latin America
Colombia, Peru
Editorial memberships
2010 -present
Member of the Editorial Committee of The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension (SSCI)
2009 – present
Member of the Editorial Board Vocations and Learning: Studies in Vocational and Professional Education (SSCI)
1996 – present
Member of the Editorial board of the International Journal of Training and Development (peer reviewed)
1990 – present
Member of the Editorial board of the Journal of European Industrial Training (peer reviewed)
2001 – 2010
Chair of the Editorial Committee of the European Journal of Vocational Training (Cedefop; 5-languages; published until 2009) (peer reviewed)
2001 – 2006
Chair of Editorial Committee of The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension (peer reviewed)
1999 – 2001
Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Schweizerischen Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaften (peer reviewed)
2000 – 2001
Member of the Editorial Committee of The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension (peer reviewed)
1999 – 2000
Member of the Editorial Committee of The Learner
1997 – 2000
Editor of the European Educational Researcher (of the European Educational Research Association)
1999 – 2001
Member of the Editorial Committee of the European Journal of Vocational Training (Cedefop; peer reviewed)
1996 – 2000
Member of the Editorial Committee of the Journal for Educational Research (peer reviewed) (Dutch)
1987 – 1998
Member of the Editorial Committee of Opleiding & Ontwikkeling (Training & Development – Dutch)
