Last Monday, May 7th, we published our much anticipated curriculum research “Thinking like an Economist?”! The research investigates to what extent Dutch economics bachelor curricula prepare students well for the role they are about to play in society as economists. The result proved a cause for real concern: while studying economics, students hardly get familiar with what is going on in the economy, are not introduced to different theoretical perspectives, and are hardly challenged to go beyond the smooth assumptions one finds in mainstream textbooks. And that is not only a pity for curious and engaged students; it is also a serious societal problem, as economists should play leading roles in addressing the pressing challenges — poverty, climate change, financial instability, and inequality —that we as a society face today.
To spread this message of concern, our Rethinkers have visited all nine universities that were subject to our research: the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, the Free University, Radboud University Nijmegen, the University of Groningen, Erasmus University, Tilburg University, Wageningen University of Research and the University of Maastricht. At these universities, we offered our published report to those at the heart of the much-needed curriculum reform — professors, deans, program directors, and engaged students.
Our publication and tour was accompanied by the launch of our brand new website, economicseducation.org. When visiting this website, you will not only find a comprehensive overview of what is wrong with Dutch curricula; you will also find alternative educational materials that make studying economics what it should be: inspiring, engaging, messy, and fun! For all of those Rethinkers that feel more comfortable reading Dutch, een Nederlandse versie zal jullie tegemoet treden op 19 mei aanstaande!
Did our publication go unnoticed? Matters that raise serious societal concern shouldn’t - and ours was no exception! Academic Rethinker Ewald Engelen has written this powerful op-ed in which he puts our results in a larger political-ideological context. Sander Heijne, journalist for De Correspondent, was keen as well to shed a light on the relationship between our findings and the larger societal developments. Rethinker Martijn Jeroen van der Linden took the effort to summarise our core findings and list some implications at the well-known Follow the Money platform.
Will this be all for now? Will it blow over like a mild wind? You bet not! If you haven't already, make sure to mark May the 19th in your agenda! RE:NL has been busy organising the big Rethinking Economics Festival at the International Campus of Utrecht University. Registration is here. And in the meantime…you might just come across some of us popping up to further elaborate on our research! Expect the unexpected, and stay tuned!
To spread this message of concern, our Rethinkers have visited all nine universities that were subject to our research: the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, the Free University, Radboud University Nijmegen, the University of Groningen, Erasmus University, Tilburg University, Wageningen University of Research and the University of Maastricht. At these universities, we offered our published report to those at the heart of the much-needed curriculum reform — professors, deans, program directors, and engaged students.
Our publication and tour was accompanied by the launch of our brand new website, economicseducation.org. When visiting this website, you will not only find a comprehensive overview of what is wrong with Dutch curricula; you will also find alternative educational materials that make studying economics what it should be: inspiring, engaging, messy, and fun! For all of those Rethinkers that feel more comfortable reading Dutch, een Nederlandse versie zal jullie tegemoet treden op 19 mei aanstaande!
Did our publication go unnoticed? Matters that raise serious societal concern shouldn’t - and ours was no exception! Academic Rethinker Ewald Engelen has written this powerful op-ed in which he puts our results in a larger political-ideological context. Sander Heijne, journalist for De Correspondent, was keen as well to shed a light on the relationship between our findings and the larger societal developments. Rethinker Martijn Jeroen van der Linden took the effort to summarise our core findings and list some implications at the well-known Follow the Money platform.
Will this be all for now? Will it blow over like a mild wind? You bet not! If you haven't already, make sure to mark May the 19th in your agenda! RE:NL has been busy organising the big Rethinking Economics Festival at the International Campus of Utrecht University. Registration is here. And in the meantime…you might just come across some of us popping up to further elaborate on our research! Expect the unexpected, and stay tuned!
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