Erik Kats

I am a sociologist of education. I work at the Centre for research and development in education and life long learning (PLATO) of Leiden University.My main field of study as a lecturer and researcher at Leiden University is the transformation of organisations in a knowledge economy and the resulting consequences for professional development. In a number of projects I focused on the qualities of the working environment as a learning environment.

I obtained my doctorate with a dissertation on developments in evaluation research and practice-oriented research. That kind of research can support organizational development through discovering and mobilizing the learning potential of organizations.

I have over 30 years of teaching experience at the university. I lectured classes on subjects as: ‘Learning in organisations’ and ‘Social research and organisational development’.

As a co-ordinator of my branch of study I concerned myself a.o. with the implementation of the bachelor-master system, with the introduction of major-minor combinations, and with the evaluation of curricula. I have laid the foundation of one of the first experiments with a dual study programme in university education. In such a dual programme the study trajectory is integrated with a formative work trajectory in professional practice. I played a leading role in the constitution of the national consultative of dual disciplines within the association of universities in the Netherlands (VSNU).

Some examples of research projects that I took part in:
• Research for the European Union into developments in the field of vocational and non-vocational life long learning and the roles of the educational professionals involved.
• Research into the organisation of special and regular education and the possibilities of ‘inclusive education’, coaching of the experts involved and support of their professional development.
• Evaluation-research into management development at the Ministry of Economic Affairs
• Action-research into technical change as a social learning process in a pharmaceutic enterprise.
• Evaluation-research into the innovated curriculum of the institute for architecture of the Technical University Delft
• Research into the attitudes and expertise of staff in the health services regarding relationships with clients from ethnic minorities.