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Call for Proposals 2023

The TU Delft Open Science programme puts a strong emphasis on developing Open Education as one of its main project pillars. Open education brings together educational innovations such as the increasing role of digital technologies in education, blended learning, and the increasing of students’ autonomy in educational processes, and couples these with values of diversity and inclusion. Identical to last year, all TU Delft teaching staff are encouraged to submit a proposal for Open Education projects for a funding of up to EUR 20,000 , with a project term of a maximum of 1 year. Open from 13 September - 24 November 2023 For all teaching staff working at faculties of TUDelft Project budget max EUR 20,000 Goals TU Delft aims to increase the prevalence of Open Education throughout the university’s bachelor and master programs. To this end, the Open Science Programme is looking for staff who are interested in starting up innovative projects that focus on creating Open Educational Resources (OER), and on developing and adopting teaching practices that increase the students’ involvement via the use of OER. The following type of activities fall under the scope of this Call: Publishing innovative self-made teaching materials, such as interactive open textbooks or open educational resources; Educating teaching staff about (the benefits of) finding, selecting and using already existing open educational resources; The development and implementation of innovative open educational practices that involve students in the development of OER and other materials that can be made available publicly (e.g. podcasts, blogposts, articles); Documentation, publication, dissemination and/or upscaling of already existing innovative open educational practices. Proposals for other types of open education related projects are also accepted, however, applicants are encouraged to inquire whether their envisioned project is something that could fall under the scope of this Call for Proposals. We strongly encourage the submission of proposals from project teams that represent multiple faculties of TU Delft. For inquiries, please contact Michiel de Jong , the Open Education coordinator. Who can apply All teaching staff of the eight faculties of TU Delft can submit a Proposal. In order to be eligible, applicants are required to have an active working relationship with TU Delft at the time of application and for the whole duration of the proposed project. In addition, all applicants need explicit approval from their head(s) of department for the project and the proposed time investment required by the applicants. This is done by adding a support letter from the department heads of all involved project members to the proposal. A template for the support letter from the department head is found here . One of the goals of this call is to increase the number of practitioners of Open Education within TU Delft. For that reason, project leaders of projects that were awarded last year’s fund are not eligible to apply as project leader again this year . They can be involved as project members. Budget and additional support The Open Science Programme offers a budget of up to EUR 20,000 per accepted project proposal. If the project budget extends beyond this limit, the department(s) of the applicant(s) can offer to supplement the budget with funding from other sources. Such agreements need to be made prior to the submission of the Proposal, and a support letter from the faculty needs to be attached to the Application Form that specifically mentions this. In addition to the budget, project members are encouraged to make use of the Library’s Open Education related services, which includes support with copyright matters and open licenses, similarity check of materials to be published, and finding suitable platforms and repositories for hosting and showcasing Open Educational Resources. Requirements Project members will be required to publish all materials produced in the project with a CC BY 4.0 license, unless valid reasons apply to use another licensing type. In case a CC BY license cannot be used, the project members need to consult the Open Education coordinator , in order to make agreements about which license is used. Project members will also be required to disseminate information both about the project process and about the results of the project at TU Delft’s Education Day and at the Open Education Week. Additionally, the project members will be asked to publish an article about their project in The Educator, the Teaching Academy’s monthly newsletter, with the help of the library communications team. Application process Project proposals should be written using the Application Form. The Call is open for application until 24 November 2023, 24:00. The applicants will be notified of the reviewers’ decision before 12 January 2024. Projects should start no later than February 2024. The application form includes a template for writing work packages. A proposal should include work packages on project management and sustainability, as well as 1-3 project specific work packages. In addition to the Application Form, applicants are required to submit a Support Letter from their Head(s) of Department. For this purpose, the template provided should be used. After submission, your proposal will be shared with the Review Board of the Stimulation Fund for review and with the faculty blended and online learning coordinators, for their information. Applicants can send their grant application form to openscience@tudelft.nl Any questions about the application process can be addressed to Michiel de Jong , the Open Education coordinator. Evaluation criteria Proposals will be evaluated by a review board with representatives of all eight faculties of TU Delft, based on the following five criteria, using a 0-3 point scale for each criterion: Relevance (Does the project address an existing problem?) Originality (Does project propose a new way of dealing with the defined problem?) Feasibility (Are the goals of the project achievable within the financial and time limitations of the Call?) Impact (How many teachers and/or students are served by the project? Does the project also serve people outside the faculty and/or TU Delft?) Collaboration (Is there collaboration between faculties? Or between students and teachers?) Project proposals will be evaluated after the submission deadline. Those proposals which reach a minimum of 9 points out of 15 will be considered for a grant. Please consult the evaluation rubric for more information on the evaluation criteria. Appendix A: Rubric for evaluation criteria Contact and walk-in consultation hours Applicants can send their grant application form to openscience@tudelft.nl . If you have questions, please feel free to drop in during one of the walk-in consultation hours in the TU Delft Teaching Lab! 25 September 12:30 – 13:30 hrs 31 October from 16:00 – 17:00 hrs Or contact Michiel de Jong , the Open Education coordinator, TU Delft Library. Application form - Open Education Stimulation Fund 2023 Template Support Letter - Open Education Stimulation Fund 2023

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How system safety can make Machine Learning systems safer in the public sector

Machine Learning (ML), a form of AI where patterns are discovered in large amounts of data, can be very useful. It is increasingly used, for example, in chatbot Chat GPT, facial recognition, or speech software. However, there are also concerns about the use of ML systems in the public sector. How do you prevent the system from, for example, discriminating or making large-scale mistakes with negative effects on citizens? Scientists at TU Delft, including Jeroen Delfos, investigated how lessons from system safety can contribute to making ML systems safer in the public sector. “Policymakers are busy devising measures to counter the negative effects of ML. Our research shows that they can rely much more on existing concepts and theories that have already proven their value in other sectors,” says Jeroen Delfos. Jeroen Delfos Learning from other sectors In their research, the scientists used concepts from system safety and systems theory to describe the challenges of using ML systems in the public sector. Delfos: “Concepts and tools from the system safety literature are already widely used to support safety in sectors such as aviation, for example by analysing accidents with system safety methods. However, this is not yet common practice in the field of AI and ML. By applying a system-theoretical perspective, we view safety not only as a result of how the technology works, but as the result of a complex set of technical, social, and organisational factors.” The researchers interviewed professionals from the public sector to see which factors are recognized and which are still underexposed. Bias There is room for improvement to make ML systems in the public sector safer. For example, bias in data is still often seen as a technical problem, while the origin of that bias may lie far outside the technical system. Delfos: “Consider, for instance, the registration of crime. In neighbourhoods where the police patrol more frequently, logically, more crime is recorded, which leads to these areas being overrepresented in crime statistics. An ML system trained to discover patterns in these statistics will replicate or even reinforce this bias. However, the problem lies in the method of recording, not in the ML system itself.” Reducing risks According to the researchers, policymakers and civil servants involved in the development of ML systems would do well to incorporate system safety concepts. For example, it is advisable to identify in advance what kinds of accidents one wants to prevent when designing an ML system. Another lesson from system safety, for instance in aviation, is that systems tend to become more risky over time in practice, because safety becomes subordinate to efficiency as long as no accidents occur. “It is therefore important that safety remains a recurring topic in evaluations and that safety requirements are enforced,” says Delfos. Read the research paper .

Boosting sustainable building education

Boosting sustainable building education in The Netherlands On 17 September, TU Delft launched a new initiative to implement sustainable building practices across the Dutch educational landscape by bringing together educators from Dutch vocational institutions (MBO) and TU Delft lecturers. Last week, the kick-off event at The Green Village on the TU Delft campus brought together 10 educators from MBO institutions and lecturers from TU Delft’s Sustainable Building with Timber MOOC. Educating for impact From September to December 2024, the MBO educators will participate in the MOOC as students: watching videos, completing course exercises, and submitting assignments. Additionally, they will engage in online sessions guided by TU Delft lecturers, who provide subject matter expertise, and an educational expert supporting the online learning process. From December through June 2025, the focus will shift to creating adaptable and open teaching resources specifically developed for MBO institutions. A ripple effect By equipping teachers with the tools and knowledge to teach sustainable building, the initiative supports the transition to more environmentally responsible practices within the building industry. The knowledge shared through this programme, made possible in collaboration with Leren voor Morgen and the MBO Raad (Council for schools of vocational education and training ), will shape the future workforce and contribute to a more sustainable world. While initially targeting a limited number of MBO institutions, the initiative’s impact is expected to extend far beyond. As educators integrate the materials into their curricula, the knowledge will reach future generations of students, amplifying the long-term influence of the project. Sustainable Building with Timber MOOC Course information A two-way learning process This mutually beneficial project embodies lifelong learning. MBO teachers gain access to cutting-edge teaching materials on building with timber, while TU Delft benefits from the practical insights these practitioners bring from the field. This knowledge exchange enhances vocational education and strengthens TU Delft’s research and teaching. Open resources for lasting impact A key goal of the project is to create open-access, customisable teaching materials, enabling educators to tailor content to meet the specific needs of their institutions and students. This flexible approach fosters the teaching of sustainable building techniques. Acknowledgements Heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in making this initiative possible. Together, we are laying the foundations for a more sustainable future.

Three Students Nominated for the ECHO award

Three TU Delft students have been nominated for the ECHO Award 2024. The ECHO award is awarded to students with a non-western background who are actively engaged in society. Sibel, TJ and Pravesha talk about their background their nomination. The finalists will be selected on September 27th. Sibel Gökbekir How has your background influenced your academic journey? As a woman with Turkish roots, my academic journey has been about more than just pursuing degrees in engineering and law; it’s been about consistently advocating for the diverse needs of women and multicultural groups, ensuring their voices are heard in important decisions. This is why I actively contributed to different board positions at TU Delft, working to promote inclusivity and equality. My background inspired me to explore how engineering, law, and social justice intersect, particularly in empowering marginalised communities. I chose to study energy transitions and human rights to contribute to a fairer, more inclusive World. How have you turned this into contributions to society? I’ve dedicated my academic and personal life to promoting diversity and inclusion. As a youth ambassador for Stop Street Harassment, I aimed to create safer spaces for women and minorities because I believe everyone has the right to feel free and safe in society. Through the Turkish Golden Tulip Foundation, I advocated for vulnerable communities in earthquake relief. Additionally, I founded an initiative for migrant students in Rotterdam-South and I have been committed to improving educational opportunities for secondary school students with a migration background. Next, I gave guest lectures across the Netherlands to educate the younger generation about climate change and equitable energy transitions, emphasising the importance of a fair transition for all communities. What does it mean for you to nominated to the ECHO award? I feel very honoured to have been nominated on behalf of TU Delft. My commitment to community engagement is part of who I am, and therefore the ECHO Award is more than just a recognition; It offers me an opportunity to further expand my contributions to a more inclusive society. As an ECHO Ambassador, I plan to expand my efforts in promoting equality and sustainability, while inspiring others to take action for a more equitable World. TJ Rivera How has your background influenced your academic journey? My background as a Filipino in a Dutch-speaking bachelor’s programme made my academic journey both challenging and enriching. Being gay in a male-dominated field like Architecture, where most role models were heteronormative men, added another layer of difficulty. It was intimidating to not see people like me represented. However, this experience fuelled my belief that systems can and should be challenged, changed, and updated. I aimed to bring a fresh perspective, advocating for greater diversity and inclusivity in the field. How have you turned this into contributions to society? I translated my personal challenges into tangible contributions by advocating for inclusivity within architecture. Together with like-minded individuals, I began exploring the intersection of identity, sexuality, and architecture, and collaborated with my faculty’s diversity team to raise awareness. As I became known for my work with the queer community, I saw an opportunity to create lasting change. I co-revived ARGUS, the once-inactive study association for the Master of Architecture, which now serves as a platform to discuss and address issues of diversity within the field. This initiative continues to foster a more inclusive academic environment. What does it mean for you to be nominated to the Echo award? Being nominated for the ECHO Award is a significant milestone in my journey to expand my mission beyond the confines of my faculty. This national platform provides the opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for social justice on a larger scale. I believe students are key to driving change, and my focus is on amplifying the voices of the queer community, which is often overlooked. The ECHO Award will enable me to form partnerships with organizations and universities, further promoting diversity, inclusivity, and equality. It’s a chance to create broader, tangible change, addressing the needs of those who often go unheard. Pravesha Ramsundersingh How has your background influenced your academic journey? As a woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), my background has been a powerful motivator to challenge gender disparities within Computer Science. Experiencing firsthand the underrepresentation of women in this field, I have been driven to not only excel academically but also become an advocate for diversity. Through leadership roles in the Faculty and Central Student Councils, I’ve focused on creating an inclusive environment that supports women and minority students, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. How have you turned this into contributions to society? I’ve translated my experiences into actionable contributions by actively advocating for DEI at TU Delft. I ensured sexual education and consent training for 3,000 freshmen students, and I led initiatives like the Social Safety Initiatives Conference alongside the Dutch National Coordinator against Racism and Discrimination. In my student governance roles, I pushed for policies that address gender discrimination and social safety concerns, creating a more supportive environment for students of all backgrounds to thrive in both academic and social spaces. What does it mean for you to nominated to the ECHO award? Being nominated for the ECHO Award is an incredible honour that highlights the importance of the work I have done to promote DEI. It inspires me to continue advocating for systemic change in the tech industry and academia. This nomination reaffirms my commitment to driving equity in STEM, ensuring that future generations have more inclusive opportunities. It also motivates me to keep pushing boundaries and empower others to take action for a more just and equal society. The ECHO Award Every year ECHO, Center for Diversity Policy, invites colleges and universities to nominate socially active students who make a difference in the field of Diversity & Inclusion for the ECHO Award 2024. The ECHO Award calls attention to the specific experiences that students with a non-Western background* carry with them and the way they manage to turn these experiences into a constructive contribution to society. Winners are selected by an independent jury and may attend a full-service Summercourse at UCLA in the United States in 2025. Read more: ECHO Award - ECHO (echo-net.nl)