Wenyi Chu

Background

Being part of the IDEE team on Future Engineering Skills, Wenyi will conduct educational research on, amongst others, the needs of future engineering education in terms of transdisciplinary skills. Wenyi has a background in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation, and Educational Science and Technology; she is particularly interested in the unique intersection of these fields. She kick-started her career in the semi-conductor industry as a Learning & Development Specialist. However, she realized that her passion lies in education, particularly in how learning and teaching could be improved to better prepare future engineering graduates.

Towards IDEE

Through her experiences working in industry, Wenyi realized that she needed a different environment to flourish. Given her natural tendency to dive deep into any topic she works on, her attention to detail and a drive to make decisions based on a well-informed ‘bigger picture’, Wenyi decided to switch tracks and continue her career as one of IDEE’s PhD candidates. Wenyi emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and adapting education to better prepare students for real-world challenges. While she values her industry experience, she felt a stronger alignment with her purpose in academia, where she can focus on helping people learn and develop, particularly in the context of future engineering skills and inclusive education.

As part of IDEE

Wenyi’s work with IDEE reflects a commitment to creating educational environments that are more inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of students. Through her research, Wenyi intends to contribute to the development of teaching methods and educational frameworks that support a wider range of learners, including those who may be underserved by traditional educational systems. She also highlights the importance of embracing personal strengths and challenges, using her experience with ADHD and OCD as an example, and encourages others to recognize their own potential. Ultimately, Wenyi is motivated by the desire to make engineering education more relevant, inclusive, and adaptable to future needs. 

Did you know that ...?

• Wenyi is originally from China and had the experience of being an expat adulting in the Netherlands.
• Wenyi’s personal experience with ADHD and OCD informs her approach to learning and teaching 
• Wenyi is passionate about improving teaching methods to better prepare future engineering graduates. 
• Wenyi is one of five PhD candidates who will conduct educational research on their respective IDEE theme. Want to know more about the other IDEE PhDs candidates and PD researchers, and when they will join IDEE? You can find more information here.