Vilans Hosts International Master Students from Leiden University for an Engaging Orientation Visit
Published on: 13-12-2024
On December 6, 2024, Vilans welcomed a talented group of international master students from the Health, Ageing, and Society (HAS) program at Leiden University for an inspiring day of orientation, hands-on workshops, and collaborative activities. The visit offered the students an opportunity to explore the work of Vilans and gain practical insights into the long-term care and innovation.
Introduction to Vilans: A Knowledge Organization for Care and Support
The day began with an insightful orientation session led by Jante de Lange and Ephrem Tesfay. The presentation provided an overview of Vilans’ mission, its role as a national knowledge institute, and what it means to work at the forefront of long-term care innovation.
At Vilans, we strive to bridge the gap between research, practice, and policy. Our work is about transforming evidence-based insights into actionable tools and solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives. It’s always inspiring to share our approach with such motivated and curious minds. We hope this session gives them a glimpse into the dynamic and impactful work we do here at Vilans.
Workshop on UX Design and Gerontechnology
Sima Ipakchian Askari, a senior researcher and designer on digital care, led an engaging workshop on user experience (UX) design, with as use case the HAAL project—a gerontechnology initiative focused on creating a dashboard where data from multiple care technologies are integrated and displayed with as aim to reduce workload for formal caregivers in elderly care. Sima’s interactive session provided the students with practical experience in designing user-centered solutions.
Designing technology for care is not just about functionality. It’s about understanding the needs of end-users and ensuring the solutions are intuitive, accessible, and truly supportive. It was nice to see the students dive into this challenge with creativity and enthusiasm.
Serious Game Workshop: The Art of Collaboration
Both the morning and afternoon sessions featured an innovative workshop on the art of collaboration, led by Nick Zonneveld, Vilans’ senior researcher on integrated care and cross-domain collaboration. After a brief presentation on the complexities of collaboration in long-term care, Nick facilitated a serious game where students role-played as care professionals and family members of clients. The exercise focused on using strategic negotiation to strike a deal that benefits both parties.
Collaboration in care is an art. It requires empathy, strategic thinking, and the ability to align diverse interests. Watching the students immerse themselves in the game and navigate these dynamics was truly rewarding.
A Day of Inspiration and Practical Learning
The visit emphasized the mutual value of engaging with a talented group of students. Their fresh perspectives on long-term care contribute to Vilans' innovative approaches, while hands-on activities provide students with a deeper understanding of practical applications in the field. This interaction fosters a meaningful exchange that supports both student learning and Vilans' commitment to addressing real-world challenges in long-term care and support.
It’s a privilege to host such talented minds every year. Connecting future leaders in health and ageing with the practical and innovative work of Vilans sets the stage for continued collaboration and inspiration.
As an intern at Vilans doing the Master HAS, I have a special insight into the orientation visit. Vilans focusses on co-creation and giving back to the working field, topics that are discussed at length during the master program. I hope we inspired the students by showing them how Vilans applies those topics on a large scale.
