Honorary doctorate for educational innovator Curt Bonk at the 42nd dies natalis
By awarding an honorary doctorate to educational expert Curt Bonk, the Open Universiteit is emphasising its position and ongoing ambition as an educational innovator. Bastiaens said: 'Curt Bonk has been a source of inspiration for educational innovators for many years. In his research, lectures and publications, he demonstrates that he is hugely forward-thinking. He anticipates the future whilst remaining focused on the practical application of innovations. Moreover, Curt is one of the most helpful and kind people in the field.'
How to engage students online
Bonk is a Distinguished Professor at Indiana University and helps students and lecturers by translating research findings into practical guidance on effective learning. Online, hybrid and always utilising smart educational technology. He has written numerous academic and professional handbooks. In these, he answers questions such as: How do you, as a lecturer, keep students engaged during online lectures? How do you encourage collaboration in a digital learning environment? And how do you teach students to plan effectively and reflect on their learning?
Bonk has received several international honours, including: the AACE Fellow (2016), the Indiana University President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Technology (2020), the David H. Jonassen Excellence in Research Award (2021) and the AERA Fellow 2022 from the American Educational Research Association.
Boosting motivation
Together with researcher Elaine Khoo, he developed the TEC-VARIETY framework, which helps lecturers boost the motivation of online students. In *Empowering Online Learning*, he describes the best ways to read, reflect and practise in an online environment. Open, accessible education is a recurring theme. In *The World Is Open*, he advocates for free educational resources and digital collaboration to broaden educational opportunities. As a co-author of books on global open online courses, known as MOOCs, he brings together experiences from various countries.
Bonk began his own career in the early 1980s as a corporate controller. Years later, he embarked on his studies in educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also obtained his PhD.
Prof. Dr. Curtis J. Bonk
Practical information
The Open Universiteit will celebrate its 42nd anniversary on Friday afternoon, 11 December 2026, from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, with the handover of the rectorship at the Parkstad Limburg Theatre in Heerlen. The anniversary celebrations will be preceded by the symposium: 'Boundless learning: The future of higher education'. For up-to-date information: ou.nl/dies.