Manfred Spitzer studied medical science (MD in 1983), psychology and philosophy (Diploma in 1984)

From 1990 to 1997, Manfred Spitzer was Lecturer in psychiatry, Chief of clinical services and Director of the Section for Experimental Psychopathology at the Psychiatric Hospital 
of the University of Heidelberg. Furthermore, he was Visiting Scholar at Michael Posner’s laboratory at the Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences at the University of Oregon (1992) and Visiting Professor at the Department of Psychology, Harvard University, teaching undergraduate and graduate students. (1989-1990; 1994)

Since 1997, Manfred Spitzer has been Medical Director, Professor and Chairman of the newly established Psychiatric Hospital at the University of Ulm. His research activities focus on higher, cognitive functions at the interface between cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and psychopathology, using multimodal neuroimaging techniques such as event related potentials, functional magnetic resonance imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and experimental neuropsychological methods.

In 2004, he founded the Transfer Center for Neurosciences and Learning where he has 
held the position of Chairman.

As an internationally renowned scientist in brain research, Professor Spitzer is the author of several popular science books and more than 100 scientific papers in international journals. His current activities include a weekly TV appearance in the educational channel of Bavaria.

Presentation:

Maaike Endedijk is Assisant Professor at the University of Twente. She studies various types of workplace learning at the Department of Educational Science. Maaike is particularly interested in the setting of self-directed learning and how this can be facilitated in high-tech organisations. She uses modern techniques to visualize employees' learning activities in her research. In addition, she is Assistant Professor at the ATLAS program of the University College Twente . She co-designed this interdisciplinary Bachelor program in which social and technical disciplines come together and she now coaches talented students in their development to become 'the new engineer'.

Presentation:

Joseph Kessels is professor at the University of Twente in Human Resource Development and professor of Educational Leadership at the Welten Institute of the Open University Netherlands. From 1995- 2000 he held a similar chair at the University of Leiden. Until 2008 he served as Dean of TSM Business School. In 1977, together with Cora Smit, he founded Kessels & Smit, The Learning Company. Over 30 years the Learning Company became an international consultancy firm specializing in HRD topics in the domain of training, learning and development of people in their work. Joseph Kessels was linked with this professional network until 2010.

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