Mindel van de Laar is director of the capacity development office at UNU-MERIT and Maastricht University. She manages the offering of executive certificate programmes and tailor made projects that aim to train working professionals in the field of public policy and development. Her research focuses on innovations in higher education and capacity building, with specific focus on doctoral education, online and hybrid education and diversity in education. With her team, the capacity development office stresses the importance of translating educational programmes to serve the capacities and needs of professionals and make the learning applicable in the field, which requires a more broad and enhanced understanding of the term “making impact”. From 2010-2021 she was the programme director of the dual career PhD programme in Governance and Policy Analysis at UNU-MERIT. From 2006-2010 she was the PhD programme director of both the full time and dual career PhD programmes for the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance at Maastricht University.  Mindel holds a PhD in Economics (2004) and a MSc in International Economic Studies (1997) from Maastricht University.

	Selected publications by Mindel van de Laar
Articles (journal, professional, popular)
Laar, Mindel van de , Cristina Mancigotti, Richard E West, Paris Cosma & Dennis Katwal, 2022, The value of educational microcredentials in open access online education: a doctoral education case, Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning(published 10 May 2022), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02680513.2022.2072721
Laar, Mindel van de , Fernanda Soares & Kirsten Galisson, 2020, A Typology of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) for Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case study of Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, and Nigeria, African Journal of Teacher Education, 9(2): 110-143, DOI: https://doi.org/10.21083/ajote.v9i2.6271
Laar, Mindel van de & Oksana Celbis, 2018, Turning research ideas into full proposals, EPRM programme related blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Katerina Triantos, 2018, Knowledge is power when choosing a track: How online tools help students & tutors alike, SURF Project "Smart Choices and Smart Tools" blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de , Martin Rehm & Shivani Achrekar (eds.), 2017, 'Community of Learning' for African PhD students: Changing the scene of doctoral education?, Transformation in Higher Education, 2(0), DOI: 10.4102/the.v2i0.17, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Ornsaran Pomme Manuamorn, 2017, The coming storm: Helping rural communities cope in Southeast Asia, Dual Focus Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Ayla Bonfiglio, 2017, Public policy beyond borders: What lessons did we learn?, APPAM Conference Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Andrea Franco-Correa, 2017, Working for the youth of Colombia: Dr. Andrea Franco-Correa, Alumni watch blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Silvia Vitiello, 2017, Demystifying energy systems: From Brittany to the Black Sea, Dual Focus Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de , 2017, Going global with Dutch data: From sampling to surveys to big data apps, GPAC2 programme Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Clovis Freire Junior, 2017, Science for the SDGs: Building the interface between research & policy, Dual Focus Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Ali Safarnejad, 2017, Leave no one behind: Keeping up the pressure on HIV/AIDS in Viet Nam, Dual Focus Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Madhulika Sahoo, 2017, Migrant Health in India: APPAM Minority Report #2, APPAM Minority Report #2, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Sara Hamedani, 2017, Terror & Refugee Law in the Mediterranean Crisis: APPAM Minority Report #3, APPAM Minority Report #3, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Nga Leopold, 2017, Global Employment and Health Insturance: Policy Beyond Borders, Blog Series APPAM conference Brussels 13-14 July 2017, blog 4, More information
Hercog, Metka & Mindel van de Laar, 2016, Europe as unlikely immigrant destination: location choice for internationally mobile students in India, European Journal Of Higher Education, 6(4): 356-371, DOI: 10.1080/21568235.2016.1231581, More information
Hercog, Metka & Mindel van de Laar, 2016, Motivations and Constraints of Moving Abroad for Indian Students, Journal of International Migration & Integration , DOI: 10.1007/s12134-016-0499-4
Laar, Mindel van de & Emmanouil Sfakianakis, 2013, Fiscal effects and public risk in public-private partnerships, Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 3: 181-198, DOI: 10.1108/BEPAM-04-2012-0022, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Bernard Nikaj, 2011, https://www.merit.unu.edu/rebuilding-kosovo-exploring-the-pros-and-cons-of-e-governance/, dual focus blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Wilko Letterie, 2004, The delaying effect of financing constraints on investment, Bulletin of Economic Research, 56(3): 271-282
Book chapters
Laar, Mindel van de , Cristina Mancigotti, Tatenda Zinyemba, Paris Cosma, Dennis Katwal & Eyole Monono, 2023, The Value of Community Engagement in Online Doctoral Education, in: Ben Kei Daniel, Ronald Bisaso, HIgher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 21st Century: Pedagogy, Research and Community- Engagement, Springer Singapore, Singapore, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3212-2_20, More information
Laar, Mindel van de , Cristina Mancigotti & Tatenda Zinyemba, 2023, The Value of Community Engagement in Online Doctoral Education, in: Mindel van de Laar, Cristina Mancigotti, Paris Cosma, Dennis Katwal, Eyole N. Monono & Tatenda Zinyemba, Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 21st Century, Springer, Singapore, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3212-2_20, More information
Rehm, Martin & Mindel van de Laar, 2015, The Potential of Communities of Learning for Dual Career PhD Programs – A Case Study, in: A. Dailey-Hebert & K. S. Dennis, Transformative Perspectives and Processes in Higher Education, Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-09247-8_9, More information
Cools, K. & Mindel van de Laar, 2006, The Performance of Acquisitive Companies in the US, in: Renneboog, L. (ed.), Advances in Corporate Finance and asset Pricing, Elsevier publishing, Netherlands
UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Laar, Mindel van de , Julieta Marotta & Lisa de Graaf, 2024, Higher Educational Systems and E-resilience, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2024-003
Celbis, Oksana, Mindel van de Laar & Louis Volante, 2023, Resilience in higher education settings during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping literature review with implications for policy and practice, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2023-043
Moore, Lindsey, Mindel van de Laar, Pui-hang Wong & Cathal O'Donoghue, 2023, Making impact with agricultural development projects: The use of innovative machine learning methodology to understand the development aid field, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2023-011
Laar, Mindel van de , Katerina Triantos & Lutz Krebs, 2021, Supporting academic advising through self-directed, blended learning, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2021-021
Laar, Mindel van de , Shivani Achrekar, Lucy L. Larbi & Friederike Rühmann, 2016, Capacity building using PhD education in Africa, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2016-068
Hercog, Metka & Mindel van de Laar, 2013, Determinants of international mobility decision: The case-study of India, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2013-067
Hercog, Metka & Mindel van de Laar, 2013, What's the best place for me? Location-choice for S&E students in India, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2013-066
Sfakianakis, Emmanouil & Mindel van de Laar, 2012, Assessing contingent liabilities in public-private partnerships (PPPs), UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2012-030
Conference contributions
Laar, Mindel van de , Carlos Cadena Gaitan & Nathan Kably, 2017, Motivations to enrol in Doctoral Education, The 17th Biennial EARLI Conference, hosted by the University of Tampere, Finland on "Education in the crossroads of economy and politics ? Role of research in the advancement of public good", More information
Briefs
Laar, Mindel van de , 2020, E-resilience in education: A conceptual framework, The COVID-19 health crisis pushed the education sector into online education, challenging both students and teachers to work with technological devices and software instead of joining face-to-face meetings. However, providing education online does not mean actual learning will take place. This policy brief presents a framework to visualise the e-resilience of the educational system, including ICT-related factors withinrnthe educational systems that determine capacity of that system and actors in the system to deal with shocks. Policymakers and educations providers should be mindful about the various levels or ‘layers’ within society, as inequality in each of the levels may increase because of lower e-resilience at that level, More information
Other (editorship, media appearance, keynote, etc.)
Marotta, Julieta & Mindel van de Laar, 2024, The Unknowing Force of Education: Lessons from the Pandemic, More information
Laar, Mindel van de , 2020, PhD alumni tips: Make consistent progress, keep your connections and have regular reality checks, UNU-MERIT Alumni Watch, Blog on the learnings from alumni sessions, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Andrea Milan, 2019, Doing a PhD is like running a marathon, Alumni Watch blog series with Dr. Andrea Milan, More information
Triantos, Katerina & Mindel van de Laar, 2018, Knowledge is power when choosing a track: How online tools help students & tutors alike, A blog about the open, online education project SMART Choices and SMART Tools, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Katerina Triantos, 2018, How bold webinars bring e-learning to the masses, Blog on the experience of hosting a Webinar within the framework of the SURF-SMART project, More information
Laar, Mindel van de , 2018, Session on Dutch Educational Grants and Proposals, session "The succesfull application of the SURF SMART project", Poster session and presentation with round table discussion on the SURF SMART proposal, the lessons learnt and Q&A. Round table with Janina van Hees from SURF
Bonfiglio, Ayla & Mindel van de Laar, 2017, APPAM Conference Roundtable: How To Secure Funding for Your Policy Relevant Work: A Discussion with the Experts, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Martin Rehm (eds.), 2017, APPAM Conference Round Table session: The Use of E-Learning for Higher Education within Public Policy Relevant Initiatives (Education and Employment in a Global Market), More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Martin Rehm, 2017, APPAM Conference Panel: Dealing with Participant Diversity in Higher Educational e-Learning Projects, More information
Laar, Mindel van de , 2017, Why the Human Touch is Key to Online Communities, EPRM Programme related Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & David van Slyke, 2017, Taking Policy Beyond Borders: New Series, UNU-MERIT Blog , More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Madhulika Sahoo, 2017, Migrant Health in India, UNU-MERIT Blog , Appam Minority Report #2, More information
Laar, Mindel van de , 2017, Minority Report #1: APPAM Conference 2017, UNU-MERIT Blog , More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Paul Henry Caldron, 2017, The Many Sides of Doctorhood, Dual Focus Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Brenda Yamba, 2017, Dear World Economic Forum: Everyone Needs High Quality Education, Dual Focus Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Janyl Moldalieva, 2017, A Minority Scholarship for Governance: How What and Why, UNU-MERIT Blog , More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Gloria Bernal, 2017, Comlombian PhD Fellow Wins Prestigious Dutch Scholarship, Dual Focus Blog , More information
Laar, Mindel van de , 2016, How to level the playing field in higher education, UNU-MERIT Blog , More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Farida Lada, 2016, A Dutch PhD for a Career in US Healthcare, Dual Focus Blog, More information
Brümmer, Julia Natascha & Mindel van de Laar, 2016, Weighting Up the Difficult World of Child Labour, UNU-MERIT Blog , More information
Laar, Mindel van de , Shivani Achrekar & Howard Hudson, 2016, Community of Learning for Africa (COLA): A new platform, UNU-MERIT Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Corinne Bossé, 2016, Helping Haiti Through Diaspora Engagement and Higher Education, Dual Focus Blog , More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Keetie Roelen, 2016, Alumni Watch: Tweeting with UNICEF, UNU-MERIT Blog , More information
Laar, Mindel van de & Fatai Adegboye, 2016, A View from Damascus with WFP, UNU-MERIT Blog , Blog Dual Focus - with GPAC2 PhD programme fellows, More information
Edsand, Hans Eric & Mindel van de Laar, 2016, New Walkshop for Educational Performance, EPRM Programme Related Blog, More information
Laar, Mindel van de , 2016, Why Working Professionals are the Most Motivated Students, EPRM Programme Related Blog, More information