About the Organization
Ghent University (UGent), founded in 1817, is one of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities with over 50,000 students and 15,000 staff. With the motto “Dare to Think”, UGent fosters innovation, critical reflection, and international collaboration. Ranked among the world’s top 150 universities, UGent combines academic excellence with social responsibility, actively engaging in EU-funded education, research, and capacity-building projects.
UGent has extensive experience in educational innovation, particularly in healthcare education, competency-based learning, and Eportfolio development. Its International Relations Office supports over 100 Erasmus+ projects, while its faculty expertise in psychology, pedagogy, and health sciences ensures high-quality implementation and impact.
Key Staff & Team
Full Professor of Personnel Psychology and HRM. Expert in HR-related topics, including recruitment, personnel selection, diversity & inclusion, and reintegration at work (e.g., after burn-out). Leads major (inter)national research projects and publishes widely in top-tier journals.
Nurse, midwife, and postdoctoral researcher specializing in workplace learning, assessment, and supervision. Coordinated Eportfolio innovation projects (www.sbo-scaffold.com) and competency-based midwifery curriculum design.
Emeritus professor in Educational Sciences. Former lead of the FWO Scaffold Eportfolio project, providing ongoing expertise in educational technology and assessment frameworks.
Work Package Overview
UGent coordinates WP1: Project Management and leads activities on personal well-being and monitoring (WP2 & WP3). As coordinator, UGent ensures smooth implementation, financial accountability, and quality assurance across all work packages (WP4).
Beyond coordination, UGent develops strategies for mentor training and stress management using biometric monitoring (BioRICS). By combining expertise in HR management, career transitions, and well-being, UGent ensures that METIS interventions directly address midwives’ attrition risk, workforce sustainability, and alignment with EU regulations.
Work Package Objectives
Provide robust project management, financial control, and EU compliance (WP1).
Coordinate well-being monitoring activities to prevent burnout and attrition (WP2 & WP3).
Lead development of mentorship training (WP2 & WP3).
Ensure implementation of quality assurance and EU compliance (WP4).
Ensure integration across all work packages and smooth communication among partners (WP1-WP4).
Key Milestones & Events
Related Publications & Resources
Scaffold Project. Scaffold: supporting midwives’ occupational wellbeing [Internet].
Available from: https://www.sbo-scaffold.com
Kool L. Untangling the elements of midwives’ occupational wellbeing: a study among newly qualified and experienced midwives [doctoral dissertation]. Groningen (NL): University of Groningen; 2023.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.33612/diss.785022988 Groningen Research Portal
Embo M. Integrating workplace learning, assessment and supervision in health care education [doctoral dissertation]. Maastricht (NL): Maastricht University Press; 2015.
Available from: http://pub.maastrichtuniversity.nl/700fdd2c-b660-48cf-ad32-2a9f4effff95
Janssens O, Haerens L, Valcke M, Beeckman D, Pype P, Embo M. The role of ePortfolios in supporting learning in eight healthcare disciplines: a scoping review. Nurse Educ Pract. 2022;63:103418.
Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471595322001329
Van Ostaeyen S, Embo M, Schellens T, Valcke M. Training to support ePortfolio users during clinical placements: a scoping review. Med Sci Educ. 2022;32:1–8.
Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40670-022-01583-0
De Ruyck O, Embo M, Morton J, Andreou V, Van Ostaeyen S, Janssens O, et al. A comparison of three feedback formats in an ePortfolio to support workplace learning in healthcare education: a mixed-method study. Educ Inf Technol. 2023;28:1–24.
Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10639-023-12062-3
Van Ostaeyen S, De Langhe L, De Clercq O, Embo M, Schellens T, Valcke M. Automating the identification of feedback quality criteria and the CanMEDS roles in written feedback comments using natural language processing. Perspect Med Educ. 2023;12(1):540–549.
Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10742245/
Van Ostaeyen S, Embo M, Rotsaert T, De Clercq O, Schellens T, Valcke M. A qualitative textual analysis of feedback comments in ePortfolios: quality and alignment with the CanMEDS roles. Perspect Med Educ. 2023;12(1):584–593.
Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10742175/
Embo M. Midwifery mentorship in Belgium. In: Jefford E, Ebert L, editors. Global midwifery mentorship: building capacity through connection. 1st ed. London (UK): Routledge; 2025.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003533733
Embo M, Wasiak C, Verschaeve S, Van Acker L, Timmers M, Lievens E, et al. EU protection requirements for ePortfolios in clinical healthcare education. BMC Med Educ. 2025;25:1640.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08157-9 PubMed
