"The nomination in itself felt like a token of appreciation, but the award itself really gave an extra push. Winning the award didn't feel like an end point, but a stepping stone."
SURF Onderwijsdagen
SURF Onderwijsaward
Are you, or do you know, a changemaker in education? With the annual SURF Onderwijsaward, we shine a spotlight on innovators who use IT to take education to the next level.
Nomination form is closed
The nomination form was open until September 6th, 2026.
Nomination rules SURF Onderwijsaward
- You can nominate anyone, regardless of their role, as long as they work within mbo (secondary vocational education), hbo (universities of applied sciences), or wo (research universities) at a SURF member institution. This could be a colleague, someone from another institution — or even yourself!
- The award is intended for an individual, not a team. Want to honour a team? Then nominate a key figure who represents the team, initiative, or organisation in education.
- A professional jury will assess all submitted nominations based on the information provided in the form. So make sure your submission is complete and include any relevant links.
- All nominees will be contacted by SURF. We’ll inform them about their nomination and ask for their permission to be officially nominated.
- You can nominate until September 6, 2026.
Why the SURF Onderwijsaward?
With society becoming increasingly dependent on information technology and all the soft- and hardware that comes with it, it is vital that educational institutions keep a close eye on these developments. This importance has recently become even greater with online and hybrid education.
Not just to keep up ourselves, but especially to provide today's students with the best possible education. However, this is only possible when committed individuals from the education sector get involved. We are looking for education innovators who make a major contribution to educational innovation with IT. With the annual presentation of the SURF Onderwijsaward, we give them a stage to increase their impact and reach and to inspire others.
‘By nominating someone, you help someone with the cause that person is committed to.’
How does the selection process work?
The recipient of the SURF Onderwijsaward is selected by an independent jury of 4 to 6 experts from within and outside SURF. Previous recipients of the award may also serve on the jury. The jury members are actively involved in innovation and educational development. Drawing on their expertise, they carefully assess the entries based on factors including impact, originality and relevance.
From 2026 onwards, the SURF Onderwijsaward will form part of the SURF Impact Awards. As part of this overarching concept, one person or initiative is recognised each year in each of the three categories: Onderwijs, Research (support and infrastructure), and Security & Privacy.