Milou Timmer-Hekhuizen is researcher and an Educational Support Professional (ESP) dedicated to the professionalization of support roles in higher education. Within the national Npuls program, she is involved in the development of the competency profile and related professionalization pathways for networks of ESPs, working on future standards and frameworks that support educator support staff at both institutional and national levels.
At Avans University of Applied Science, she integrates this expertise into practice as a lecturer and ESP, focusing on digital literacy and didactics and supports educational innovation and curriculum development. By bridging national policy-making with institutional practice, Milou is closely involved in advancing the professional identity and systemic impact of educational support in the digital age.