Anouk Mertens

Mertens, Anouk

Position / Title

UARC Consultant

Email Address

anouk.mertens@ua.aw
anouk.mertens@ua.aw

ORCID

0000-0002-3166-7188

Fields of Specialization

Repositories

Last updated September 23, 2025

Biography

Anouk Mertens worked a postdoctoral researcher and project manager at the KU Leuven for the SISSTEM project. Currently, she works as a consultant for the University of Aruba Research Center. As a graduated bio-science engineer at the KU Leuven and having obtained a master in Environmental sciences and management at the Université Catholique de Louvain, she is skilled both in exact as well as social sciences. During her PhD in at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University, in collaboration with the Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (graduated in 2017) she became skilled in mixed-method research approaches with participatory qualitative research methods and the development of quantitative (agent-based) simulation models. Her research interests are in sustainable development in a small island state context, education for sustainable development, and the circular and bioeconomy. Anouk attended various national and international conferences and is also the (co-)author of several research articles published in international peer reviewed journals.

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 18

Open Access
The GreenComp Evaluation Roadmap: a roadmap for in-depth holistic evaluation of the integration of the GreenComp framework in higher-education curricula
(2025-01) Mertens, Anouk; Eppinga, Maarten; Arens, Patrick; de Scisciolo, Tobia; John, Nigel; Sultan, Salys; Buys, Nadine; Mijts, Eric
Purpose The GreenComp framework identifies 12 competences for sustainability as common ground for higher-education curricula. The framework can be used for self-assessment and the review of curricula. However, a step-by-step method to conduct such a self-assessment is not yet available for the GreenComp framework specifically. Therefore, the authors present the GreenComp Evaluation Roadmap allowing to evaluate the extent to which the frameworks’ competences for sustainability are integrated in higher-education curricula. The application of the GreenComp Evaluation Roadmap to a curriculum taught at the University of Aruba, allows to report on the benefits, limitations and future potential of the approach. Design/methodology/approach The proposed mixed-method approach combines hybrid qualitative and quantitative data collection on the integration of the 12 competences for sustainability of the GreenComp framework in higher-education curricula. The authors showcase its potential through application of the GreenComp framework as an evaluation tool to a science, technology, engineering and mathematics-based bachelor program taught at the University of Aruba. Findings The GreenComp Evaluation Roadmap not only allows for an evaluation of the curriculum and identification of competence gaps. It also supports educators to conduct a self-reflection on individual course(s) and the program as a whole. The paper shows promising results that the roadmap developed could be a reproducible approach. Moreover, it provides guidance to other higher education institutes for self-evaluation and self-reflection on how the competences for sustainability are integrated in their curricula and how this can be enhanced in the future. Originality/value The need to integrate sustainability throughout higher-education curricula is broadly recognized. The GreenComp Evaluation Roadmap contributes to the literature by offering a methodological approach to evaluate the integration of the 12 competences for sustainability throughout a curriculum.
Open Access
How island researchers navigate the wicked nature of small island research. A conversation continued
(2025-06) Mertens, Anouk; Acevedo, Diego; Arens, Patrick; Becker, Tatiana; Brinklow, Laurie; de Scisciolo, Tobia; Drew, Ryan; Facun, Kryss; Hall, Iain; Halliday, Andrew Mark; John, Nigel; López Márquez, Violeta; McDonald, Anne; Mitchell, Jean; Moncada, Stefano; Noll, Dominik; Richardson, Yolanda; Sultan, Salys; van Veghel, Amber; Werleman, Stephanie; Mijts, Eric
Small islands across the globe face the direct consequences of climate change and alarming biodiversity loss. In this context, islands and islanders are sometimes framed as a “litmus test” or “the ideal laboratory” for experiments to advise larger continental areas on how to address the effects of climate change and the biodiversity crisis. Due to the specific island context, islanders are the primary problem solvers in addressing and mitigating these challenges, and finding ways to adapt to them; however, in the first place, to protect their territories, populations, ecosystems, and cultures. It is therefore crucial and urgent to adopt and integrate inter- and transdisciplinary scientific knowledge embedded within the local contexts. Given their leadership role, island-centred research by the local island-based knowledge institutes and researchers is key. Island-centred research should play a pivotal role in generating contextualized knowledge and solutions, whether or not embedded in reciprocal international partnerships with other knowledge institutes. In this presentation, we will dive deeper into the island researchers’ operating space for such island-centred research, based on insights from semi-structured interviews and interactive sessions with island researchers from a wide range of contexts and disciplines. Our data reveal that despite the many challenges of conducting research from within the islands (incl. availability and accessibility of data, or technical and logistic challenges, funding, etc.), island researchers have found an array of ways to overcome these challenges and to produce valuable and impactful results for their societies and the rest of the world. This contribution aims to be a conversation starter amongst island researchers from insular and continental (institutional) contexts to further strengthen productive and equal collaborations in island-centred research.
Open Access
Capitalizing on inequalities to build a sound partnership: The story of SISSTEM, an international collaboration between a continental and a small island state university
(UNESCO, 2022) Mertens, Anouk; Buys, Nadine; Arens, Patrick; Gielen, Georges; Mijts, Eric
The literature on north-south inter-university collaborations emphasizes on the need for equality amongst partners when aiming to develop successful and sustainable partnerships. However, universities in the north usually differ largely from their counterparts in the south in terms of amongst others access to resources and scale and are therefore often inherently unequal. This is especially true when a large-scale renowned university in Europe, like KU Leuven, establishes a partnership with a young small scale university located on a small island state, like the University of Aruba, in establishing a new education and research institute in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). In this paper, we investigate how an equal and sustainable partnership between these institutes is established, not despite these inequalities but precisely by recognizing and capitalizing on their inequalities. Based on an explorative case study analysis using semi-structured interviews, we aim to contribute to the literature by reporting on this continental-small island state inter-university partnership and by providing insight into the broader critical drivers and challenges of the partnership.
Metadata only
The Faculty of Science Supports STEM Education in Aruba
(KU Leuven Faculty of Sciences, 2020) Mertens, Anouk; Mijts, Eric; Buys, Nadine
In august 2019, the SISSTEM (Sustainable Island Solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) project was launched. In this project of the Government of Aruba, financed by the 11th European Development Fund for Overseas Countries and Territories, the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Group of the KU Leuven and the University of Aruba collaborate to establish a new Bachelor's programme in STEM.
Metadata only
Sustainable Island Solutions through STEM (SISSTEM) Lessons learnt, and the pathway forward
(11/27/2024) López Márquez, Violeta; Acevedo, Diego; Mijts, Eric; Mertens, Anouk; Sultan, Salys; John, Nigel
In 2019 the EDF-11 funded SISSTEM project started at the University of Aruba, an ambitious project in collaboration with the KU Leuven and with the support of UNDP to develop the facilities and programs for STEM education and research. In July 2024 the project implementation phase of the European funded part of SISSTEM was completed. In this contribution we will share the original intentions and the outcomes of the project, as well as an analysis of the critical success factors that contributed to the implementation of the project. The outcomes include two academic programs (BSc and MSc), a series of ongoing research projects, and a series of conferences and publications that contribute to the development of a critical mass of island researchers that support both local and global sustainability efforts and agendas. Throughout the implementation of the project a series of obstacles were identified, such as the complexities of international project management for small island development (including logistic and technical challenges), intercultural awareness management, expectation management, marketing/image management and the complexities of recruitment of students and academic staff to participate in pioneering programs.
Open Access
Insights from a sustainability-oriented academic bachelor program in a Caribbean Small Island State: evaluation of SISSTEM using the GreenComp Framework.
(2023) Buys, Nadine; Mijts, Eric; Gielen, Georges; de Scisciolo, Tobia; Sultan, Salys; John, Nigel; Eppinga, Maarten; Mertens, Anouk
Open Access
Dutch Caribbean Research Week 2024 - Aruba, 27 November
(2024-11-27) Abarkan, Abida; Acevedo, Diego; Bonnevalle-Kok, Ruth; de Droog, Mieke; Grêaux, Kimberly; John, Nigel; López Márquez, Violeta; Meijer, Hannah; Mertens, Anouk; Mijts, Eric; Sultan, Salys
Contributions by University of Aruba researchers to the Dutch Caribbean Research week 2024 (20-27 November). Individual contributions can also be found via: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14473/1213 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14473/1423 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14473/1390 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14473/1425 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14473/1426 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14473/1427 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14473/1323 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14473/1422
Open Access
Bio-ingenieurs zoeken duurzame oplossingen voor de (klimaat-)uitdagingen van kleine eilandstaten
(KU Leuven Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, 2020) Mijts, Eric; Mertens, Anouk; Buys, Nadine
In augustus werd het startschot gegeven voor het SISSTEM-project (Sustainable Island Solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Dit is een zeer uitdagend project van de regering van Aruba gefinancierd door het 11de EDF-OCT programma van de Europese Unie waarbij de Groep W&T van KU Leuven en de Universiteit van Aruba de handen in mekaar slaan voor het opzetten van een nieuwe bacheloropleiding in STEM.
Open Access
SISSTEM: Sustainable Development on the Small Island State of Aruba
(Bloomsbury Academic, 2023) Mertens, Anouk; Buys, Nadine; Arens, Patrick; Gielen, Georges; Mijts, Eric; Purcell, Wendy M.; Haddock-Fraser, Janet
Academic university programmes educate the future generations of highly-skilled people in our society, thereby having the potential to act as change agents for sustainable development within their region. The SISSTEM – Sustainable Island Solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – is an academic programme currently being deployed at the University of Aruba in partnership with KU Leuven, Belgium. It aims to educate a new generation of engineers and scientists, policy makers and entrepreneurs who have a profound knowledge of STEM subjects in a sustainability context, and who can apply this knowledge in the particular setting of a small island state (SIS) like Aruba. This allows to further strengthen 2 the island’s sustainable growth and development. In this chapter we evaluate whether the SISSTEM programme does indeed have the potential to be a change agent for sustainable development on Aruba. The evaluation is based on five critical factors, namely the consideration of dominant sustainability challenges in the region, the financing structure and independence, the institutional organization, the democratic processes and the communication and interaction with society. We conclude that the programme has significant potential of becoming a critical change agent in Aruba, the Caribbean and potentially other SIS. The approach of the SISSTEM programme described here can be of interest to other higher education institutes around the globe that aim at developing new or improving existing curricula in order to become change agents for sustainability
Open Access
Insights from a sustainability-oriented academic bachelor program in a Caribbean Small Island State: evaluation of SISSTEM using the GreenComp Framework
(International Conference on Sustainable Development 2023, 2023) Mertens, Anouk; Buys, Nadine; Gielen, Georges; de Scisciolo, Tobia; Eppinga, Maarten; John, Nigel; Sultan, Salys; Mijts, Eric