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3 November 2026
16.45 18.00 hour
Tilburg CampusWarandelaan 2, Tias Building5037 ABTilburgDirections
In “De Connectie,” theory and practice come together. Scientist and alumni Sven Mathijssen and Anouke Bakx discuss their research on giftedness. What do we know about this topic so far, and what don’t we know yet? (Dutch/SG Certificate)
This event is hosted by Studium Generale and the Tilburg University Alumni Office. TIAS alumni and participants are also very welcome to attend.
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Date: Tuesday, 3 November 2026
16.45-18.00 uur (followed by drinks)
Doors open at 16:30.
High intelligence, exceptional academic performance, or unique talents: what does "giftedness" actually mean? The answer varies across individuals, contexts, and cultures, with researchers and educators often using widely divergent definitions.
What role do cognitive abilities, talents, personality traits, and environment play? Many questions remain unanswered. The lack of a shared conceptual framework frequently makes research findings difficult to compare. During this session, two researchers will each shed light on a different facet of giftedness and what it means in practice.
Giftedness has been systematically studied for over a century and a half, with intelligence tests traditionally playing a central role. Today, our understanding of giftedness has broadened considerably. When it comes to identification, researchers and professionals now look well beyond IQ alone.
Can young children's drawings, for instance, offer clues to giftedness? Within the research lab Passend Onderwijs voor Ieder Nieuw Talent (POINT), researchers examined whether drawings of human figures contain such indicators. Dr. Sven Mathijssen explains how this research was conducted, what the findings reveal, and what they mean in practice.
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Sven Mathijssen chose to study Psychology in Tilburg after one of the children he babysat—who showed signs of giftedness—struggled within the educational system. During his internship and subsequent work as a developmental psychologist at the Center for the Study of Giftedness (then part of Radboud University), he learned how to bridge the gap between science and practice.
Today, Sven serves as Vice Program Director of the ECHA-accredited Radboud International Training on High Ability (RITHA) and is a General Board Member of the European Council for High Ability (ECHA). His research focuses on children's drawings and the fundamental question of how to establish a clear definition of giftedness.
Attention to giftedness is growing, with a strong focus often placed on tailored education for gifted pupils. But what happens after primary school? Does the transition to secondary education go smoothly on its own? And what does it take to find a fitting environment in later stages of life?
Prof. Anouke Bakx, PhD, explores how personal traits and the surrounding environment interact. What factors support or hinder gifted individuals during major life transitions, and how do we cultivate an environment that truly meets their needs?
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Anouke W. E. A. Bakx is an alumna of Tilburg University and holds an endowed chair as Professor of Giftedness, Transitions, and Social Impact at the university, established by the Mensa Foundation (Stichting Mensafonds). In addition, she serves as Professor of Applied Sciences (lector) in Teaching Excellence at Fontys University of Applied Sciences and as Academic Director of the Academic Teacher Training Program.
Her research and expertise center on giftedness. She is the founder of the POINT educational research labs (Passend Onderwijs voor Ieder Nieuw Talent) and co-founder of the RATiO scientific expertise center (Radboud Talent in Ontwikkeling). She also serves on the board of the National Talent Centre of the Netherlands.
This program is part of ‘the Connection’ series. In these sessions, Tilburg University brings together scholars, alumni, and students around a specific theme. The gatherings are free and open to anyone interested, with a warm invitation extended to students and alumni of TIAS and Tilburg University in particular.
