Ningna Xie (N.)

Ningna Xie is a teaching-PhD researcher with expertise in designing and implementing problem- and project-based learning environments in sustainability education. Her research topics include student-stakeholder collaboration projects, knowledge perspectives, cultural worldviews, competence development, and alternative approaches to learning. Ningna has contributed to several socially relevant projects related to the sustainable development of urban and rural areas in the Netherlands and Germany. Her work has been disseminated through news items, scientific publications and multiple well-received campaigns collaborating with local, European and international partners.

Ningna was initially educated in communications and media studies (with distinction) and started out as a campaigner, junior researcher and intercultural facilitator. Since then, she has worked in the function of partnerships and communication management in both private and public sectors. After completing a master’s study in Sustainability Science, Policy and Society (with distinction) at Maastricht University, she contributed to a Dutch-German Interreg project by managing and facilitating game-based learning workshops for businesses and education institutes. In her PhD work, her passion and expertise are dedicated to designing alternative learning environments with perspective diversity in mind, experimenting with learning approaches that connect students to key sustainability areas from the local to global society.

In her free time, Ningna has been involved in various outdoor work in the region, as well as contributing to open-source education  initiatives such as climatescience.org.