“I have always been fascinated by those moments when something in people's eyes starts to twinkle, when they become inspired. Then learning is no longer an effort, but simply enjoying what is taking place.”

Prof. dr. Fred Korthagen has retired as a Professor of Education at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and is now working in his own private organisation, as a senior trainer, presenter and researcher. Originally, he was a mathematics teacher and later became a university researcher.

His primary concerns are teacher development, the theory of the professional development of teachers, and the theory of reflection and core reflection. He has authored a number of influential books and has published numerous frequently cited articles. His work has been published in eight languages.

Fred twice received the Exemplary Research Award from the Teaching and Teacher Education division of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). In 2009 he was presented the Distinguished Research Award of the American Association of Teacher Educators (ATE). In 2015 he became Fellow of AERA, a title of the AERA 'to honor excellence in research'.

Fred Korthagen has given numerous courses and keynotes, in the Netherlands as well as in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, England, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Israel, the US, Canada, Australia, Hongkong, New Zealand, Japan and South-Korea.