The purpose of the Situated Learning Research Unit is to maintain and develop research projects which study situated learning from an empirical and a theoretical perspective, more specifically workplace learning.

In the past, learning has primarily been researched in schools and laboratories, while up until recently relatively little research has looked at learning in the workplace and in everyday life. In situated learning situations, the issues of embodiment, social interactions and tool use come to the fore. For this purpose, a reassessment of the conceptualisation of the learning processes is necessary.

The relevance of the Situated Learning Research Unit must be seen in the context of the general focus on lifelong learning in a very modern society where learning outside the educational institutions will be of vital significance to production and economics in the coming years.

The research conducted by the Situated Learning Research Unit into learning in the workplace is central to this process.