Teaching Chemistry in the New Bachelor “Regenerative Medicine and Technology”

Regenerative Medicine (RM) is a multidisciplinary field uniting science, technology, and entrepreneurship to develop curative health solutions. In response to labor market demand, Maastricht University (UM) has launched an undergraduate program, Regenerative Medicine and Technology (BSc RMT), integrating natural sciences engineering, and medicine. Teaching at UM follows the principles of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Research-Based Learning (RBL). In line with this philosophy, chemistry in the BSc RMT is taught contextually within multidisciplinary courses. Students apply chemical concepts to biological and materials science challenges, supported by small-group tutorials, problem-solving sessions, and hands-on labs. Despite challenges - such as heterogeneous student backgrounds, limited resources, and restricted lab time - the program shows promising outcomes in performance and engagement. Teaching chemistry in this setting requires balancing depth with relevance and supporting instructors across disciplinary boundaries. This initiative demonstrates how contextual, interdisciplinary education fosters molecular-level understanding and prepares students for future roles in RM.