"TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN" cestories CES | August 2022
contents •page3• A FEW WORDS FROM OUR DIRECTOR •page4• MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME •page7• CES ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT •page8• A LOOK AT THE (NEAR) FUTURE
A few
The mid semester event we organised for our spring students; A weekend trip to Paris with all our spring students; Attending NAFSA 2022 in Denver, Colorado; Running the biennial ‘Science in Art’ programme; Spending six weeks with the best students in Maastricht. next group of students was about to embark on the biggest adventure of their college career studying abroad. Now, seven months later (which seem to have gone by in the blink of an eye!), both our spring and summer students have returned home with new knowledge, skills and memories. We feel incredibly lucky that so many wonderful students choose to study abroad in Maastricht every year. Watching them grow and thrive is the fuel to our engine so we could not be happier that next week, the largest group of students we have ever had during a fall semester will set foot on Dutch soil. Apart from the impending arrival of these adventurous fall students, here are a few of the CES team's highlights of Spring and Summer 2022: Find out more about these highlights on the next few pages of this cestories!
Time flies when you're having fun. It may sound like such a cliché but it could not be more true.
When we published the previous edition of cestories in the beginning of January, our Fall 2021 students had just left Maastricht and the words from our director
AUGUST 2022 www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ces | 3CESTORIES
Raimond Coumans Director of the Center for European Studies (CES) and Maastricht Summer School (MSS)
Memories to last a lifetime
Six marvellous weeks with our summer students. They took courses in areas including psychology, medical ethics and business management alongside Maastricht Summer School students. We also organised several social events, such as a 4th of July barbecue, climbing the famous red tower of the St. John's Church and picnics in the city park with 'vlaai' and 'stroopwafels'. What a wonderful semester and summer it has been! Many memories were made memories that not only our students but also we will cherish forever. These are some of our favourite memories of the last seven months:
The biennial ‘Science in Art’ programme we had the pleasure of running for a group of chemistry students from Washington & Lee University. As part of this programme, students not only visited major museums such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum but also had unique 'behind the scenes' visits to leading conservation labs and research institutes.
The mid semester event. We took all of our students to Olround Bowling & Prison Island in Maastricht, where they could show off their bowling skills or try to escape Prison Island. After all the excitement, it was time for a delicious dinner. Want to see our students in action? Watch this reel on our Instagram account. A weekend trip to Paris. At the end of April, a few of our programme coordinators accompanied the students to the City of Light. The trip included a guided walking tour, a visit of the Louvre and a group dinner at a 'magnifique' French restaurant. Seeing our students integrate into Dutch culture, by celebrating King's Day with the Royal Family in Maastricht and Carnival. Head over to the next page to see some of our students' photos of these events.
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ces | 4CESTORIES AUGUST 2022
Spring 2022 in photos
Summer 2022 in photos
.Igrewasastudentaswellasanindividual" y aastricht has been my launchpad to Europe! I've always been a plane, n, and in some cases bike ride away from a whole new place for me to plore " omas Pickering andeis University
Rebecca Lee Framingham State University
CES alumni spotlight www 7 AUGUST 2022
Iwasonlysupposedtobeabroadforonesemester,butIdecided
" LindseyCampbel UniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbar CES staff were the first ones to welcome us into the Netherlands, meeting us at Schiphol airport They’ve continued to be friendly faces and a good support system throughout the past few months too!"
"This experience has opened me up opportunities, and friendships I d needed I can confidently say that best experience of my life, and that I have learned so much about myself and the world that are completely priceless " Maya Keaton Indiana University "My time spent abroad helped me make incredible friendships that will continue after the program has ended The travel, classes, and memories I made have been so impactful on my life I’m so happy I came to Maastricht!"
I’vehadinmylifetime
.
livinginadifferentcountrywithadifferentculture
"There's nothing more CEStastic than mee some lifelong friends in Maastrich Sofia Lemb Case Western Reserve Unive
Helen Roane Mount Holyoke College
,thishasbeenthemostformative
toextendmytimeandfinishmydegreehere.
The
We believe that adding coaching/counselling as an in house service will benefit students since they are in a unique situation where they need to navigate new situations on a daily basis and integrate quickly into a whole new (student) life abroad. "This is exciting and How will it benefit students? professionally: "During the pandemic, we have seen more than ever the importance of focusing on initiatives to promote wellbeing and access to resources to support students, within and outside the university." Laura wants to help students get the best out of themselves and others during their study abroad. In order to achieve this, she thinks it is important to "become aware of thinking patterns and behaviour, focus on self-development and foster a growth mindset". In her future role, the idea is to create an environment built on trust and positive regard, which will "help empower students to gain insight, overcome barriers and take concrete steps to reach their goals and potential". In recent years, she has been feeling more and more drawn to specialise in this area, both personally and
A look at the (near) future As we have noticed a growing need for guidance and counselling among our students, we are currently working on expanding our in-house services (within CES) and making sure that we can provide support to any student who needs it during their time in Maastricht. Last year, Laura Marley (one of our Open Enrolment Programme coordinators) enrolled in a two year programme at the Academy for Coaching and Counselling in order to become a certified counsellor. Expanding our services students to gain insight, overcome barriers and take concrete steps to reach their goals and potential."
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ces | 8CESTORIES AUGUST 2022
Now, with the help of our CEStastic summer interns Amy and Luciana, we are more than ready for the arrival of our Fall 2022 students!
There is never a dull moment at CES!
By guiding our students in the right direction and providing exceptional and personal support, we strive to optimise their study abroad experience now and in the future.
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ces | 9CESTORIES AUGUST 2022
rewarding, but can also bring challenges along with it. An in-house counsellor who understands their situation, will be an easily accessible link to find the right resources, help them move forward with individualised support and connect with the wider community."
There really isn't - and we love it. When that bittersweet moment of saying goodbye to one group of students has passed, the next group is ready to start their journey to Maastricht.
Aspecialthankstoallofthestudentsfeaturedinthiseditionofcestoriesforlettingussharetheirmemories! Raimond Coumans, Naomi Nijssen Center for European Studies and free stock photography from Canva Amy Hammerton, Luciana Borrego Flores, Naomi Nijssen Naomi Nijssen For this edition: Bonnefantenstraat 2, 6211 KL Maastricht +31 43 388 5282 | ces.info@maastrichtuniversity.nl Text Photography Ideas & input Design & layout CENTER FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ces | 10CESTORIES cestories New!
