May 2011
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On the way to 2013 International opportunities Why Rotterdam?
erasmus alumni magazine
A surgeon amidst her patients A day in the life of alumnus Joke Hendriks
Waarom Erasmus Academie Algemene informatie
www.erasmusacademie.nl
Erasmus Academie New Energy! Mastercourse Energy Finance
Masterclass Cradle to Cradle® in Higher Education
practice and to anchor it in Dutch society. However there are drawbacks to this fast success: interpreters of the concept are not always fully aware of the entire range of thoughts or do not possess the right skills to put the ideas into practice. Besides, the enormous attention from society for C2C leads to questions from the academic world. Students and lecturers include the concept more and more in their studies, their education or research. The masterclass Cradle to Cradle® has been especially developed for the world of education, for example academic staff, PhD-students, lecturers and professors. It is also possible to partake as an interested party from a municipality or any other public institute. The ultimate goal is to reach, guarantee and maintain the quality of the C2C-concept, as to ensure that within the many initiatives the right knowledge is applied and passed on to future generations.
Since the introduction of the Cradle to Cradle® concept in the Netherlands in 2006 there have been many public and private business initiatives to develop the concept in
For more information or registration, go to: www.erasmusacademie.nl/c2c
Like common stocks, energy is a product that does not differ in quality or characteristics between several providers. This implies that energy firms compete in price and in absorbing the risks from changes in the prices of energy contracts. Therefore, proper portfolio management and risk management will be the key to survivorship and success. After this course, participants may expect to have obtained a thorough understanding of key issues in portfolio and risk management, derivative valuation and asset valuation in the current international energy markets. For more information or registration, go to: www.erasmusacademie.nl/energy
All our programmes are created in close cooperation with faculty of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. Erasmus Academie offers postgraduate education for professionals and organizations. We translate high-grade scientific knowledge into specialized training programmes. Courses focus on the specialized know-how needed by today’s professionals. Find a complete list of courses on: www.erasmusacademie.nl. Erasmus Academie is easily reached both by car (via the A16) and public transport (metro, tram 7 or 21). Course participants have access to free parking at the Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Erasmus Academie, Institute for Postgraduate Education Burgermeester Oudlaan 50, Expo- en Congrescentrum EUR PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam Tel: +31 10 408 1839 E-mail: info@erasmusacademie.nl Internet: www.erasmusacademie.nl
On the way to 2013
Only a couple of hundred nights to go… Until Erasmus University Rotterdam celebrates its centenary. The Rector Magnificus, Henk Schmidt, started the countdown on 7 January 2011, when the counter stood at 998 days. For two weeks, the time was projected in the hall in front of the aula so that everyone could see exactly how many days, hours and minutes are left before the centenary celebrations. The countdown clock is due to appear at a different location in Rotterdam every hundred days. On 8 November 2013, the festivities will commence under the motto ‘Erasmus University Rotterdam – 100 years of impact’.
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01 25 years (1938): Ceremony
at Rotterdam city hall, hosted by Mayor P.J. Oud (after whom the Burg. Oudlaan – a well-known EUR address – is named). 02 50 years (1963):
Commemoration in the Sint Laurenskerk, with cortège. 03 60 years (1973): The official
adoption of the name Erasmus University Rotterdam: Queen Juliana is present in the Grote Zaal of De Doelen. Seated on her right is the Rector Magnificus, Prof. C.J. van
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der Wijden, and on her left is the Chairman of the Executive Board, P.J. de Boer. 04 75 years (1988): The Rector
Magnificus, Prof. A.H.G. Rinnooy Kan, at the lectern in the aula of the EUR.
Photo Levien Willemse, archive images from the EUR historic photo archive, with thanks to Cora Boele.
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Foreword May 2011
Dear alumni,
Pauline van der Meer Mohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Erasmus University Rotterdam.
First of all, I would like to thank you sincerely for your positive responses to the first edition of the Erasmus Alumni Magazine. It was good to hear that you received and read it with the same amount of pleasure that went into its production. To the new readers among you: welcome. Thank you for registering as an alumnus of Erasmus University Rotterdam. We are glad to have you on board. In this second edition you will find a detailed overview of news and developments at the university, as well as contributions from fellow alumni. In particular, I would like to draw your attention to the background article on internationalization at Erasmus University. It is an important theme, because more and more students from abroad are finding their way to us, and a growing number of our alumni find employment in other countries. That is why I firmly believe that the opportunities for Erasmus University are to be found not only in this region and in the Netherlands, but beyond as well, in Europe and the rest of the world. Science and development have no boundaries; that is what we teach our students, and it is the philosophy of our researchers too.
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Centuries ago, our namesake Erasmus was aware of this too, when he spoke the words: ‘I am at home in the world’. It is something we feel very strongly about. I hope you enjoy reading the magazine. Pauline van der Meer Mohr P.S. Follow me at: blog.eur.nl/voorzittercvb
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Colophon
The Erasmus Alumni Magazine/ EA is published by the Marketing & Communication department of Erasmus University Rotterdam Edition Volume 1, EA 02 May 2011 The next edition of EA will be published in October 2011
Editorial address EUR, SM&C dept PO Box 1738 3000 DR Rotterdam alumni@smc.eur.nl www.eur.nl/alumni Managing Editor Carien van der Wal, Alumni & Corporate Relations Officer
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Editors Wieneke Gunneweg, Editor-in-Chief Mieke Fiers, Desk Editor Contributors Lobke van Aar, Cora Boele, Gert van der Ende, Tim Gouw, Ronald van den Heerik, Ernest van der Kwast, Rob Lemmerlijn, José Luijpen, Pauline van der Meer Mohr, Daan Rutten, Bas van der
Schot, Hans van den Tillaart, Kees Vermeer, Levien Willemse, Martine Zeijlstra and EUR faculties including Erasmus MC, IHS and ISS Translation Universitaire Vertaal- en Correctiedienst (UVC), Talencentrum RUG
Advertising Carien van der Wal, Lukas Voesenek, Hennie Boes Printing Habodacosta, Vianen Design Unit20: Yoe San Liem and Maud van Velthoven Editorial Advisory Committee The EAC consists of
representatives of the faculties and alumni associations of EUR and has an advisory role with regard to the production of EA. Cover Ronald van den Heerik © Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers.
Contents 06 Back to college 08 Erasmus Opinion 09 Erasmus News 11 From Rotterdam to Paris 12 A day in the life of Joke Hendriks
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17 Career x2 18 Alumni – giving something back 19 Column: Ernest van der Kwast 20 Focus on research 22 Science News 24 Entrepreneur meets entrepreneur 26 Erasmus University and internationalization 31 Why Rotterdam? 32 Alumni Affairs 37 Column: Gert van der Ende 38 Family portrait
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Back to college
Sebo Eelkman Rooda: ‘If you enjoy doing something, it isn’t really work.’
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It allows me to be more professional in my work Every year, alumnus Sebo Eelkman Rooda (48) takes a course to keep up to date. At the moment he is following the Erasmus University post-experience programme for non-executive directors. text Kees Vermeer photo Levien Willemse
When were you at university? ‘I studied Business Economics here at EUR from 1983 to 1989.’ What did you after that? ‘First I worked as an accountant, then as a mergers and acquisitions advisor for a firm of consultants in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Since 1994 I’ve been running my own firm, ER Capital, in Rotterdam.’ What does the Programme for Non-Executive Directors involve? ‘The course consists of five two-day blocks and it’s held in the Bilderberg Hotel in Garderen. The participants are graduates from all over the country, aged from forty to sixty.
‘On the course for non-executive directors it’s nothing like a cigarsmoking gentlemen’s club.’ There are three sessions every day, and thirty speakers in total. We talk about actual situations in high-level discussions.’
Due to high level of interest in the programme for NonExecutive Directors, the Erasmus School of Accounting & Assurance (ESAA) has scheduled an extra programme this spring. The ESAA also offers a course in Financial Management for NonExecutive Directors. More information: www.esaa.nl, +31 (0)10 408 2866 esaa-com@ese.eur.nl
Do you have experience as a non-executive director? ‘Yes, I was a member of the supervisory board of three medium-sized companies for more than ten years. I also supervise a welfare foundation. These roles involve monitoring the management of an organization and what goes on within that organization - obviously in accordance with the organization’s objectives.’ Is it enjoyable work? Yes, as long as everything is going well with the organization. When things aren’t going well, the atmosphere changes and there can be a lot at stake. As a supervisor or regulator, you can’t sit back and do nothing. In such situations you have to take your responsibilities seriously and take decisive measures if you need to. That isn’t always pleasant.’
The role of the non-executive director sometimes comes under fire. Outsiders sometimes have the impression that it’s a lucrative job on the side rather than a serious position. How do you see that? ‘The position of non-executive director really isn’t an informal one. That has become even clearer to me during the course. We’re not a cigar-smoking gentlemen’s club, but a group of professional people. You have to get to know the organization well, invest a great deal of time in it and stay critical.’ Why are you following this programme? ‘You need to study to keep up to date with things. That’s why I take a course on law or tax-related matters every year. A course stimulates you. You talk to other people in your profession, you hear a lot of news and you interact with others.’ What is interesting about it? ‘You’re away from your usual routine for two days, with a group of people who have the same interests. It’s a combination of theory and practice. The speakers are prominent non-executive directors with a lot of experience. It’s exciting and instructive to hear their views on practical situations. When you work for clients, you have to know what you’re doing. This programme enables me to do my work in a more professional way. In my case, it really adds value to my work.’ Have you met other EUR graduates on the programme? ‘Yes, there’s one person on the course who I know from my student days. We’ve talked about our studies, but we haven’t reminisced in detail. On the course we’re mainly occupied with the present and with practice.’ Does the programme fit in well with your work and home life? ‘Yes, really well. The course is on Thursdays and Fridays, with an overnight stay at the hotel. I can just schedule the course days in my diary. There isn’t a problem at home either. We haven’t got children, so that makes things quite a lot easier. There’s a pile of books I have to read, and outside course days I work on cases in a group. But I have the time to do that. If you enjoy something, it isn’t really work.’ Interested in studying again? For information about the Erasmus School of Accounting & Assurance, visit www. esaa.nl. EUR offers postgraduate courses and workshops in a wide range of subject areas. Visit www. erasmusacademie.nl or www.erasmusmc.nl/onderwijs.
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Erasmus Opinion
‘Education should be more challenging’ Universities and their students don’t have a very good reputation, warns Henk Schmidt, education specialist and Rector Magnificus of Erasmus University. We have to demand more from students.
Illustration Bas van der Schot
While she was cutting my hair, my hairdresser in the Lusthofstraat said: ‘You’re from the university, aren’t you? How true are all those stories we read?’ ‘What stories?’ I asked. ‘About academics doing all sorts of pointless research. And students who spend all their time in the pub instead of studying.’ It’s true that, in the popular media, there is a perception that universities are organizations that don’t do anything specific and have turned in on themselves. University researchers indulge themselves in a personal ‘hobby’, while society is crying out for research to make our economy stronger and increase our competitiveness. Students amuse themselves with ‘fashionable’ study programmes that might be a nice way to pass the time, but are of no use to anyone. And they take ages to graduate. The poor taxpayer has to foot the bill for all this! Are these accusations justified? Yes and no.
No Do academics live in an ivory tower? If this
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means they don’t take an interest in the world’s problems, then it isn’t an accurate perception. Just look at the amount of research that universities carry out into geriatric diseases, the causes of economic crises, third-world poverty and the causes of crime – to name but a few of the areas in which Erasmus University leads the field. But the thing is, the research doesn’t produce instant solutions to these problems because understanding them properly takes time and money, which are both limited resources. Look around you and you can see how far our society has advanced. If someone from the nineteenth century were catapulted into our century, they would find themselves in a world they didn’t recognize: disease and poverty have been largely eradicated, heavy work automated. All thanks to researchers who are ‘just pursuing their hobby’. Science is flourishing precisely because researchers have the freedom to pursue it. Attempts to steer scientific research according to social relevance serve little purpose, according to a recent study by the Rathenau Institute. Since 1990 the government has made substantial
funding available for research in a number of key sectors, including chemistry, genomics and IT. This has had no effect at all.
Yes On the other hand, my hairdresser is right to be concerned about the work ethic of students. I don’t know whether they spend a lot of time in the pub. But it’s a fact that they don’t spend enough time studying. There is simply no other explanation for the fact that students, on average, take seven years to complete a four-year degree programme. And that’s only the average time, not the longest time. We don’t know why this is, but we do know that it’s typical to the Netherlands. Foreign students can’t believe their eyes. The government is introducing a penalty of 3,000 euros for students who take too long to complete their degrees. This isn’t the right approach. Students and lecturers have to look closer to home. Education has to be made more challenging; we have to demand more from students. We’re working hard to do something about this.
Erasmus News
10.000 alumni have activated their profile in the Erasmus Alumni Database (EAD). Ellen Van Delft-Munster (Law, 1988) was the ten thousandth alumnus to do so. Along with the other 9,999 alumni, Ellen can now find and contact old friends, or register for alumni activities or the alumni magazine. For more info and/or log-in details: +31 (0)10 408 1110 or alumni@smc.eur.nl.
RSM Radio On 16 March, the Rotterdam School of Management launched RSM Radio. Known as the ‘Music and Management Station’, it broadcasts 24/7 over two internet radio streams. One of the streams broadcasts pop music, the other easy listening. But the interviews every hour with experts from the Faculty are of course the main attraction. Each interview lasts 10 to 15 minutes. To tune in to RSM Radio, scan the QR code.
Erasmus Sports wants to raise its game Rotterdam already has students who are topclass rowers: five rowers have the 2012 Olympic Games in their sights. The women’s team of Baros basketball club have also reached the topbut-one level. Erasmus Sport is helping these and other clubs to take their sport to an even higher level. Antibarbari and RSRC (rugby), as well as Baros and the rowing club Skadi, also receive support in their planning and organization.
Alumni Martin Hoogendoorn and Karin Cortvriendt had their wedding photos taken next to the Eggs.
Farewell to Petri’s Eggs ‘The Eggs’ by Hans Petri: everyone has leaned against them, sat on them, posed for a photo and felt the warmth of the sun absorbed by the stone. But that is a thing of the past. In March 2011, EUR held an exhibition to bid farewell to this iconic artwork. The eggs will be removed in May. The heart of the campus is being renovated, and the deadline for the first part of the plans is 2013. The future of the eggs had to be considered, and it proved to be short. The inside of the stones has started to disintegrate. The site of ‘The Eggs’ will be the entrance to the new multi-storey car park. Trees have been felled, but new ones will be planted to replace them: • 300 trees had to be moved for the redevelopment work. • 70 of these have been replanted elsewhere on the site.
• Eventually there will be more trees on the new campus than there were on the old campus, with, in any case, nearly 100 trees at Tinbergen Plaza and more than 70 around the new pond at the centre of the campus. The Erasmus Gallery is holding a photographic exhibition on Hans Petri until 20 May. If you would like a memento, see page 37 of this magazine.
EUR top source of executives for Dutch listed companies Erasmus University Rotterdam is a ‘top source’ when it comes to the 52 listed-company directors and the 85 non-executive directors of listed companies in the Netherlands. This was shown in an annual survey by Intermediair. The majority of these graduates studied Economics at EUR. But Law isn’t doing too badly either, according to a survey by the Erasmus School of Law. Seven of the 22 legal specialists in the top listed companies are EUR graduates. erasmusalumni. magazine 09
Erasmus News
Beautiful. Really beautiful. Stunning images of atomic and subatomic particles, the effects of sound on matter, an impressive diversity of unicellular organisms and fungi, touching images of the human foetus and incredible pictures of the universe.
Cycling for water
Erasmus graduates Joost Notenboom and Michiel Roodenburg are cycling on bamboo bicycles from Alaska to Argentina – a 3,000-kilometre journey – to draw attention to the global water crisis. Follow them at www.cycleforwater.com. Science is not only useful and challenging but also beautiful – very beautiful, as Professor Hans Galjaard of EUR shows in the exhibition ‘Beauty in Science’. When compiling the exhibition he approached
hundreds of researchers at thirty different institutes. The results can be seen until 5 June at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. (Photo: Levien Willemse)
‘Governance is not an aim in itself but a way to help build a world where every person matters; a world with a perspective that reaches explicitly beyond the demands of here and now.’ Jan Peter Balkenende in his inaugural lecture at EUR on 24 March 2011, on his acceptance of the Chair in Governance, Institutions & Internationalization.
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Erasmus coin minted
On 24 January, Pauline van der Meer Mohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, struck the first of 4 million Erasmus coins. The 2-euro coin, which depicts Erasmus writing at his desk, is legal tender and in circulation. It is not on sale from the mint.
From Rotterdam to Paris
Through Paris on a cargo bike
After graduating, alumnus Rob Lemmerlijn left for France, where he is trying to persuade the French to take to cycling on Dutch bikes. Maandag Appointment at the bank. Doing business in France involves a number of things, including chasing up customers to pay their bills on time. French business operates with extremely long payment periods and high credit limits. To survive in this system, you need to have various stakeholders on board: the bank, the tax authorities and the social services. You need to find the right person in the right position, and then work on them. Once you have a foot in the door, there are possibilities open to you.
Wednesday To Nice and back with EasyJet to visit our shop there. The country is so big, and the demographic varies so much from region to region that each shop needs its own portfolio, sales plan and management style. That isn’t always conducive to efficiency when you want to roll out a new concept quickly. On the other hand, the market we operate in is still in its infancy and there is enormous potential for growth. So there’s plenty of business to be done.
Friday Tour de Montparnasse, presentation at a renowned fund. Since France embraced ‘Kyoto’, there is nothing to stand in the way of the ecological wave. They’ve even appointed a Monsieur Vélo at interministerial level. He has the status of State Secretary. Cycle paths, subsidies, insurance – you name it, everything is being done to coax people out of their cars and onto their bikes. As a result, investors are starting to show a strong interest in us. A few years ago that was inconceivable, because the project wasn’t ‘sexy’ enough.
Sunday Aside from business, there’s also time to enjoy everyday life in La Douce France. Early in the morning I whack a few balls with an ex-colleague. Spring is in the air early this year, and so is the competitive spirit. In the afternoon we have a long lunch with friends and the children, according to the French custom. If there’s something the French take time out for, then it’s Sunday lunch, There’s a detailed discussion
about how the various courses are prepared, the ingredients used, which region the recipes come from, and so on. Of course, everything has been bought fresh that morning from the local market. Serving and tasting fine wines is also an essential part of the feast. Today I had the pleasure of trying Jerusalem artichoke for the first time and I sampled an excellent Bordeaux – Cotes de Castillon, 2003 as well as 2005. La vie est belle. We talk about politics, but the discussion is an entertaining one in this congenial atmosphere. Sarkozy, the hero of the French business world when he was elected, is now highly unpopular with two-thirds of voters – he’s seen as too ordinary, too plebeian. He doesn’t measure up to statesmen like De Gaulle, Mitterand or Chirac. These were men who could hold the floor for hours with intellectual arguments, without taking a position. The French apparently miss this. And the fact that Sarkozy has appointed his friends to many high positions in recent years won’t have done his reputation much good either. A recent study showed that the origin of most of the graduates from the prestigious École Polytechnique, the source of the crème de la crème of the political world and business world, can be traced back to two hundred kindergartens. Talk about an old boys’ network… After lunch there’s time for a ride through the gardens of Château de Versailles on the traditional Dutch cargo bike. On a trip like this you really have the feeling you’re ‘famous’ – or one of ‘the people’, as they say here. People stop and watch; you hear nothing but ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. They pass comment and take photos of you. The only thing they don’t do is ask for autographs. It’s an excellent way to advertise our business. Rob Lemmerlijn (1971) studied Business Administration from 1991 to 1996. After graduating he worked for General Motors, among others, and as an Executive Management Consultant in the automotive industry. He is now Managing Director of Holland Bikes in Paris.
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A day in the life of Joke Hendriks
A surgeon amidst her patients Alumnus Joke Hendriks 12 erasmusalumni. magazine
Black toes and obstinate patients – it’s all in a day’s work for Joke Hendriks. She studied medicine at Erasmus University and has never left. For the past ten years she has worked as a vascular surgeon at Erasmus MC. EA followed her for a day – and we had to run to keep up! text Daan Rutten photography Ronald van den Heerik
Joke Hendriks (43) always travels to work on the metro – it’s less stressful. In her head she runs through the schedule for the day. Today she probably won’t need to operate, because she’s on duty as Medical Coordinator of the Vascular and Transplant Surgery department. She is at work by 7.30 a.m. An hour later, she’s chairing the weekly meeting at which the status of patients is discussed with the doctor of internal medicine, the rehabilitation specialist, three surgeons, the trainee surgeons, the nurses and a few interns. A flatscreen on the wall displays the patient’s electronic file: the patient’s photo, blood values, X-rays and other information.
Blue leg There’s a telephone call for doctor Hendriks. It’s the radiologist. The mood of the meeting instantly changes. Hendriks has to ‘change channels’ immediately, as she later puts it. There’s been a serious deterioration in the condition of a patient who was operated on yesterday. This elderly man was suffering from blue, gangrenous toes caused by clots in the veins of his foot. A tube was inserted in his leg and he was given blood thinners. But this morning the man was seriously ill, and when the nurse lifted the blanket she saw that his whole leg had turned blue, almost up to his pelvis. Diagnosis: acute ‘cold’ leg. There must have been a complication that affected the blood circulation in the leg. But it isn’t clear exactly what happened. Quickly - but calmly - Hendriks and her colleagues discuss the possible causes. It could be that the clot-busting drug not only dissolved the clots in the toes, but also loosened the clotted blood higher up in the leg, blocking the circulation completely. During the night, the patient probably panicked and pulled the tube out of his leg. Hendriks has to act quickly to save the leg. She gives instructions to prepare the operating theatre. The anaesthetist is already on his way to see the patient. One of the surgeons leaves the meeting. The operation is performed an hour later. Vascular surgeon Joke Hendriks during an operation.
The patient discussion is concluded quickly and efficiently. Does Mr Smith’s stomach need to be opened up
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A day in the life of Joke Hendriks
again? Has Mrs Jones been operated on? Was it successful? Has the medication been organized?
Working flat out After the meeting, Hendriks has to rush to her next appointment, with a PhD student. On the way, she remarks: ‘People often think surgeons have a cold, reserved manner. We can come across as direct. It’s the way we talk... Some medical students find it confrontational and don’t look forward to doing an internship with surgeons. Others like the directness. Our profession is a very ‘direct’ one. That’s because you sometimes have to react immediately. You can’t panic when something goes wrong. If a patient has a perforated abdominal aorta, you can’t go away and think about it for three hours. And in unexpected situations like the one just now, when there’s a complication, you have to be able to make quick decisions. She races through the meeting with Jorinde, the PhD student she co-supervises, discussing her progress. Jorinde is studying to be a surgeon in addition to her degree programme. ‘She has to work flat out’, Hendriks points out. And she’s speaking from experience: While she was a student she began a clinical study of the treatment of patients with symptomatic
The whole team of surgeons and assistants visits the patients on the ward. An elderly woman from Rotterdam is being discharged, but her foot is still badly discoloured. Hendriks asks her whether she has now agreed to have help at home. She has, at last. ‘I’m just stubborn’, the woman says, laughing. Hendriks smiles, but she’s firm with the patient too: ‘If you have problems again and you come back, you know what I’ll say, don’t you?’ The woman nods. She realizes that her leg will have to be amputated. Later, Hendriks says: ‘Her leg must be really painful, but she’s adamant she doesn’t want to lose it. I have to respect that. The patient is autonomous.’
Complicated puzzles When Hendriks – who comes from Zevenbergen in Brabant – went to study medicine in Rotterdam, she was already keen to work with patients. ‘Obviously, the first years of the programme involved pure theory: cell biology, biochemistry, physics, physiology. And working with those pipettes – sometimes they drove you mad. I’ve wanted to be a surgeon since I was at secondary school. It seemed to be an interesting profession. In any case I wanted to do solutionoriented work, with patients. I can remember that the best thing about the course was when
‘Deciding whether to operate is often more difficult than making the right stitch.’ narrowing of the carotid artery. At the beginning of this year, she completed her PhD thesis based on the research, which she carried out mainly outside working hours. The meeting hardly lasts fifteen minutes. Here we go… Hendriks has to leave again. It’s high time she was on her way to visit her patients.
Just stubborn On the way, Hendriks talks about the patient discussion: ‘When I was a student things were done differently - we discussed everything in front of the patient. This discussion involving the medical team is a better guarantee of quality. Everyone has all the necessary information. Apart from that, when surgeons discuss things in front of the patient, the patient thinks: “What are they talking about?”’
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specialists came to teach us with patients present. It’s known as “bedside teaching”. Perhaps that’s when I was aware that cramming in all that knowledge is important, but when a patient comes to see you, he won’t be telling you about his blood circulation. The patient lifts his trouser leg, and then you see the black toes.’ Hendriks points to the photo in an advertisement on the noticeboard, a photo of a good-looking doctor. She says proudly: ‘That’s my husband. He’s a gastrointestinal and liver surgeon at the Maasstad Hospital. Initially I thought it was a very interesting sub-specialism.’ But she opted for vascular surgery. ‘It’s a unique combination of complex general surgery and subtle endovascular techniques. The approach to treating patients is multidisciplinary, and technically it can be quite complicated. That
makes it challenging.’ According to Hendriks, the complexity means that surgical specialization is inevitable. And experience is essential. ‘For example, I try to teach trainee surgeons that you have to look at a CT scan from a surgical and technical perspective, so that you can decide on the right operative approach straightaway. It takes more than two years studying medicine to do that. It’s something you can only really learn through specific experience.’ Gradually you become quicker at finding a solution, Hendriks observes, like solving complicated puzzles.
Apes as surgeons But surgery is more than that, emphasizes Hendriks. ‘Obviously, I’m always pleased when a difficult operation is successful. But you must never forget that you’re working with people, that the patient is what our profession is all about. As my supervisor at Erasmus MC, Professor H.A. Bruining – who is now an Emeritus Professor – used to say: “You can teach an ape to operate too”. I made a note of that. What he meant was that, although surgeons obviously shouldn’t have two left hands, surgery is more than just putting the stitches and clamps in the right place. Above all, it’s a matter of the correct diagnosis and operation for the individual patient. It can happen that you have two patients with the same problem, and you operate on one but not on the other. It’s a decision that the surgeon reaches in consultation with the patient, in confidence. And weighing up the pros and cons is sometimes more difficult than putting the stitches in the right place. I try to teach others that too.’ Hendriks does not have an intern under her supervision. ‘The master-apprentice principle is a thing of the past. On the one hand that’s probably a shame, but on the other hand it’s more professional. Today, clear learning outcomes are defined for trainee surgeons, with many assessment stages. That makes the training more structured and transparent, but it remains to be seen whether it produces better surgeons.
Acceptable risks The next patient we see is a middle-aged man whose toes are blue on one foot. It isn’t clear what’s causing this. A vascular problem has been ruled out. The man is adamant that he wants his foot to be amputated: ‘Just get rid of it’.
Photo above: Hendriks in discussion with her PhD student. ‘It’s extremely important to be involved in research. It leads to advances in medicine, it keeps you focused, and it forces you to adopt a critical approach.’ Photo, centre: Hendriks drinks coffee with her colleagues at the beginning of a day with a busy operating schedule. She combines various duties in her work at Erasmus MC. Photo below: Hendriks visits her patients, accompanied by the whole team of surgeons and assistants.
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A day in the life of Joke Hendriks
CV Joke Hendriks (1968) • 1985-1993 Medicine, Erasmus University Rotterdam. 1993-1994: PhysicianResearcher, Surgical Intensive Care, University Hospital Rotterdam (AZR). • 1995-2001: Surgery specialization, St. Clara Hospital and AZR. • 2001-present: postgraduate programme in Vascular Surgery, member of staff of Surgery department, Erasmus MC. • Medical Coordinator of the Vascular & Transplant Surgery department since 2005. • Member of national guideline committee. • January 2011: PhD awarded.
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But before she does this, Hendriks wants to carry out further tests to see what’s causing the blue toes. But didn’t we just say that the patient is autonomous? Hendriks: ‘Yes, but when I have to undertake active intervention, I want to be sure that I’m doing the right thing. There has to be a sound medical indication. Then you can justify the intervention, also if it turns out later that something has gone wrong. Errors and complications can arise. That is why, before I act, I want to be sure that this is a decision the patient and I have taken together, in full awareness. You see, if I decide to operate to remove deposits from a patient’s carotid artery to prevent further strokes, the operation itself carries a 5% risk of acute stroke. I’ve experienced that during an operation. It’s something you never forget. And I’ve also experienced someone dying on the operating table. Unfortunately, there can always be a risk of complications. If you don’t remove deposits from the carotid arteries, the risk of an infarction is much higher. If the patient and I agree that the level of risk is acceptable, then we go ahead with the operation. If something does go wrong, then you have to be able to accept that. Some trainee surgeons aren’t able to do that, and we advise them to choose another profession. Sympathizing with patients won’t make them better. It’s much more important to think along with them, but not at any cost. Suppose we amputate the man’s foot when it isn’t necessary. That wouldn’t be right, but in other cases amputation is sometimes the best solution.’
Keeping up morale That’s how complicated things can be in practice. But luckily it isn’t always like that. An elderly gentleman whose leg has been amputated is discharged soon afterwards. The sheet is lifted. The trouser leg is removed. The leg doesn’t look too good. Hendriks analyses the stump, objectifying. ‘It looks okay, but the skin is still very thin.’ The stitches and the dressing have to stay in place for the time being. He’ll have to come back to have them removed. The gentleman grins: ‘Will the ladies look after me just as well next time?’ In the corridor, Hendriks remarks: ‘That’s typical of Rotterdam. Luckily we can always make a joke in the department. That keeps up our morale.’ Hendriks looks out of the window. The view of the city is beautiful. The church clock strikes 1.30. There’s a long day ahead. She has a busy life, with her job, her research and the various duties at Erasmus MC. She would quite like to read more, do more sport and visit art exhibitions. Oh well… ‘It probably sounds slightly sombre’, she says, ‘but here you realise just how thankful you should be that things are well with you, your family and your friends.’ At six o’clock she leaves the hospital, taking the train and the metro. Her mind switches off from work. It’s time for home, for her husband and young daughter. Early tomorrow morning she’ll be back in the operating theatre.
Career x2 They have a degree in the same subject, but their career paths have been very different. Two alumni talk about their work. text Tim Gouw photo Levien Willemse
Name Bart van de Sande Age 34 years Graduated in 2000 Degree Public Administration Current position District Director, ABN AMRO Bank
Name Mera Oosterom Age 34 years Graduated in 2000 Degree Public Administration Current position Policy Advisor, Rotterdam municipal authority
I could directly apply the skills I create the conditions to get I acquired as a student children moving What sort of things did you do when you were at university? ‘In the first year I set my sights on a managerial position when I graduated, preferably in a commercial organization. I even briefly considered switching to Economics or Business Administration. In the end I decided not to, and I don’t regret it. Among other things, I was president of the student society Cedo Nulli for a year, I was a member of the Faculty Council and I was also a student assistant. Incidentally, my dissertation was about the differences between managing public-sector and private-sector organizations.’ Which aspect of your studies have you benefitted from most? ‘Above all, my studies gave me a firm grounding to be able to ‘switch channels’ quickly, and I developed the analytical skills to identify the essence of problems
and see them in concrete terms. My career began with a traineeship at ABN AMRO Bank. I held various commercial positions, which led to promotion to head office. There I noticed that in my day-to-day work I used many of the strategic skills I learned as a student. I’m now responsible for ten branches in Rotterdam. Here my degree is hardly relevant, but I lead a large team and I try to inspire them to improve their performance.’ How long do you think you’ll stay in this job? ‘I’m very happy doing what I do at the moment, but it’s important to keep dreaming. I can see myself in a management role with ultimate responsibility at some time in the future.’
How did you come to be in your present job? ‘I’d already been offered a job with the Rotterdam municipal authority when I graduated. I was following an internship with a consultancy bureau in the field of sports policy and I was offered two jobs. One job was with the bureau and the other one was with the municipal authority. I chose the latter because I wanted to be more involved in the practical side of things. Is there a link between your present job and your degree in Public Administration? ‘My work as a policy advisor involves the standard policy-related tasks such as initiating policy, drafting policy documents and recommendations, and coordinating policy-evaluation research. There’s quite a strong link with my degree. I’m working on the fitness project for Rotterdam, “Rotterdam Lekker Fit!” Many people in Rotterdam,
especially children, are overweight. One in four children are too heavy – in some areas it’s as many as one in three. A broad approach was chosen to deal with the problem in a comprehensive way. The measures extend across the policy areas of sport, exercise and health to spatial planning – for example grass plots and cycle paths in residential areas.’ Do you ever wish you’d done something different? ‘At the beginning of my degree programme I thought about being a gym teacher. While I was a student I worked part-time as a ski instructor for several years. Then you’re involved in a practical way in encouraging children to be active. Now my work involves creating the conditions for that. I hope that, in the future, I’ll be able to take on a role with more emphasis on guiding and stimulation, but I wouldn’t mind if it’s in a different or broader policy field.’
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Alumni give something back
First-years learn from alumni Alumni of the Erasmus School of Law allow first-year students a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the world of law. In this way, they provide a link between theory and practice. text Martine Zeijlstra photo Hans van den Tillaart
Alumni lectures and gatherings For the past three years, ESL has held alumni lectures in which young graduates talk about their careers. This allows students to see the law at work. Every year there are also two academic gatherings at which alumni are the chief guests: the Winter Lecture at the beginning of the year and the De Doelder Day in the autumn.
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In December 2010, lawyer Bart Keupink and a colleague from NautaDutilh gave a lecture to an audience of eighty first-year law students. Keupink (28) graduated from the Erasmus School of Law (ESL) in 2005. ‘I then spent a number of years at EUR doing my PhD research, so I feel that I have close ties with the University’, he explains. ‘I wanted to give a lecture to the new students to fire their enthusiasm for the law in practice. Keupink talked to the first-years in detail about the useful part-time jobs he had when he was a student. ‘I gained a lot of court experience as an external clerk of the court. I was also a student assistant and when I graduated I studied for my PhD. This sort of experience is an important criterion for large law firms that are looking to recruit young lawyers’, says Keupink. ‘You have to be motivated and committed to achieving your goals. You don’t necessarily need a lengthy CV for a successful career. The main thing is that you’re willing to work hard.’ This is the sort of information that students won’t learn from books, but from alumni like Keupink who are happy to share it with them. He also
described a typical working day for a lawyer at NautaDutilh, from the first cup of coffee to the meetings with colleagues and clients. ‘Some of the students were under the impression that lawyers are always extremely busy and have to work long hours every day. But my work is very varied: one day it’s quiet, and the next it can be extremely busy. And every client is different. You rarely come across that sort of practical information when you’re a student’, he says. ‘That’s why I enjoyed talking to the first-years.’
Eye-opener First-year law student Thierry van den Bergh (19), member of the first-year committee of JFR (the law-school association at EUR), organized the lecture for the first-years. ‘My fellow students thought the lectures by Bart Keupink and his colleague were very interesting’, he says. ‘It takes hard work to become a lawyer. It was really useful to hear what the large law firms look out for in the CVs they receive. They gave us all sorts of tips on what steps to take if you want to enter the legal profession. A second
Column Four Beers
Master’s degree is a big advantage, for example, and so are extra-curricular activities. High marks alone won’t make you “partner material”; social skills are just as important. I now have a much better idea of what the profession involves.’ The main eye-opener for Van den Bergh and his fellow students was the fact that the profession is so wide-ranging. ‘Many first-years associate the criminal-law profession mainly with defending murderers and rapists. But criminal law involves much more than that. That became clear during the lecture. The alumni told us about white-collar crime and property fraud, and how lawyers deal with the burden of proof.’ The other part of the lecture was about the acquisition of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). ‘They explained how lawyers have to draw up the contracts. This part of the lecture very much appealed to the audience’s imagination, because the JSF isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about tax law. It was interesting to hear about the less traditional aspects of the legal profession. They showed how broad the profession is, and that was very useful to us as first-years.’
Forging links Maarten Kroeze, Dean of ESL, also sees other opportunities – apart from lectures – for involving alumni in the school’s activities. To strengthen the ties, teams of current students will be contacting alumni by telephone in the autumn.
High marks alone won’t make you ‘partner material’ Kroeze: ‘We want to find out where our alumni are and what they are doing. We will ask them what the university can do for them. Are they interested in lectures, for example, or get-togethers with other graduates? In the longer term, we would like to know if they can help us too. Someone with a busy job might be willing to talk to young students about the work environment, or be involved in coaching during an internship. Others might be interested in setting up an alumni fund for highly talented students who would like to take a second degree but can’t afford to. No two alumni are the same. In the years to come, we aim to gain a better idea of how we can support each other.’ In September or October you can expect a telephone call from one of our students, and we would very much appreciate your cooperation. In advance of the telephone call you will receive a letter from the Dean with further information.
The last time I ran into graduates of EUR was at the Parade in Rotterdam. I had just finished a reading at the Schrijverstoren (literally translated: ‘Writers’ Tower’), when someone tapped me on the shoulder. ‘Hello’ said a young man with glasses. ‘Do you recognize us?’ I looked at his friends. I knew one of them. He had once helped me out when I was preparing for my International Tax Law exam. I vaguely recognized the other faces - if they’d said they knew me from athletics or scouting I would have believed them too. Instead, they chorused: ‘We studied Fiscal Economics together.’ Lecturers’ names were mentioned: Stevens, Van der Paard, Smeets. Yes, Smeets. We could all remember Smeets. ‘You wrote some very unpleasant things about him in the Erasmus Magazine at the time’, said one of the graduates. Very unpleasant things, but beautifully worded, I wanted to say. The young man with glasses called out ‘Four beers!’ to the barman of the Schrijverstoren. And I was soon drinking beer with the three guys I’d once studied with. Admittedly, it wasn’t long ago since I’d graduated, but in my mind I’d left the university world far behind me. I’d got my Bachelor’s degree and after that I’d decided on a career as a writer. None of my Facebook friends were people I’d sat in the lecture hall with. ‘So what exactly are you doing at the Parade, then?’ asked the former student who’d helped me prepare for the exam. I explained that every evening I gave six readings from my own work, and that I had to sell the tickets myself. ‘That means I virtually have to kidnap people to come and listen to me.’ ‘Won’t exactly make you a fortune, will it?’, said the graduate with glasses. ‘No’, I replied. ‘If you want to make money you should be a tax specialist, not a writer.’ We laughed and finished our beers. Then it was time to leave – at least for me. I had to hand in the takings and figures at the office. About sixty euros for four hours’ work. ‘Wait a minute’, one of the group called out. The other two joined in: ‘We haven’t got any money on us.’ Three tax specialists with no money on them. It sounded like a bad joke, but it wasn’t. I paid the bill. Ernest van der Kwast (1981) is a writer. His book ‘Mama Tandoori’ was published last year. He was awarded his Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam in 2006.
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Focus on research
STAFF Staff must have a lunch break, and a conductor can’t end his shift in Rotterdam if he lives in Maastricht. PhD student Daniel Potthoff developed a software programme that can work out new duty rosters in just a few minutes. NS (Dutch Railways) is currently implementing the software.
FEWER DELAYS The fact that there are considerably fewer delays under the new NS timetable is partly due to the work of researchers at EUR. Since the beginning of the 1990s they have carried out a great deal of research into optimizing timetables, explains Dennis Huisman, Associate Professor at the Erasmus School of Economics and consultant to NS. In recent years, the focus of the research has shifted to the management of major disruptions. The researchers are developing mathematical models that can be used in the computer systems that produce the schedules.
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EUR & NS On 21 October 2010, EUR and the NS signed a contract: over the next ten years, EUR will receive six PhD students and the NS will provide half the funding. This form of cooperation is unique. Huisman: ‘Many universities in other countries are carrying out similar research, but they haven’t yet managed to apply it in practice.’
OVERHEAD WIRES
THREE TIMES A DAY Every day, there are three major disruptions in the Dutch railway network: a broken overhead wire, a ‘jumper’ or a points fault. It is important to act quickly. The Netherlands has one of the busiest rail networks in the world, carrying passengers as well as freight, so the snowball effect after a disruption is considerable.
‘If there’s a fault in the overhead wires between Rotterdam and Utrecht, there’s a procedure in place’, Huisman explains. The procedures describe what will happen to the timetable, but don’t cover staff or rolling stock. In the worst-case scenario, it could happen that there’s a driverless train that’s much too short.
SUPER-PRIZE
LIVING BRIDGE Long and short trains, double-deckers – how do you make sure the right train is in the right place after a disruption? On 11 February, Lars Nielsen was awarded a PhD for his thesis on that subject. He was one of the PhD candidates supervised by Leo Kroon, Professor of Quantitative Logistics at the Rotterdam School of Management. Kroon (see photo) has also been a logistics consultant to the NS for many years, and his work forms a bridge between the two organizations. erasmusalumni. magazine 21
text Mieke Fiers photo Levien Willemse
The NS won the prestigious Franz Edelman Award – known as the ‘Super Bowl of Operations Research’ for its cooperation with the Rotterdam researchers, among others. The award is presented by INFORMS.
Science News
Limburgers not very happy
Italian shoes
In January 2011, the Italian head of state Giorgio Napolitano received Jeroen van ‘t Hooft because of his thesis on Italian shoe manufacturers. ’t Hooft, a graduate of the Erasmus School of Economics, was awarded a prize of 3,000 euros. He works for banking giant UBS in Zürich.
Spirituality The churches are losing members - but spirituality is hot. What exactly is spirituality, and what does it mean? In order to underpin EUR’s research into contemporary spirituality, the Faculty of Social Sciences has appointed Dr Paul Heelas, the undisputed authority on the subject, to the post of Senior Research Professor in the Sociology of Contemporary Spirituality.
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On average, Limburgers have felt less happy over the past six months than people in other provinces, according to a survey into happiness conducted through www.gelukswijzer. nl, a joint initiative of Erasmus University and insurance companies. Every month, thousands of people in the Netherlands answer questions at the website about how happy they feel.
Fathers live longer
Fathers with two or more children live considerably longer than childless men. These are the findings of research carried out by Dr Renske Keizer, Prof. Pearl Dykstra (both from Sociology) and Dr Frank van Lenthe (Erasmus MC). This is not necessarily due to being a father, but to differences in lifestyle and education. Men without children smoke and drink more, fewer of them have a partner, and they have a lower level of education. There is no difference in the mortality rate between men with one child and men without children.
Searching audiovisual databases In recent years, countless hours of radio and television material have been digitized. But finding what you need in an archive is difficult. At the same time, computer science is advancing rapidly. The AXES research project is bringing together the three factors – content, users and technology – to develop new search methods. Brussels is funding the project to the tune of six million euros. Prof. Henri Beunders and Martijn Kleppe MA of the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication will be participating in the project.
Healthcare visualized
Fuzzy Law
Administrative law administrates, and criminal law punishes crimes. But the two worlds are no longer entirely separate, Professor Arthur Hartmann argued in February 2011 in his inaugural lecture on the occasion of his appointment to the endowed chair in Administrative Penal Law. In terms of enforcing the law, it has been a long time since the division between administrative law and criminal law was clearcut. The distinction has become outdated largely as a result of the widespread introduction of the administrative penalty. In his inaugural lecture, Hartmann points out that this development is continuing and, consequently, the traditional relationship between administrative and criminal law is coming under increasing pressure.
Who pays for what in the healthcare sector? This has been mapped out objectively for the first time in healthcare-funding flow charts, the first part of the Kaartenboek voor de Gezondheidszorg (Chart Book for Healthcare).
Playing scientist Did you originally want to be a scientist, but ended up doing something else? Then the online game ‘Power of Research’ is for you. The game was developed by the EU and is designed to attract more young people into science. Players
The funding flow chart was introduced in January 2011 by the EUR’s Institute of Health Policy & Management (iBMG), in cooperation with the VvAA (association of healthcare professionals) and De Argumentenfabriek. Pauline Meurs, Professor of Healthcare Management at the iBMG, has observed that many professionals involved directly or indirectly with healthcare do not know how certain processes work. The objective charts are intended as a source of information, and as a basis for well-informed discussion, since healthcare is always on the agenda in society and politics. In addition, the charts can help students to understand the healthcare system. See also: www.bmg.eur.nl/onderzoek/kaartenboek_ gezondheidszorg/
can practice ‘virtual’ medical science, including microscopy, experimenting with DNA and publishing research results. They also experience how long it can sometimes take for results
Erasmus Concurrentie & Innovatie Monitor: Social innovation is ‘hot’ and successful
to emerge. See www.powerofresearch.eu
Organizations are currently developing markedly fewer products and services (-5%). By contrast, investments in social innovation (smarter working, dynamic management and flexible organization) have increased substantially (+12.8%). These were the findings of the Erasmus Competition and Innovation Monitor 2010-2011, compiled by professors Henk Volberda and Justin Jansen of the Rotterdam School of Management. The study measured the innovative strength of Dutch businesses for the fifth consecutive year. Despite the increase, more investment in social innovation is needed if the Netherlands is to catch up with the most innovative countries. In terms of innovation (+31%), productivity (+21%), growing market share (+20%) and other performance indicators socially innovative companies perform better than those that are not socially innovative, and have greater employee satisfaction.
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Entrepreneur meets entrepreneur
The freedom to make your own decisions When they graduated, Maritza Russel and Deborah Post both set up their own businesses with a great deal of enthusiasm. In an interview with EA, differences as well as similarities between them became apparent: Russel looks for solutions to practical problems, Post aims to raise awareness. text Martine Zeijlstra photo Ronald van den Heerik
Maritza Russel (51) studied Economics from 1977 to 1979. Deborah Post (35) studied Business Administration from 1998 to 2002.
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‘Even as a child I was always playing with numbers. My father had a business in Surinam, selling railway sleepers. His dream was that his daughter would study Economics, and he passed that enthusiasm on to me. When I was at secondary school we used to talk a lot about his business and the accounting. So when I was eighteen I got on a plane to the Netherlands’, explains Maritza Russel. Rotterdam was cold and Russel often felt lonely at first. ‘I had a sheltered upbringing and my student flat in the Alexanderpolder was something of a culture shock.’ But she certainly didn’t let this show when she attended lectures. She is still friends with many of the people she studied with. But after three years of study, her life was turned upside down. Following Desi Bouterse’s coup in her home country, all financial assets were frozen, which meant that Russel couldn’t pay for her studies and accommodation. She was forced to leave university. She immersed herself in the world of business and took a part-time evening course in accountancy. ‘I was the last one to leave work, and I used to study until midnight. I seized the opportunities that came my way.’ By the age of 25 she was head of the accounting department of a technical company in Rotterdam. She now
publishes her own magazine: Brown. In 1998 she was voted Black Businesswoman of the Year. She has just discovered a new market: childcare, and is currently working to provide more out-of-school facilities and day-care centres for children.
Responsible parenting Deborah Post is very different from Russel. She is just as motivated as Russel when it comes to her business, but looks concerned when Russel talks about the market for out-ofhours care. Russel sees opportunities for her business as a result of the increased demand for out-of-school care. ‘Lots of parents want to go shopping at the weekend, but the children don’t want to do that at all. They start tugging at Mum while she’s looking at clothes in a shop. It’s better if we take care of the children at those times.’ Post responds: ‘I wonder whether it’s a good thing at all if parents go shopping at the weekend. Why do parents put their children in the crèche so often and for so long?’ Post makes a plea for responsible parenting, complete with organic fruit and environmentally-friendly nappies. That sums up the difference between the two women. Russel: ‘Deborah asks why people make certain decisions, and she wants
to encourage them to change by raising their awareness. I look at practical problems and see how I can solve them. Russel remarks that there are often more factors underlying a decision than you might think: ‘Some parents take their children to the crèche for 12 hours a day, five days a week. That isn’t good for a child. But when you talk to the parents you discover a hornet’s nest of problems. In cases like that, the children are better off with trained carers than with parents who have an alcohol or drug problem.’
juice – is a success. More and more companies, catering outlets and hotels are putting Rootz on their menu. ‘Many students want to work for a big multinational when they graduate’, Post observes. ‘And entrepreneurs are often more focused on their career than on the world around them - even though they go for a walk in the country on Sundays. I want people to stay involved with the natural environment in their work.’ She explains that her degree in Business Administration is particularly useful in discussions with companies. ‘One of the main things you need when
The meeting between Russel (l) and Post took place in Schipluiden, in the organic restaurant owned by Post’s parents.
Apple in a bottle Post would never become involved in the childcare business, but she can well appreciate Russel’s well-considered arguments and hands-on approach. ‘My parents are both businesspeople, so I knew from a young age that I wanted to run my own business. I wanted to have the freedom to make my own decisions, rather than being led by someone else.’ One of the things that Post aims for in her business is greater sustainability. ‘I grew up here in Schipluiden’, she says, pointing out of the window. ‘The windfall apples in the orchards here all go rotten because no-one picks them up. Processing and bottling them is better than wasting them. Her product Rootz – small bottles of healthy organic fruit
‘I’ve known since I was young that I wanted to run my own business’. you run a business is strong intuition. You don’t learn that at university, but when you’re talking to multinationals it’s useful if you can understand the figures and think in a strategic way. Thanks to my degree, I’m on an equal footing with my discussion partners and I’ve learned to look at things from more than one angle and from a long-term perspective.’
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Erasmus University and internationalization
What does EUR do (and not do) outside the Netherlands? The internationalization policy of Erasmus University is ‘research-driven’. In other words, the university doesn’t focus on student exchange, and doesn’t enter into partnerships with institutions abroad unless there is a match between research areas and researchers. ‘It’s about the transfer of knowledge between the countries with which we forge links’, explains Marjolein Griethuysen, director of International Affairs. The university has chosen to focus on three countries outside Europe, namely China, Brazil and India. It has had contacts with China for some time, but the focus on India and Brazil is fairly recent. Visits will be made – or have been made to the three countries in the current academic year. Within the three countries, the university will focus on certain cities and regions, partly because they are continental in scale. In Brazil the focus is on São Paulo, in India on Delhi and Mumbai, and in China on Shanghai and Peking. Where possible, these cities were chosen in cooperation with the City of Rotterdam, which also orients itself to these countries and to cities and regions where ports and logistics play an important role.
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EUR is making the most of opportunities abroad
A university’s opportunities are no longer confined to its campus or country. Erasmus University has a clear vision for internationalization: focus on top-level research in a limited number of countries with potential. One such country is India, which was visited by an EUR delegation at the beginning of 2011. The visit was a success. text Wieneke Gunneweg illustration Lobke van Aar
In a faraway foreign country you experience more in a day than you would in the Netherlands. That was also the case during the EUR visit to India. A delegation from the University flew from one end of the country to the other, attending meetings and appointments. This was written on 5 February 2011, as a busy 747 was taking off from Schiphol and heading for Delhi, India’s capital city. On board are Pauline van der Meer Mohr (Chairman of the Executive Board of EUR), researchers from Erasmus MC, the Erasmus School of Law, the Institute of Healthcare Policy & Management, and the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies(IHS). Other representatives followed later in the week, from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS, which became part of the ‘Erasmus family’ last year), the Erasmus School of Economics and the Faculty of Social Sciences, on this the university’s first general visit to India.
A foot in the door Early in the morning on the first day, the delegation visit a slum located a fifteen-minute drive away from the hotel in New Delhi. The people from HIS take the lead. Researcher Marc Jansen points to a small complex that houses the neighbourhood’s sanitary facilities. He explains why such a facility – although well-intentioned – won’t work, because the local council doesn’t
maintain it and keep it clean. Meanwhile we’re surrounded by local children who think the VIP visitors are ideal subjects for trying out their English. The day ends in the residence of the Netherlands ambassador to India, Bob Hiensch. The residence’s stunning architecture dates back to the early 20th century. We are welcomed by the staff, who inform us that five Dutch universities are visiting India this year, and that UvA beat us to it two weeks ago. The embassy is glad to receive the delegations and sees many opportunities – for EUR too – in this emerging economy. Before we return to the hotel, we go for a spin on the drive of the residence in a bright orange Tata Nano, the low-price car made in India.
Euphoric mood The other days are quickly filled for the delegation of managers, researchers and support staff, with visits to some twenty different research institutes, universities and public-sector organizations - all with a view to reinforcing existing partnerships or establishing new contacts for future projects in the context of joint research and knowledge exchange. Although missions such as these are prepared down to the last detail, you can never predict the outcome. Much to everyone’s (pleasant) surprise, the mood becomes euphoric half way through the week, when there is such a rapport between researchers from Erasmus MC and an Indian medical research institute that the parties want to seal the partnership immediately with a joint document. Eventually, after hectic to-ings and fro-ings in the corridor, telephone calls to bosses and evenhigher bosses, a Letter of Intent is signed minutes before the EUR delegation leaves for the airport. Now, shortly after the visit, the researchers in Rotterdam and India are already working on the first case study.
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Erasmus University and internationalization
Tea and business cards The delegation could be compared to a colony of bees. Academics fly in and out. Some of them stay three days, others two. One of them only visits Delhi, and another only visits Mumbai. This is not a jaunt or a week’s holiday for any of the team; the time is put to good use. Each day follows a similar pattern: everyone has usually had a late night because of a dinner with alumni or a reception, so breakfast-time is too early. A quick cup of coffee and then it’s time to go – there’s a busy schedule and the minibuses are waiting. Unfortunately we’re not the only ones on the road, and not the only vehicle that tries to close the gap between the ramshackle bus and the moped rickshaw. A constant stream of noise from sputtering mopeds, cars - and a lot of hooting – penetrates the windows of our vehicle.
When we arrive at the institute we’re scheduled to visit, managers and researchers gather around oval tables with microphones, and the formalities, including the exchange of gifts, are dealt with. This is followed by a promotional film about EUR or for example – depending on the audience – a PowerPoint presentation pointing out just how fantastic and successful Erasmus MC is. All backed up with figures of course – after all, we’re in the company of scientists here. While the various researchers and managers sound each other out in terms of opportunities for cooperation, servants arrive with tea, snacks and bottled water. The choice is black tea or white tea (with milk and a lot of sugar). After an hour or so – depending on how much interest each side has shown – the meeting is concluded. Hands are shaken again and business cards are given out. On the way back to the minibus, the first conclusions are drawn:
‘That wasn’t it’, or ‘We should definitely come back here’. The minibus joins the cacophony of traffic again, and we proceed to the next address.
Success The six-day trip, involving visits to some twenty institutes in Delhi and Mumbai, eventually resulted in two Memoranda of Understanding, a Letter of Intent and many concrete cooperation agreements between researchers. A couple of weeks later, the University ventures the cautious conclusion that the trip to India was a success - and that the cost can be recouped many times over.
Internationalization according to… Leonie van Leeuwen, fifth-year student of Medicine at Erasmus MC. Leonie travelled to India with the delegation as an EUR student representative. ‘For students, internationalization mainly means: going abroad during your degree programme. You learn to be more independent, to deal with the unexpected setbacks. It begins when you try to make your travel arrangements - agreements aren’t always taken as seriously in other countries. Apart from that, you learn how the world of work in that country differs from that in the Netherlands. The advantage is that you learn to look at things differently. You can apply that later when you’re back in the Netherlands. Spending time in a completely different culture can also have benefits in terms of learning to mix with people from the different cultures in Rotterdam. Last
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but not least, studying abroad is simply an enjoyable experience, because following an internship or doing research abroad does feel a little bit like a holiday. But what you get from spending time abroad obviously depends on you as an individual. International mobility for students also benefits the University. When students spend time abroad, it contributes to their personal
‘You learn to be more independent and deal with unexpected setbacks’. development and should therefore make them better students, which in turn means that the University produces students of a higher calibre. I think that’s good for the reputation of the University.’
Internationalization according to… Colombian Jaime Hernandez, alumnus of the Institute of Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) since 2001, is a lecturer at Javeriana University in Bogotá. He became president of IHS Alumni International (IHS AI) in summer 2010. ‘For me, internationalization means understanding today’s world, being globally connected. Sometimes there is too much emphasis on travelling around the world and ‘exploiting’ areas with potential. In my view, effective internationalization should come from both sides, certainly where the academic world is concerned. Knowledge is gathered all over the world. As an academic you have to be aware of that and make use of it. In concrete terms, it means that academics establish links with each other to set up joint projects, and become aware
of the differences between people and the potential of diversity. In turn, students can benefit from those contacts, and learn about what is going on in the world from a first-hand source. But the objectives of our international alumni association go beyond simply establishing contacts. Our ideal is to facilitate strong ties between alumni. Some countries – such as India, Peru and Indonesia – already have strong local alumni organizations. In other countries, they still need to be developed. In the long term we want to make use of the international network of alumni to help develop joint initiatives in social, professional and academic
‘Sometimes there is too much emphasis on ‘exploiting’ areas with potential’ fields. One idea is to provide services to communities in which people live and work. IHS AI now has more than five hundred members, but with a worldwide membership of seven thousand, there’s still a long way to go.’
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Erasmus University and internationalization
What are the benefits? Ultimately, all cooperation is undertaken not only to underpin an organization’s research, but also to benefit the University. Such benefits might include PhD students coming to the Netherlands, and their home country funding their studies. The recent visit to India also resulted in concrete projects that attract research funding or consultancy and teaching contracts. This autumn, a workshop is being held in Rotterdam so that social scientists from EUR can work with their colleagues from India. The workshop is designed to result in research projects with the related funding. In addition, the Maharashtra Economic Development Council, comprising representatives of business in Mumbai, has asked EUR to draw up an integrated plan for the region’s development in terms of logistics, health and governance. The cooperation with Brazil, together with the City of Rotterdam, is still at an early stage. Contact has been made to provide research and teaching in the field of port management and logistics. EUR will in any case participate in the plans of a major fund for the state of São Paulo. The money for this has been raised by businesses in the city.
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Internationalization according to… Peter van der Spek, Professor of Bioinformatics at Erasmus MC, carries out research into genetic defects in cooperation with fellow researchers in India and the US. ‘For me, internationalization is about building knowledge networks between countries and researchers. I want to link the Indians’ data and IT on the one hand, and the Americans’ genomics technology on the other. In India there are 1 billion people who have genetic drift because they intermarry according to the caste system. Genetic drift is the opposite of natural selection. There is a lot more material available on certain diseases and defects than in the Netherlands. In India there is also an increase in western diseases as a result of the country’s rapid economic
growth. At the moment the Indians don’t yet have the infrastructure to research this on a large scale. The Americans do have the expensive equipment for mapping the human genome. However, due to their legal culture, the Americans don’t dare to use it for research. The DNA of one patient fills 250 km of paper. What we’re good at here in Rotterdam is finding a ‘typing error’ in those 250 km. You look for differences between normal tissue and tumour material from a patient, for example. We look for links between gene expression and DNA variants in these genes so that we can divide patients into groups. The purpose of this patient grouping is to be able to offer a more specific treatment. Erasmus MC is very strong in translating scientific research findings into new clinical applications and treatment methods. There is an opportunity for the Netherlands here, since we have a good infrastructure for patient care and research. We can be the first to bring the technique into the clinic.’
Why Rotterdam?
I slow down as I walk past Rotterdam is: keep on going. Jop Euwijk can see this strength in De Verwoeste Stad, a sculpture by Zadkine. text Mieke Fiers photo Ronald van den Heerik
Name: Jop Euwijk (26) Studied: Bachelor’s degree in History, Master’s degree in Social History, Master’s degree in Media & Journalism Graduated: 2008/2009 Proud of: De Verwoeste Stad by Zadkine
Jop Euwijk can come up with any number of things that make Rotterdam special. In September 2010 he returned ‘with great pleasure’ to his university town having spent a few years in Delft. Back to his friends and acquaintances and to the hometown of his band Surface Noise. ‘It felt like a warm blanket.’ Now he is back, he again passes that one special sculpture nearly every day:
De Verwoeste Stad by Ossip Zadkine. ‘I already knew the sculpture from pictures and the like, but when I started university I would pass it on my bike and I really started to look at it. It’s like with the Eiffel Tower or the Pyramids: you’ve seen them really often, but once you’re there they make a huge impression on you. I slow down as I walk past. I then feel that there is something bigger than me. It’s also quite a brutal sculpture. Sometimes it scares you: imagine it coming down from its pedestal. De Verwoeste Stad represents the devastation caused by the bombardment but also the hope afterwards. That’s Rotterdam: keep on going. It’s a big feeling and you’re part of it. If you look at old photos of the sculpture, it’s standing in an empty square. Now it’s almost been pushed aside by the buildings that have sprung up around it. This is the proof that Rotterdam keeps on going, keeps on building. It sounds great, of course, this renewal, but as a historian I also think it’s a shame sometimes. A sculpture like this should never really disappear.’ De Verwoeste Stad was made by Ossip Zadkine as a comment upon the bombardment of Rotterdam. It was unveiled on 15 May 1953 and is on Plein 1940. It was a present from the management of the Bijenkorf department store. A condition of the donation was that the sculpture would stay in the same place.
erasmusalumni. magazine 31 29
Alumni Affairs
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam Alumni & Corporate Relations Office Kamer A1-62 Burgemeester Oudlaan 50 3062 PA Rotterdam Telephone 010-4081110 Fax 010-4089075 alumni@smc.eur.nl www.eur.nl/alumni
Conference: The human scale? Together with R.R.V. Maurits (the alumni association of SSR Rotterdam) and the Erasmus School of Economics, EAV is organizing the conference ‘The human scale?’, which will be held on 13 May 2011 and will have lectures by geologist Salomon Kroonenberg, philosopher Rob Wijnberg and Prof. Jan Pronk. You are warmly invited to attend. Prof. dr. Salomon Kroonenberg: geologist and professor by special appointment at Delft University of Technology, author of De menselijke maat – de aarde over tienduizend jaar (The Human Measure – the earth in ten thousand years’ time). The earth has a life of its own, which has already spanned 4.5 billion years. All natural disasters have already occurred during this period. However, we still tend to use the human scale for our planet and not the scale of the earth itself. Rob Wijnberg: columnist, journalist, philosopher, publicist and editor-in-chief of NRC Next. From the credit crisis to Geert Wilders – Rob Wijnberg is razor sharp as he dissects the most interesting political, social and cultural events of our time with the help of great philosophical and political thinkers. Professor Jan Pronk: was a PvdA minister in the Den Uyl, Lubbers III, Kok I and Kok II cabinets. Held different positions in the United Nations. Is chairman of the IKV Foundation and is a professor at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague (part of the EUR). The world is changing but politics is not changing with it. The United Nations is decaying, development cooperation is carrying on in the same old way and Europe is mainly preoccupied with itself. The West applies double standards. Friday 13 May, from 2:00 p.m. in room LB 107, networking reception at about 4:00 p.m. Entrance fee: €10, includes coffee and a drink at the reception. Call/mail to see if places are still available: 010-4149407 or eav@erasmusalumnivereniging.nl. More info: www.erasmusalumnivereniging.nl
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Alumni Adviesraad Frans van Houten, Derek Roos, Dominic Schrijer, Michel Dutrée, Paul van der Maaws, Sietze Hepkema, Henk Weltevreden, Ebru Umar, Dick Verbeek, Ila Kasem, Steven van Eijck, Frans Weisglas, Pieter Zevenbergen (chairman), Marcella Breedeveld, Rinske Brand, Lilianne Ploumen, Fiona Dove, Jan Hendrik Egberts, Arie Fakkert UL membership card Alumni of the EUR (including IHS, ISS and RSM) can apply for an UL membership card at a reduced rate. Instead of €30, alumni pay only €10 per year. Half of this amount goes to the Erasmus Scholarship Fund. Language courses The language courses of the Language and Training Centre (TTC) of the Erasmus University are also open to alumni. The TTC provides evening courses in Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, English, French and German. EUR alumni receive a 10% discount on the fee for external participants. For course information and conditions of registration, see www.eur.nl/ttc/taalcursus/ open. Information booklet Each year, the Alumni Corporate Relations Office publishes a digital information booklet about recent graduates. The booklet can be downloaded from the website www.eur.nl/alumni. YouTube channel The University is making increasing use of social media
(LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter). The Erasmus Alumni Office has recently set up its own YouTube channel (Alumni EUR) where different films can be found that might interest you as alumni. If you have any pictures or films (from the old days or from now) that you wish to share with other alumni, you can contact the Alumni Office: alumni@eur.nl. HonEURs Alumni Association Each year the Erasmus University offers an exclusive programme to 25 talented second-year students from all disciplines: the Erasmus Honours Programme. The HonEURs Alumni Association was set up in 2009. Up to now, a number of speakers including Prof. Tariq Ramadam (philosopher), Lard Friese (former CEO of Nationale-Nederlanden) and Prof. Ab Osterhaus (virologist) have given lectures to our members. If you are a former participant and/or wish to contribute in the form of a lecture or suchlike, take a look at www.honeurs.nl. Opening of the Academic Year 2011-2012 You are all invited to the traditional opening of the Academic Year 2011-2012, 5 September 2011, Aula, Erasmus University Rotterdam. General Erasmus Alumni Association (EAV) EAV secretarial office Alexandra Staab eav@erasmusalumnivereniging.nl Telephone: 010-4149407 (10.00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
www.erasmusalumnivereniging.nl Mandeville lecture At the invitation of Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Rotterdam business community under the umbrella of Club Rotterdam, the international theatre and television producer Joop van den Ende will be giving an honorary lecture – the Mandeville lecture – on Thursday 19 May 2011. This honorary lecture is considered to be a ‘social honorary doctorate’. Joop van den Ende is being honoured because of his pioneering role in the live entertainment sector and his valuable impetus to culture in the Netherlands. 19 May 2011, Aula, EUR. Info on www.esealumni.nl WO-Monitor Did you graduate between 1 October 2009 and 30 September 2010 (Bachelor’s, no further degree, Master’s or doctorandus)? Please note: the biennial WOMonitor will be conducted in the period of October 2011 January 2012. The results of the WO-Monitor will be used for changes in the educational and alumni policy of the University. So please take part. Cake for the first EA The first edition of the EA alumni magazine was provided digitally to ‘cover model’ Ronald van Raak. The cake of the day had a very fitting design, see photo next page.
Erasmus School of Economics Alumni Affairs ESE Alumni Affairs ESE Jef Verschuren 010-4081458 verschuren@ese.eur.nl Charles Hermans 010-4081803 hermans@ese.eur.nl www.esealumni.nl The ESE organizes a limited number of annual events such as the ESE Alumni Day in the spring on the opening day of the EFR Business Week and the Autumn Day. More information is available at www.esealumni.nl. Agenda: The human scale? Together with SSR and EAV (Erasmus Alumni Association) ESE is organizing the conference ‘The human scale?’ with lectures by geologist Salomon Kroonenberg, philosopher Rob Wijnberg and Prof. Jan Pronk. You are warmly invited to attend. 13 May 2011, 2:00 p.m., Campus Woudestein, room LB-107. Register via www.esealumni.nl.
ESE maintains ties with alumni The Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) attaches great importance to strong ties between the alumni themselves and between the alumni and their faculty. This means graduates can learn from the practical experiences of others and can keep up to date with developments in their field. All new ESE alumni receive a two-year trial membership of the EAV (General Erasmus Alumni Association) as a gift from their faculty.
Faculty of Social Sciences FSW Alumni Affairs Public Administration: Suzanne Overbeeke 010-4082346 overbeeke@fsw.eur.nl Psychology: Ilona Boutestijn boutestijn@fsw.eur.nl Sociology: Erik Snel snel@fsw.eur.nl News Psychology ten years old. The Psychology degree programme is ten years old and we are going to celebrate this. The event, which has been given the theme of ‘Illusion’, will take place on Friday 14 October 2011. There will be a congress during the day followed by a reception and then the opportunity to party at the Hot club, which has been hired exclusively for the event. The committee is currently looking for and negotiating with sponsors as well as building the website. We will keep you informed via http:// www.psychologielustrumnl/
and via our LinkedIn group. You can e-mail any questions, ideas or comments to eurlustrumpsy@fsw.eur.nl. 14 October 2011, Anniversary Day for Psychology alumni New degree programme: Philosophy of Education The new Philosophy of Education degree programme is set to begin in September at the FSW. Public Administration scoops large European study 2.7 million for research into the public sector of the future. How do public services contribute to social cohesion? More info: www.cocops.eu New professors Prof. Joop Koppenjan, Professor of Public Administration Prof. Paul Heelas, Senior Research Professor of Sociology of Contemporary Spirituality Alumni Associations: ABEUR ABEUR is an active alumni association with as many as 2,200 members. The board consists of Caroline van Doorn (chairman), Martin van Hengel (secretary), Arco Strop (treasurer), Mieke Peters, Edwin van de Graaf, Jacques Stuart, Jacco van der Tak and Jasper van de Jagt. For activities go to www.eur. nl/fsw/bsk/abeur/ or our LinkedIn group. Psychology Alumni-psy@fsw.eur.nl
Law alumni: you might get a phone call from us! The Erasmus School of Law (ESL) wants to strengthen ties with its alumni. In order to find out what alumni and Faculty could mean for each other, the students of today are going to phone the students of yesterday. You can expect a phone call in September or October. Prior to this, you will receive a letter with further information. We would really appreciate it if you would participate in the phone call. ESL has more than 12,000 alumni, of whom a growing number are involved with the faculty. The aim is to speak to 3,000 of you. The ESL is the first to conduct such a telephone campaign within Erasmus University. Questions already? Mail fisscher@frg.eur.nl.
Sociology All graduates automatically become a member. Membership is free. If you wish to stay informed of activities there is a group on LinkedIn called: Alumnivereniging Sociologie (EUR).
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Alumni Affairs
Erasmus School of Law (ESL) ESL Alumni Affairs Arnoud Houweling houweling@frg.eur.nl Lesley Fisscher fisscher@frg.eur.nl
Generation R and ERGO in the spotlight This year everyone can become better acquainted with two important population studies: Generation R and the Rotterdam Study (RS). Generation R has focused since 2001 on the growth, development and health of 10,000 children from Rotterdam. With the RS, researchers have been studying 15,000 people aged 45 or older for 21 years already and are investigating the factors that determine the development and progress of illness at an older age. The studies are the focus of the We’R exhibition at the Natural History Museum Rotterdam, which will open on 24 September 2011. The possibility of a theatre production and a film programme is being investigated. Lof der Geneeskunst (In Praise of Medicine), the annual public lecture of the Erasmus MC in De Doelen, is also dominated by these big population studies. Bert Hofman, the spiritual father of RS and Generation R, has been invited, as has biomedical scientist Walter Willett. As is the case each year, alumni and emeriti of Erasmus MC will be invited to a lunch meeting before Lof der Geneeskunst.
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Agenda - 19 May: Symposium ‘The continuous right to multiform education and educational law’ - 20 May: Prof. Anthony Ogus Seminar - 8 June: EITC symposium ‘The role of management systems in monitoring’ - 24 June: Legal Argumentation Symposium - 1 July: ‘Technology, Law, Management & Leadership’ symposium on the occasion of the departure of Prof. R.V. De Mulder - 14 October: Farewell lecture by Prof. H.A. Kogels - 28 October: ‘Juge de Paix’ congress More information can be found at www.frg.eur.nl Personalia Professors appointed - Prof. J.P. Balkenende, Professor of Governance, Institutions and Internationalization (ESL en ESE) - Prof. P.W.A. Huisman, Endowed Professor of Educational Law - Prof. R.H.J.M. Staring, Endowed Professor of Mobility, Surveillance and Crime - Prof. X.E. Kramer, Endowed Professor of European Civil Procedure Other appointments Prof. M.W.C. Feteris has been appointed State Councillor of the Council of the State of the Netherlands Inaugural lectures 19 May 2011: Prof. P. Huisman 10 June 2011: Prof. R.C.R. Siekmann
Erasmus MC Alumni Affairs Erasmus MC Connie Meilof c.meilof@erasmusmc.nl 010-7044538 alumni@erasmusmc.nl www.erasmusmc.nl/alumni Erasmus MC Alumni Association Alumni officers: Fred Balvert, f.balvert@erasmusmc.nl and Connie Meilof, c.meilof@erasmusmc.nl Agenda: 23 September 2011: Lof der Geneeskunst (In Praise of Medicine), De Doelen, Rotterdam Information: www.erasmusmc.nl/alumni
Faculty of Philosophy (FW) FW Alumni Affairs Willy Ophelders 010-4088993 ophelders@fwb.eur.nl The ERA faculty association is playing an increasing part in involving alumni in the Faculty. In recent years ERA has successfully organized study trips to Scotland, Berlin and Saint Petersburg, as well as well-attended pub lectures and memorable Christmas and New Year’s Eve receptions in café Boudewijn in Rotterdam. Furthermore, ERA recently launched a new faculty magazine ‘{zonder} Twijfel’.
Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication ESHCC Alumni Affairs Ms Sabaï Doodkorte MA (Alumni Officer) 010-4082874 alumnifhk@eshcc.eur.nl www.eshcc.eur.nl/alumni Contact with the Faculty If you fill in the contact form you will receive invitations to alumni activities. You can also become a member of the alumni groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. We post news and job vacancies on this website. If you have something you wish to share with your fellow alumni, don’t hesitate to post a message. Personalia Inaugural lecture of Prof. Peter Nikken Prof. Peter Nikken was appointed from 1 January 2011 to the Endowed Chair of Media and Parental Mediation at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication. The chair was established to increase knowledge about the role of parents in their children’s media use. 9 June, 4:00 p.m., Aula EUR
Rotterdam School of Management RSM Alumni Affairs Corporate & Alumni Relations Eva Rood, Alumni Manager Business Administration Relations Room T6-25 010-408 2698 alumni@rsm.nl www.alumni.nl RSM Outlook If you no longer receive – or have never received – RSM Outlook, our twice-yearly corporate magazine with business administration articles and alumni news, it is because we don’t have your latest address in our file. Send your contact details to alumni@rsm.nl and you will receive Outlook from now on.
Agenda For a current and complete overview of alumni events, visit our website or subscribe to our electronic newsletter. You will then receive a monthly overview of news and meetings. Send us an e-mail with ‘Newsletter subscription’ in the subject line and we will put you on our mailing list. RSM Alumni Day The next frontiers of
management. With speakers including top alumnus Bart Becht (CEO of Reckitt Benckiser). 27 May 2011, www.rsm.nl/ alumniday
Business Administration reunion For anyone who started Business Administration in 1985, 1986 or 1987. 3 September 2011, more info via the alumni office or the LinkedIn group ‘BedrijfskundeEUR’ RSM Leadership Summit 2011 – Successful Reinventions The financial crisis has compelled many companies to make difficult decisions. They have implemented cuts and reviewed their core business, strategy and working processes. In this period of transformation new strengths have surfaced, as have new competitors. Speakers including Sören Hansen (CFO of IKEA) and Guus Dekkers (CIO of Airbus) will take you through the renewal process that their companies have undergone. 7 October 2011, www.rsm.nl/ summit RSM Annual Fund ‘Receiving the alumni scholarship was absolutely the enabling factor in my education at RSM.’ Vinod Nair, MBA 2010 graduate.
In 2009, we set up an annual fund. With a donation to this fund, you can help us with our aim to be one of the top five business schools in Europe. The RSM Annual Fund is supported by the Vereniging Trustfonds Erasmus Universiteit (Erasmus University Annual Fund Association). More information: www.rsm. nl/annualfund.
Name change: FHKW has become ESHCC In January 2011 the Faculty of History and Arts was renamed the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC). This new name makes it clearer which degree programmes are available at the Faculty. An English name was chosen for a number of reasons, one of which is that, alongside different Dutch language degree programmes, the Faculty has an international Bachelor’s degree programme (International Bachelor’s degree programme in Communication and Media, IBCom), three English language Master’s degree programmes and two Research Master’s programmes.
International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) ISS Alumni Affairs Sandra Nijhof / Amy Gammon Nijhof@iss.nl Gammon@iss.nl www.iss.nl/alumni
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erasmusalumni. magazine 35
Alumni Affairs
Holland Alumni Conference The ISS is represented in the sounding-board group for the Holland Alumni Conference 2011 that Nuffic is organizing on 26 and 27 May 2011 in The Hague. Former students who followed a degree programme in the Netherlands at a university or a college of higher professional education will be invited to attend. More information: www. nuffic.nl
iBMG
Meetings is: The Need for Urban Professionals in 2011, Challenges and Solutions. IHS Alumni are encouraged to actively contribute to the theme (alumni@ihs.nl). The meetings will be connected with the four Refresher Courses that IHS will organize in 2011, thanks to the financial support of Nuffic. These courses refresh and fine tune participants’ experience and knowledge with current international policy practices and new issues that have emerged since their participation in IHS courses. It is an excellent opportunity for networking. Find out whether you are eligible to join a Refresher Course in your region at www.ihs.nl/alumni. Fellowships are available for NFP alumni from a Netherlands higher education institute. Apply online at www.ihs.nl/login
International) was awarded with honors for his PhD in Philosophy: ‘El Parque de mi Barrio: Production and Consumption of Open Spaces in Popular settlements in Bogotá.’
For a full list of IHS Alumni Associations please visit http:// www.ihs.nl/alumni/alumni_ networks/
IHS Alumni stay connected! Please update your contact details and submit your professional and social news for our alumni e-newsletter. alumni@ihs.net
Organizing Local Economic Development - South Africa October 2011 Displacement and Resettlement: Policies, Methods and Tools to Prevent Impoverishment - Nigeria, October/November 2011 Reducing Vulnerability for Flooding and Landslides – Gender Responsive Adaptation Strategies in Times of Climate Change in the Andes Region Ecuador, December 2011 Bridging Borders – Integrated Strategic Planning for Cities and Regions - Egypt, November 2011
Agenda/ events Alumni Meetings and Refresher Courses Theme for 2011’s Alumni
Personalia: Mr. Jaime Hernandez Garcia (Colombia; Alumnus ICHUD 80, President IHS Alumni
Institute of Health Policy & Management (iBMG) Ernst Bakker alumni@bmg.eur.nl www.bmg.eur.nl Alumnivereniging BMG (aBMG) Yvonne van Persie secretaris@abmg.nl www.abmg.nl The board of the aBMG consists of: Françoise Johansen (chairman), Yvonne van Persie (secretary), Jeroen Homberg (treasurer), Mathijs Romme (chairman for collaboration and contact management), Jair Eckmeyer (chairman for pr & communication)
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies IHS Alumni Relations Office Ms Sarah Steendam MA, Mr Laurens Ombelet MSc. +31 (0)10 408 9874 / +31 (0)10 408 9850 alumni@ihs.nl www.ihs.nl/alumni
IHS Alumni International: Board meeting in New Delhi In February 2011 the steering board of the global network met in New Delhi for its annual meeting on the occasion of the Erasmus University Rotterdam delegation visit to India. To strengthen the ties between alumni and extend the reach of the network, the board proposes to organize an IHS Alumni International Urban Professional Award to be inaugurated at the World Urban Forum in Bahrain in 2012. The board also plans to increase activities on LinkedIn and aims to support the ambitions of local associations of IHS Alumni in their second term. More information will soon be available on www.ihsai.com.
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Local Chapters: IHS Alumni worldwide Since the first graduation of IHS Alumni in 1958, alumni have been linking through national alumni associations in their home countries. We are happy to congratulate the following Alumni Associations with their recent foundation: Netherlands: Mr. Jacob Lee Calhoun China: Ms. Phyllis Wu Kenya: Mr. John G. Gitonga Zambia: Mr. Muzuba Muchindu Brazil: Mr. Felipe Francisco de Souza South Africa: Mr. Fred Kusambiza
Column Selection at the gate
Petri’s Eggs on your wall at home The Erasmus Gallery is holding a photographic exhibition on Hans Petri until 23 May. If you would like to have a souvenir of ‘the Eggs’ after this, you can order a photo of them until 23 May at the EUR’s Art Affairs department. The format is 28.5 x 100 cm. You can choose from the following options: A. Lambda print, glossy, mounted on 2mm dibond with an aluminium bracket on the back to hang the photo on the wall. A lambda print is a laser print on photo paper. Price: €165 B. As choice A but matte. Price: €165 C. Print on 300 gram paper. A beautiful and durable print made on a large format printer using high-quality polymer inks. The colours are unusually deep and the matte paper gives the print an extra dimension. Supplied as a loose print, so that you can frame it yourself. Price: €95 To order, send an r-mail to bodewits@efb.eur.nl Subject: order print + your initials State the following in your e-mail: - quantity - choice A, B or C You will receive confirmation of your order with a payment request and an order number. We expect the prints to be ready at the end of May. You will be notified when you can collect your order from the department of Art Affairs. The prices listed include 19% VAT.
I am willing to bet that, in the almost four decades that the Erasmus University Rotterdam has been located at Woudestein, not a single student has chosen to study here because of the attractive location. Unless it was someone with a bizarre predilection for overdoses of concrete, windy expanses and high-rise boxes. No, whoever lets their choice of degree programme depend on a sedate, academic decor would prefer to swap their parental home for an alma mater with a greater Anton Pieck factor such as Utrecht, Leiden, Groningen or Amsterdam. The big advantage of this for the EUR degree programmes is that they are attended by extremely motivated students who have chosen Rotterdam purely on the basis of the course. Today, in 2011, little seems to have changed since Monique van der Ven and Rutger Hauer flitted across the barren campus for the filming of Turks Fruit. Woudestein once again looks like a building site – some even dare to compare it to a war zone – where heaps of sand, construction pits and piles of felled trees are everyday sights. This is because a great deal of hard work is going into transforming the campus into a twenty-first-century state-of-the-art campus with a student pavilion, an underground car park, student accommodation and – which landscape architect doesn’t include this in the plan – something with water. But we’re not that far yet, which means that there will now be a whole generation of undergraduates who in terms of campus atmosphere won’t have much more than the sound of sawing and pile-driving, diversions and temporary lecture accommodation. Many trees have literally had to be removed, either permanently or temporarily. Students who arrive at Woudestein in the coming years will have to cope without the romantic blossom in the spring that you may once have smooched under; for them no more ‘Petri’s Eggs’ in the pond – practically the only concrete with curves – where you may once have perched to eat your sandwiches at lunchtime. Nor will they be able to sunbathe on the central lawn this summer. No, today’s first-year students are studying – just like their peers at the beginning of the 1970s – in the midst of sand, stones and builders. In order to absorb the cabinet cuts, the EUR is considering selective intake. Completely unnecessary. That’s how it’s always worked. Gert van der Ende (1962) is desk editor of Erasmus Magazine, the university paper, and studied at Wageningen University.
erasmusalumni. magazine 37
08 • 09 • 10 julY 2011 North sea jazz festival ahmad jamal • BB KiNg • ChaKa KhaN • sNooP dog seal • BraNford marsalis Quartet • CaNdY dulfer esPeraNza sPaldiNg ChamBer musiC soCietY • gotaN ProjeCt joNathaN jeremiah • madeleiNe PeYrouX • rumer haNCoCK/shorter/ miller triBute to miles… Natalie Cole • raPhael saadiQ • tom joNes Praise & Blame and many more Tickets: via www.northseajazz.com and www.livenation.nl and via 0900 - 300 1250 (45 cpm)
On this page you will find a small selection of our stunning col-
One euro of each order is donated to the Erasmus Scholarship
lection of promotional gifts from Erasmus University. You can
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dam. For more information and donations visit:
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erasmus in europa
Erasmus in Europe € 3,95 The life story of Erasmus, in comic–book format; from 7 years of age, but for all ages. Dutch or English
Sweatshirt* € 29,95 Colours: pink/d.blue/ grey/green Sizes: xs – xxl * Sweatshirt plus jogging bottoms (not shown) for € 50 together
Pen set € 35 Ballpoint pen + fountain pen
T-shirt € 14,95 Colours: black / white / blue / grey / brown / green Sizes: xs – xxl
Bronze statue of Erasmus € 99,65 Height: 15 cm
Chocolate bar € 3,50 (Ø 12 cm)
Photography (partly): Frank Versteegen/www.encreative.nl
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Erasmus University Rotterdam
EUR promotional gifts
Family Portrait
Father: Bert Euser, 62 Work: Director of WIA Educational, councillor in Albrandswaard Studied: Business Economics from 1965 to 1972 Member of: Societas Studiosorum Reformatorum Roterodamensis (SSR-R) Daughter: Heger Euser, 26 Work: Thuis op Straat (TOS) Studies: HBO in Cultural and Social Formation (CMV) and now studying Criminology at the EUR, 2008 until now Memberships: none
Social involvement runs in the family Bert Euser studied at EUR and his daughter Heger is in the middle of her studies there. text and photo Ronald van den Heerik
Heger: ‘I have set aside two years for my Master’s degree and this is my first year. I work 2.5 days a week at TOS. By offering sport and games to young people in Rotterdam-Zuid and involving their parents in this we are trying to give the city squares back to the neighbourhood.’
Bert: ‘Social involvement runs in the family. Alongside my work as the director of our family business, I’ve been active in politics for more than thirty years, just like my father did before me, alongside his business.’ Heger: ‘During my CMV course I did a work placement at TOS and saw that criminal tendencies often develop at an all too young age. I was driven to do something about this and therefore chose to study Criminology. It’s a lot more difficult but the satisfaction is also greater. I’m not a member of a student association; that involves commitments I don’t have time for.
Anyway, I prefer to choose my social activities myself.’ Bert: ‘In my day it was different. I came from a very sheltered protestant environment in Rhoon. Studying in the city was a huge transition. I was a well-behaved young lad of sixteen who underwent the ragging without any complaint. I’m still in regular touch with my year club Bols. Rotterdam is my city, even though I haven’t lived there for a long time now.’ Heger: ‘I do live there and I enjoy the directness of its inhabitants; if something’s wrong I prefer to hear it straight to my face.’
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KEEP YOUR CAREER MOVING…
Customer Experience Cinzia Fossati - Customer Service Team Leader, Nike, Participant of the RSM Diploma Programme in Business Management and Leadership
“ RSM is widely known for its reputation as a top business school and empowers the leaders of tomorrow. The RSM Diploma Programme is a reflection of this and has made it easier for me to understand a wide range of concepts necessary to be able to function in a managerial position.”
At RSM we recognise the importance of lifelong learning and understand that you want practical, relevant programmes to provide you with skills and knowledge you can immediately put to work. RSM Open Programmes expose you to: • State of the art knowledge from a top business school • Interactive sessions where your individual needs and business issues are in the lead • Expert coaching by world renowned faculty • Professional networking opportunities with your peers Upcoming Programmes & Start Dates: May Effective Negotiating Skills: 17 May 2011 Building Bridges with Chinese Business: 19 May 2011 June Finance for Non-Financials: 9 June 2011 August Masterclass Sustainable Cultural Entrepreneurship (in Dutch): 24 August 2011
September The Art of Project Management: 14 September 2011
20% Alumni Discount Please note that alumni of RSM or Erasmus University receive a discount on all open programmes.
October RSM Diploma Programme: 5 October 2011 November Strategic Account Management: 23 November 2011
For a complete overview of our open enrolment programmes please visit our website
www.rsm.nl/openprogrammes
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION AND ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RSM Open Programmes
ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY