TALENT & EDUCATION SPECIAL
TALENT & EDUCATION INTRO
WITH HANS VAN OOSTERHOUT
TEXT Céline Boute
PHOTOGRAPHY RSM
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The ‘War for Talent’ has been raging for a while now. Finding the right people who also are motivated, enthusiastic and knowledgeable is all-important for organizations. That’s why we’re devoting this issue to lifelong learning. Because, frankly, we’re never finished learning at any age! Hans van Oosterhout is a professor of corporate governance at Erasmus University’s Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), a setting where everything centres on learning and personal development. Having worked there for 29 years, he says he feels and shares the urgency to always keep investing in yourself.
R C D
HANS, THE MAIN FOCUS AT ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
IN WHAT WAY IS RSM PLAYING AN
Not only around life-changing choices, but also within
IS ON TRAINING LEADERS FOR INTERNATIONAL CAREERS.HOW
EDUCATIONAL ROLE IN ROTTERDAM?
or even beyond your field of work. My involvement in
DOES THE SCHOOL APPROACH THIS?
“As well as offering our bachelor’s programme in English,
putting together our new Global Executive MBA and train-
“Aside from training in the latest theoretical knowledge, RSM real-
we also still teach it in Dutch. This attracts 500 or more
ing future generations of leaders has pushed me to keep on
ly focuses on relevant skills and attitudes, so also the ability to do
students, also from the city itself. We play a key public
developing myself as well. RSM excels at working together
practical analyses, execute plans and show leadership when it mat-
role in Rotterdam and the region, which is home to many
with a very international and inclusive student population
ters. We offer a whole spectrum of programmes, from bachelor’s
immigrants and children of immigrants. That diversity is
to educate the leaders of tomorrow.”
degrees in English and Dutch – centring on basic business knowledge
reflected in our classrooms. In the almost thirty years I’ve
and skills that are crucial early on in a career – to RSM’s Global Execu-
worked here, I have seen a very clear shift towards great-
tive MBA, which trains senior managers for strategic board posts. And
er inclusivity at the business school. Another important
then a variety of master’s programmes in between. Our full-time MBA
facet for us is working with businesses that are based in
enrols 97% students from other countries. With our programmes for
Rotterdam. RSM has a Centre for Family Business,
everyone from starters to senior professionals, you could say we’re a
co-founded way back by locally based companies like De
one-stop-shop for lifelong learning.”
Kuyper Royal Distillers, Peterson and Van Oord to do research on family businesses and bring them to the atten-
THE SCHOOL TALKS ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE DRIVING ACTIVITIES
tion of our highly sought-after students.”
ACROSS ITS DIVISIONS OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND SOCIETAL IMPACT. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT?
WHAT IS THE SCHOOL’S VIEW ON TALENT IN ROTTERDAM?
“Our school and degree programmes are highly attuned to society
“We have a very international student body. Rotterdam it-
and the business world. We feel it’s hugely important to do all we can
self is a very enterprising and dynamic city and that exerts
to give our students equal opportunities when they embark on their
a big pull on top talent worldwide. This is good not only
careers. As a business school, we also want to do our part to achieve
for Rotterdam but also for our Dutch students, because it
the world development goals. Our academic research needs to meet
gives them a chance to collaborate but also forces them to
the highest scientific standards but also be applicable in improving
compete with a highly select group of foreign talents.”
practice. RSM’s mission is to be a force for positive change in the world. For us, that means for example having a positive impact in Rotterdam
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE
as a city, on the performance of companies and workers and of course
TO TELL READERS OF RCD MAGAZINE?
on our students’ development.”
“Investing in yourself throughout life is hugely important.
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M A G A Z I N E
