Alumni magazine Illuster (December 2017)

Alumni magazine December 2017

Roos Ykema wins award for refugee language lessons Doctor and entrepreneur Gijs Werschkull: ‘I had to do something’

Social entrepreneurship at Utrecht University

The new normal

The kick-off

Social responsibility and entrepreneurship Dear fellow alumni, welcome to Illuster — and an especially warm welcome to the new President of the Executive Board, Anton Pijpers. Anton will also serve on the board of the Utrecht University Fund, once again reinforcing the close ties between us, the alumni, and Utrecht University. We look forward to working closely together.

And speaking of work: this issue of Illuster is about social entrepreneurship.

Turn to the centre spread for an interview with Harry Hummels, Kim Kiszelnik and Niels Bosma, who are currently leading Utrecht University research and teaching in the field with the Social Impact Factory and the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative.

Students have been putting these princi­ ples into practice since 2005 through projects such as Enactus Utrecht, which aims to use social entrepreneurship to help solve a wide range of social issues.

This is one of the many ways our uni­ versity continues to work on a better world and future.

Those who attended our annual gathering on 24 November at the new Utrecht municipal office (complete with a dazzling view of your own student town) will have experienced something of the interaction between the university and its alumni first-hand. The next opportunity to do so will be on Saturday 14 April 2018.

More information will follow, but Anton and I can already say: We look forward to seeing you there!

Kind regards, Lodewijk Hijmans van den Bergh Chair, Utrecht University Fund

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December 2017

Content

4 In Utrecht 6 Generation UU 8 My career… Andre Damian 10 Money well spent 12 JAN — Young Alumni Network 14 UU Central 18 Class of 2012 19 DUB 20 Alumni interview 22 In the spotlight 24 Picture… of the past 25 Message from… Dublin 26 A pick of what’s on offer 28 In the picture

Social entrepreneurship at Utrecht University UU Central

14

Internist creates quiz game on infection hazards

22

6

Teaching method blossoms into centre for expertise Generation UU

In the spotlight

Message from… Dublin

12

Roos Ykema helps refugees JAN

25

Accelerating social improvement

‘There’s a lot involved with setting up a social enterprise. That’s where Enactus facilitates learning.’— Maud Grootelaar, page 18

The opening

Illuster is a publication

by Utrecht University and the Utrecht University Fund.

It appears three times per year and is sent to alumni of Utrecht

Text Hanneke Olivier and Armand Heijnen Photo Ed van Rijswijk

‘Teams accomplish more than individuals’

University.

Editorial staff Xander Bronkhorst, Joost Dankers, Sophie van den Elsen, Robbert Jan Feunekes, Armand Heijnen

––

(editor-in-chief),

Student, PhD, Professor,

Stephanie Helfferich,

Dean, Vice-President of the

Inge Mathijssen and

Executive Board and now,

Hanneke Olivier.

as of 1 October, President

Editorial committee Marianne Hoornenborg, owner of De Recht &

of the Executive Board: Anton ­Pijpers feels happy

Krom Producties; Olfert

and privileged in his position as leader of the

Koning, communication

university. ‘Utrecht University made me who I

adviser at GGZ Nederland;

am today. I “love” this university; somehow I see

Arie Smit, former CEO of TeleacNot; David Veldman, journal

it as “my” alma mater!’ he says. Illuster put a few dilemmas and questions to him.

manager/copywriter at Uitgeverij Virtùmedia.

important that the team members complement each other and have fun together. We really need comple­ mentary qualities, rather than all being the same.

That wouldn’t be healthy for the organisation or for individual administrators. I am convinced that the best results are achieved when everyone works together; teams accomplish more than individuals.

And yes, that means you have to spend considerable time deliberating and listening closely to one another.

Everybody gets a say. But eventually a decision does need to be made — which is not our institution’s strongest suit. Just look at how often we need to go over things again — and again. So sometimes I need to intervene and say: listen guys, we are going to do things this way.’

Art direction & design flowdesign.nl Printing Xerox ISSN 1338-4703 Year 22, #81 © Utrecht University Re-use of articles is permitted with citation.

Illuster is printed on environmentally-friendly, FSC-certified paper.

Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn: Alumni Universiteit Utrecht E-mail: alumni@uu.nl

Innovation or tradition? ‘I know the university very

well, and I think evolution makes more sense than revolution. I am not saying everything needs to change. Quite the contrary: our university has a great strategic plan in place and we are doing well, so we should just continue that trend.’

President or Vice-President? ‘I love helping the organisation move in the right direction. As VicePresident, I was obviously involved in this too, because all board members share responsibility.

Now I’m leading from the front. At the same time, though, whenever I make a decision I think about how it will impact those involved. Once you’re at the top of an organisation, you have to make sure you still get feedback. “Are you sure you paid enough attention to this or that?” Of course I will try to do that myself, but sometimes you miss things.’

Work together or go it alone? ‘Being on the Executive

The future? ‘One key question, of course, is: what will uu and the academic landscape look like in 2025?

Will all universities in the Netherlands continue living on their own islands, or will we form create connec­ tions and clusters? And how do we ensure that stu­ dents continue to value the university as a meeting place, despite the conveniences of the digital age?

Because it is precisely these young people who are to a large extent responsible for our extraordinary working environment!’

Alumni Alumni policy will remain part of the President’s portfolio, meaning it is now Anton’s responsibility. ‘I believe in the importance of alumni and am keen to invest in the community. I would also like them to feel a sense of belonging to uu — as I do — and for them to retain a visible presence at the university, so we can draw on their knowledge and expertise. Students and staff would benefit a great deal.’

Board is hard work. This is why it’s especially

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December 2017

In Utrecht

The Netherlands’ housekeeping book Professor of Financial History Oscar

Basic and Senior Teaching Qualifications

Gelderblom has launched a major

for university lecturers. Both initiatives

research project to answer these types

have been widely adopted throughout the

of questions, calling in assistance from

Netherlands. As a reward for these initiatives,

anybody who can supply stories or

rector Bert van der Zwaan presented

documents relating to personal finances.

Wubbels with the Utrecht University silver

The aim of his project, titled ‘The

medal at the opening of the new Utrecht

Netherlands’ housekeeping book’, is

Centre for Academic Teaching. The Centre

to paint as accurate a picture as possible

brings together all existing Utrecht-based

of the personal finances of ordinary

educational innovation activities, aims

citizens in the twentieth century. He is

to inspire lecturers and encourages cutting-

looking for deposit books, mortgage

edge research.

documents, photographs, bankbooks, In search of deposit and housekeeping books…

testaments, receipts, and so on. Alumni interested in financial history can also

When did children start receiving pocket

participate by reporting to the project

money, instead of having to pay for room

coordinator: marcia@marciavanwoensel.

and board? Why do we borrow money

nl. The project is being documented in

to purchase expensive items nowadays,

a six-part NTR television series, which is

when we used to save up for them?

due to air in late March 2018.

––

Podcasts by members of the Utrecht Young Academy

www.uu.nl/onderwijs/ centre-foracademic-teaching

––

Sandwich bag in the Oudegracht

Young Academy brings together 24 young, talented, Utrecht-based researchers whose aim is to promote interdisciplinary projects and university research policy. The podcasts are in English, reflecting the increasingly international character of the academic

Somewhere in the Utrecht city centre,

community.

somebody loses a plastic sandwich bag.

The wind picks it up and it lands in the

The podcasts are available on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/utrechtyoungacademy

Oudegracht canal. Nothing to be done.

After all, what difference does one plastic bag make? Oceanographer and climate

This academic year, the Utrecht Young Academy launched its own podcast titled ‘Voice of UYA’. In each twenty-minute

––

scientist Erik van Sebille investigated what can ultimately happen to plastic waste

Creator of the Academic TeacherTraining Programme receives award

and created a documentary in conjunction with local news producer DUIC. He shows what happens to plastic on its journey and

episode, members of UYA introduce themselves and talk about their research.

Emeritus Professor of

demonstrates why it is so harmful to marine

The podcast hopes to make both science

Educational Sciences

life. Sebille sees an opportunity for Utrecht

and its practice more accessible to a wider

Theo Wubbels is one

to help reduce damage to the environment.

public. UYA was created as the Utrecht

of the driving forces

counterpart to the national Young Academy

behind the Academic

run by the Royal Netherlands Academy of

Teacher-Training

Arts and Sciences (KNAW). The Utrecht

Programme and the

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December 2017

The video is available on YouTube: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkNpwRc2uOo

www.uu.nl/news

––

Student life in Utrecht 1945 to today In 1945, Utrecht University had five thousand students — today there are over thirty thousand. Some things have changed beyond recognition over the past 70 years, others are as familiar as ever.

Read about how students lived, worked and spent their free time in this book, edited by Professor of University History Leen Dorsman. The book was made possible with financial support from the Pay it forward (Doorgeven) campaign by the Utrecht University Fund. Take a wonderful journey through Utrecht student life, in the past and present.

Alumni discount: pre-order a copy before 15 January for only €29.

Email your address details to info@ddm.works. More information: www.ddm.works/studenten-leven

(which ultimately led to the MRI scanner),

Edward Purcell at Harvard University,

the laser and fibre-optic communication.

who shortly before had been the first

The Nicolaas Bloembergen building at UU’s De Uithof campus is where the Faculty

(together with Robert Pound) to observe the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic

of Science’s NMR research group is based.

resonance, or NMR. ‘The observation

To put things very simply, this is where MRI

was confirmed thanks to Bloembergen’s

scans of molecules are made. ‘We wanted

experimental talents,’ Kaptein explains.

to name our new building after a scientist, instead of calling it the “Transitorium” or

Most citations

some such,’ Kaptein laughs. ‘Bloembergen

According to Kaptein, Bloembergen’s most

played a key role in the development of

significant contribution to NMR spectroscopy

NMR spectroscopy and had ties to Utrecht

was relaxation theory. The joint scientific

University. He also felt very honoured to

publication of the theory (along with Purcell

have a building named after him.’

and Pound) was the most-cited paper in

Bloembergen — already 81 at the time —

physics for many years. Bloembergen did not

was happy to fly in from the United States

envisage its applications, however — he was

to attend the opening.

purely interested in the phenomenon itself.

Triton

research on lasers, without envisaging any

Bloembergen studied physics in Utrecht

direct applications. Bloembergen received

precisely because it was the subject he

the Nobel Prize for his research on non-linear

struggled with most at secondary school.

optics: the laws governing the behaviour

He even conducted groundbreaking

––

In memoriam: alumnus and Nobel Prize winner Nico Bloembergen

He began rowing with the Triton rowing

of light within powerful groups of lasers.

On 5 September 2017, physics alumnus and

club, and in 1981 — the year he won the

His work on ‘masers’ (microwave lasers)

Nobel Prize winner Nico Bloembergen passed

Nobel Prize for Physics — he sent the

was also considered for the Nobel Prize.

away at 97 years of age. Emeritus Professor

association a photograph showing his

What was it that made Bloembergen such

Rob Kaptein described him as ‘an adept

Nobel medallion displayed beside two

a successful scientist? Utrecht Professor

experimenter who developed ground­

rowing medals.

Rolf Boelens has the answer: ‘His excellent

breaking theories.’ In all three of his research

After the war, Bloembergen saw too

fields, Bloembergen helped generate funda­

little opportunity to continue his academic

mental understandings leading to major

career in the Netherlands in its ruined state.

technological innovations: NMR spectroscopy

He became the first PhD student under

grounding in physics from Utrecht University, of course.’

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December 2017

Generation UU PhD graduates rarely go on to become entrepreneurs, especially not those from the Faculty of Humanities. But it is not impossible, as shown by Monica Koster and Renske Bouwer, who were both awarded doctorates last year for their method for teaching primary-school writing skills: Tekster.The method is now being applied at multiple primary schools.

Tekster: from teaching method to centre for expertise

‘Our teaching method was born of idealism’ Monica Even before we had completed our doctoral

Renske During our doctoral research, we thought

research, the teachers who used our method were telling us that their students’ writing had already improved.

long and hard about how we could offer the material to schools in book form. We wanted to retain full control of our intellectual property, so we decided to do everything ourselves without going through a publisher.

Renske So we started taking more and more strategic

steps during our research, based on the idea that it could become more than just a dissertation. We didn’t leave our graduation date to chance, either: 2 September ‘Our research is when schools have just started again and news is became more slow — the perfect time than just a to issue a press release about dissertation.’ our research. The response was overwhelming, with radio interviews, print media, the works. While walking along the Oudegracht, suddenly I had an rtl camera in my face!

Monica Yeah, things were pretty crazy. But it was

good publicity straight away, and it meant that in the week after the media circus I had ninety sample packs to send out to a bunch of primary schools that were interested in the method.

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December 2017

Monica Of course, we knew that we lacked some of

the knowledge and skills necessary to turn our research into a fully-fledged business. But then we found UtrechtInc, a start-up incubator based at the Utrecht Science Park.

Renske That was the solution we were looking for.

They were such a great help, and naturally — like true entrepreneurs — they were interested in seeing how we could really boost profits after the initial start-up.

Monica We were far less interested in that. We hadn’t

developed a product that was going to make us millionaires — on the contrary. Our teaching method was born of idealism: we identified a problem in society, researched it and produced a solution.

Social entrepreneurship through-and-through.

Text Ronnie van Veen Photo Ivar Pel

Renske and Monica were awarded their doctorates for Tekster, their method for teaching primary-school writing skills.

Renske Once the project was over, I asked

myself whether I wanted to go down a business path or keep doing research.

I chose the latter, and am now a full-time post-doc in Antwerp. That was no problem, because I could see that Tekster was in good hands with Monica.

than just a published teaching method.

It has become a centre for expertise offering writing courses and lectures on the effective teaching of writing skills, among other things. I answer the phone more often with ‘Hello, Monica from Tekster’ than ‘Monica Koster’!

Monica I invested part of my savings in

Tekster. I work from home; I think it’s

‘I invested part of my savings in Tekster.’

–– Only 30% of students who finish primary

Tekster is a strategy that teaches children

school are able to adequately express

how to write texts in a structured and

themselves in writing. To improve writing

playful manner. It prepares them for

literacy, Monica and Renske developed

today’s society, where the skill of writing

and tested the Tekster teaching method

is more important than ever.

as part of their joint doctoral research.

a waste of money to hire some fancy office somewhere. Whenever a school places an order, I stack the boxes of books onto a trolley and take them to a dhl delivery point. Tekster has now grown into more

Their research showed that after four months of using Tekster, students’ writing improved by 1.5 teaching years.

For more information on Tekster or to order teaching materials (including samples), visit www.tekster.nl

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December 2017

My career… Andre Damian

‘I can’t stand injustice or inequality’

A

ndre Damian is 21 and graduated from UU in June. You could be forgiven for thinking that his career is still fairly unremark­

able, but nothing could be further from the truth. Andre is blessed with an impressive social and entrepreneurial spirit, and already has plenty of life (and other) experience. His motto? ‘Don’t be held back by your biggest enemy: yourself.’

In 2015, Andre was voted Global Teen Leader and also became one of The Young 100 — the list of the most promising young people in the Netherlands. Other titles he has obtained include Global Young Peacebuilder and Young European Leader for Change. Andre has also been a Youth Representative at Youth for Human Rights International, Executive President of the 25th International Youth Forum on World Peace, member of the Youth Task Force against child abuse and President of the Tiel Peace Embassy. A few years ago, he started his own business: Leaders of Today.

In February — while still completing his studies — Andre became responsible for The Collective Global Accelerator.

‘I may be only one link in the chain, but I see it as my place in the world to engage.’ — Andre Damian

Wow Andre, where does your enormous drive come from? ‘I can’t stand injustice or

inequality and I derive a lot of energy from doing things that have a positive impact

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December 2017

and are meaningful to society. I’ve had plenty of setbacks in my personal life, which is precisely what gives me the

passion to do something about it. I may be only one link in the chain, but I see it as my place in the world to engage.’

What is it about social entrepreneurship that appeals to you, exactly? ‘Early in my studies, I started doing volunteer work at human rights organisations. I spoke to policy­ makers, Dutch MPs and people at the United Nations. Of course, it was marvellous experience, but I also found

www.uu.nl/alumni

Text Hanneke Olivier Photos Kees Rutten

––

Appointments

My Utrecht Andre

Do you just dive fearlessly into everything you do? ‘I have my doubts too, of course, like,

Degree Law Student digs Werner H ­ elmichstraat – Zuilen Favourite spot in Utrecht De Oudegracht

the political system to be slow and cum­ bersome. I felt we could be more efficient and create a bigger impact.

Then I launched Leaders of Today, an international youth movement fostering social entrepreneurship. We issued advice and brought people together, creating a worldwide community of young leaders, entrepreneurs and activists working on a broad spectrum of social projects.

That’s where I learned what real social entrepreneurship is all about.’

And now you are using that experience to run The Collective Global Accelerator. What is that? ‘In January, I stumbled across

The Collective, a London-based realestate business with a philanthropic branch called The Collective Foundation.

One of its projects is the world’s largest co-living concept, with five hundred apartments and plenty of shared spaces.

On LinkedIn, I expressed my amaze­ ment for both the building and what the ceo has achieved — he’s only 27 and runs an enormous company. He invited me to visit in London and told me that the Foundation was keen to create opportu­ nities for people, but didn’t know how.

Then I pitched my idea for The Collective Global Accelerator — a programme that invests in the growth of social entrepre­ neurship worldwide. They had confidence in me right away and allowed me to get things rolling. Now I’m responsible for the huge sums they want to invest in charitable ventures.’

what if it doesn’t work? But I’m not the type of person who says “I can’t do that, because I’ve never done it before”. If you fall flat on your face, you just pick yourself back up and learn from the experience.

For example, I’ve had to learn to be a little “mindful”, because launching The Accelerator while completing my studies was a huge burden all at once.’

Out of all of your projects, which are you most grateful for? ‘The last one. As part of the

Accelerator programme, we brought nine social entrepreneurs from all over the world to London for a month. Those nine — all people with the potential to change the world — were selected from 3,500 applications from over 150 countries.

After the initial open call, we limited the scope to profitable start-ups in education, health care, the environment and social inclusion. They also all involve technology in some way.

It was magical! Nine people who all flew thousands of kilometres to London to live and work together for a month in an inspirational building; the participants called it a “life-changing experience” that enabled them to boost the growth of their start-ups significantly. It was so fulfilling to hear their responses. What all started with a message on LinkedIn has grown into a colossal initiative. To sum up, he bottom line is basically “don’t be held back by your insecurities or your biggest enemy: yourself”.’

Andre Damian Law (2017) was included in ‘The Young 100’, a list of the most promising young people in the Netherlands. He also founded the Collective Global Accelerator programme, which aims to unite social entrepreneurs worldwide.

Cora van Nieuwenhuizen Doctor of Social Geography (1987) was appointed Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management. Previously, she was a member of the European Parliament for the Dutch People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

Wouter Koolmees Doctor of International and European Law and Doctor of Economics (2001) was appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Employment. Previously, he was an MP for Democrats 66 (D66).

René Verhulst Law (1984) was sworn in as the new Mayor of Ede on 8 September.

Willemien van Aalst Theatre, Film and Television Studies (1989) is now the new editor-in-chief/ manager of the Human broadcasting station. For a long time, she was the Director of the Dutch Film Festival Foundation.

Wouter Kolff Notarial Law (2003) was sworn in as the new Mayor of Dordrecht on 13 September.

Ingrid de Graaf Dutch Language and Literature (1993), Executive Board member at Aegon Nederland, was voted Female Executive of the Year.

Laurens de Graaf PhD studies in Governance (2007) was sworn in as the new Mayor of Lopik in November.

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December 2017

Money well spent

Students meet sponsors during the UU Scholarship Students Welcoming Event.

Pay it forward campaign 2018 The annual Pay it forward campaign gives alumni and others the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the academic community in Utrecht. These

international students each year. The Utrecht University Fund will continue to support this initiative in 2018.

contributions are partly what enables the Utrecht University Fund to support several worthwhile and socially relevant projects each year. The following projects have been selected for 2018: Top Talent

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December 2017

Photo Femke Niehof

An education at a leading university, thanks to the ues.

For many talented students outside Europe, studying in Utrecht is financially impossible. This is why the Utrecht Excellence Scholarships (ues) were created: they help provide these students with a challenging programme at a leading university. The talent of ues students also enhances the international study climate in Utrecht.

Thanks to the support of hundreds of alumni, these scholarships can be awarded to a growing number of

The Netherlands’ housekeeping book

Financial history in twentieth-century Netherlands: a research project that both studies and involves the Dutch population. Private individuals comb their attics for old financial documents and the related stories. The project will be part of the nwo research programme titled ‘The Dynamics of Inclusive Finance

www.uu.nl/alumni

Want to Pay it forward?

Any contribu­tion will be donated entirely to the project of your choice.

For more information on Pay it forward, visit www.uu.nl/fundingthefuture.

in the Netherlands, 1750 –1970’. The aim of the research is to give the wider public an understanding of the role played by the average Dutch citizen in the country’s financial history. (See also page 4 of this magazine, ‘In Utrecht’.)

The proceeds from the Pay it forward campaign will be put towards an online platform, allowing the researchers to share data and stories with the public.

Made in Utrecht: InclUUsion

InclUUsion is a student initiative that allows refugees to take regular subjects at the university for free, with the aim of providing refugee students with an accessible introduction to higher education. Asylum seekers and residence permit holders must go through long procedures before they are allocated residence status and regain control of their lives. Long-term exclusion hinders the integration process, so InclUUsion enables them to make productive use of their waiting time. Last year, 199 students with over 30 nationalities took subjects.

The proceeds from the Pay it forward campaign are used to professionalise and expand the programme further.

InclUUsion’s successful approach is now also being adopted by other Dutch universities.

Service dogs for veterans with PTSD

The effects of human-animal interaction on various health conditions are already being widely researched, including the role of service dogs in the treatment of veterans with ptsd (post-traumatic stress disorder). And while the initial results are

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine aims to improve the understanding of the dynamics between veterans and their dogs. promising, they are based primarily on subjective measurement methods and self-reflection. Objective, reproducible and validated support for the effect is still missing. The proceeds from the Pay it forward campaign can help to fund additional research. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, for example, aims to improve the understanding of the dynamics between veterans and their dogs.

An initial pilot will measure the effect of service dogs on a number of psychophysiological factors among eight veterans with ptsd. Among other methods, smart watches will be used to measure heart rate, blood pressure and nocturnal/other activity. Additional measurements will be aimed at acceleration, skin temperature and epidermal electrical activity.

––

Support science for a better future Want to help build a better future? Have you ever considered leaving some or all of your estate to the university?

The university’s growth and prosperity is becoming increasingly dependent on private donations. Even when you are no longer here, you can still continue to support young people and contribute to solving social issues. A bequest to science will help new generations of students and researchers at Utrecht University to grow and develop, and continue making a valuable contribution to society.

For more information or to arrange a personal appointment, contact the Utrecht University Fund: Mr Robbert Jan Feunekes, +31 (0)6 442 25 014, R.J.Feunekes@uu.nl. See also www.uu.nl/bequests for more information.

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December 2017

For alumni under the age of 35, there is the Young Alumni Network (JAN).

The board of the Young Alumni Network organises activities and events that allow you to expand your network in an informal setting.

At the official opening of the academic year, Environmental and Natural Sciences and Law student RoosYkema received the student award for special merit, an annual award bestowed

by Utrecht University on students who excel outside of their studies.Along with over a hundred language volunteers, Roos organises language teaching for Utrecht asylum seekers residing at the Oog in Al and Overvecht refugee centres.The lessons enable refugees to start learning the Dutch language while they are still waiting for a residence permit.

Roos Ykema helps refugees:

‘It soon became clear that there was a great need for language teaching’ It was through unrelated volunteer work that Roos was confronted with the life that refugees lead daily: stuck in a grey building, eating microwave food, pervasive boredom, and endless waiting until their procedures finally get started. To get to know the refugees better, Roos organised a sports event, where it soon became clear that there was a great need for language teaching. Together with a friend, she decided to take action.

Despite neither of them having a linguistics background, they set about organising language classes. A recruitment drive on Facebook produced a flood of responses in no time. ‘Many people want to help, but they don’t know how and are nervous about organising things themselves,’ she explains. ‘There ‘Although it’s lovely turned out to be lots of people who to win an award, the were not afraid of the “tsunami of real goal is still to help refugees” and were only too keen the refugees to contribute.’

For the first four months, Roos and her volunteers taught in an old school serving as temporary emergency accommoda­ tion. ‘The main reason security let us in is because they liked the initiative, but the rest was fairly chaotic.’

Because the refugees still have no status and therefore no integra­tion rights, nothing is subsidised and there is

.’

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December 2017

no available budget. Government authorities and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (coa) sometimes even resist initiatives of this type due to the lack of supervision. ‘So now we are doing the teaching in a restaurant near the emergency centre. The refugees are coming in greater and greater numbers, as positive word-of-mouth spreads by itself.’

The results are also promising. ‘The refugees really enjoy coming and there is often a regular group already waiting before class to help set up. I have even developed a close connection with some of them.’

The group is extremely diverse, including men and women, young and old, from the illiterate to the academically educated. Some people are eager to learn Dutch to speed up their integration process, but others — especially older refugees — are just happy to learn their first few words. Many have already moved on — without any official language lessons — to foundation programmes leading to university and higher education.

Roos is pleased by the university’s recognition of her initiative, but adds: ‘Although it’s lovely to win an award, the real goal is still to help the refugees.’

The award generated a huge positive response and a swathe of new volunteers has now signed up. Roos is currently doing volunteer work at a refugee camp in Greece.

www.uu.nl/jan

Text Roel Dekkers (JAN) Photo Ivar Pel

Interested in working with Roos? Classes are taught on Monday evenings, Wednesday mornings and Wednesday evenings.

Contact: taallesvluchtelingen@gmail.com

My Utrecht Roos Degree Bachelor’s student of Environmental and Natural Roos (holding flowers) at the official opening of the academic year, when she received the award.

Students and refugees involved in her project congratulate her.

Sciences and Law Study society Storm, but I was never particularly active Favourite spot in Utrecht Café van Velsen

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December 2017

UU Central

Image flowdesign.nl

Social entrepreneurship at Utrecht University

‘Enterprise is by definition a social activity’

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December 2017

www.uu.nl/alumni

Text Armand Heijnen Photos Maarten Hartman

‘Social entrepreneurship is about pursuing financial and social objectives simultaneously.’

This succinct definition comes from Professor Harry Hummels, who was appointed Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at Utrecht University over a year ago.We interview him in the centre of Utrecht at the Social Impact Factory (sif), the stately historic building opposite the TivoliVredenburg music complex. Co-initiator and current director of sif Kim Kiszelnik joins the conversation, along with Dr. Niels Bosma, co-founder and coordinator of the Utrecht University Social Entrepreneurship Initiative.

‘B

ut let’s be clear: I’m talking about entrepre­ neurship, not enterprises. It may very well be that an enterprise — say, Philips — pursues activities that explicitly create social value, without necessarily becoming a social enterprise,’ Hummels qualifies his definition.

‘Take this sif building, for example,’ Kiszelnik adds. ‘We tried to make it as circular as possible, using recycled materials. This room (see page 17 — Ed.) was outfitted by I-did: a business specialising in “slow fashion” that employs people who have limited access to the labour market to felt old fabrics. They decorated this room using old felted klm uniforms. I-did is therefore a social enterprise in terms of both the materials it uses and the people it employs. I-did also works with Ikea, which by collaborating demonstrates its commitment to society, but without being a social enterprise itself.’

This is also the difference between social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility.

‘In corporate social responsibility, the social objective is a mere by-product, not the main goal,’ Bosma explains. ‘For example, while csr may attempt to limit environmental damage as much as possible, in social entrepreneurship this is not merely just one of the objectives, but the entire purpose. You could essentially call it a correction of the capitalist economy, where profit is the be-all and end-all, making money the primary motivation for everything.’

Is profit not the goal of all economic activities? Or in other words: is the mere name ‘social entrepreneur­ ship’ not a contradiction in terms? ‘Absolutely not,’ Hummels interjects. ‘I believe I speak for all of us when I say that entrepreneurship, by definition, is a social activity. For years, entrepreneurship is not just about profits; entrepreneurs also take social and envi­ ronmental factors into consideration. Take family businesses, for example, before the stock market took off — say around thirty years ago. Back then, it was entirely normal that mildly disabled youngsters would find em­ployment in small and medium enterprises, while the entrepreneurs also took notice of the surrounding environment. We want to bring back that attitude.’

Bosma continues: ‘The idea that the market economy has its limits emerged after the gradual decentralisation of government. The task load of local authorities increased, while simultane­ ously the available resources to conduct the tasks became fewer and fewer. That’s why they gradually refrained from relying on the welfare state and increasingly called upon citizens to “participate”.

This development was bolstered by the global devel­ opment goals movement, highlighting the need for more socially-oriented entrepreneurship within the capitalist system. Environmental care is one aspect of increasing importance to both small and large compa­ nies. They acknowledge the poor state of the climate, the environment, natural resources, and so on.’

‘Large enterprises are becoming increasingly concerned with the poor state of the climate, the environment and natural resources.’

15

December 2017

UU Central Social entrepreneurship at Utrecht University

––

––

––

On 1 May 2016, Professor Harry Hummels

Dr. Niels Bosma works at the Utrecht

Kim Kiszelnik is a Utrecht University

was appointed Professor of Social Entre­

University School of Economics.

alumnus. Her CV includes work as

preneurship at the Faculty of Law,

Bosma studied economic geography

project coordinator of microfinancing

Economics and Governance’s, Utrecht

at Utrecht University and obtained

at ING, programme manager at the

University School of Economics. His chair

his Master’s degree in Econometrics

Stichting DOEN foundation, and

is sponsored by Tony’s Chocolonely, Van

at the University of Groningen.

work for Kirkman Company, where

Doorne Lawyers and ABN AMRO Bank.

Subsequently, he developed ties with

her main duties involved co-creating

Hummels studied philosophy in Groningen

the London Business School, Erasmus

Social Enterprises. Kiszelnik now

and obtained his doctorate in Enschede.

University Rotterdam and the

works as General Director of the

He also has a professorship at Maastricht

Tinbergen institute, among others.

Social Impact Factory.

University, where his specialisations

He is co-founder and coordinator

include ethical trading in industry, the

of the Utrecht University Social

financial sector and society at large.

Entrepreneurship Initiative (SEI).

He also works at the United Nations Office for Project Services as a senior advisor in impact investing.

The New Normal

sif is a fine example of the effects of decentralised government on local initiatives. ‘The foundation was launched in mid-2015 by bringing together parties who engage in social entrepreneurship,’ Kiszelnik explains. ‘We try to link small-scale initiatives to larger enterprises in the region, partly by initiating discussions here in this building and having them work together on solutions to social and sociological challenges, covering areas such as recycling, neighbourhood social cohesion, reducing litter, and so on. That’s what we call “The New Normal”.’

‘Creating the New Normal also requires knowledge,’ Bosma adds, referring to the role of the university in sif and social entrepreneurship in general. ‘Knowledge of ecosystems. We need impact studies, that is, measuring and analysing the positive and negative outcomes of social entrepreneurship.

Last but not least, we must educate a generation of students to develop a firm understanding of social entrepreneurship. We have multiple honours

‘Social entrepreneurship is what we call “The New Normal”.’

16

December 2017

students spending time at sif and taken courses there.

One student started his own business, Time Space.

Unlike the available facilities at libraries, he provides study facilities to students — also outside of office hours — to study, meet and discuss with fellow students, but also to relax together.

Within the university, social entrepreneurship becomes most visible and is studied and promoted most vigorously within the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, an inter-faculty initiative. The sei encour­ ages and supports multidisciplinary research, as well as the creation and exchange of knowledge.

Hummels and Bosma both work for the sei, which is based at the School of Economics at University College. Hummels’ chair and the two PhD places at sei are funded externally by a foundation, financially supported by abn amro, Tony’s Chocolonely and Van Doorne Lawyers.

Tony’s Chocolonely as a role model

‘Tony’s Chocolonely approached us with a clear question: ‘How can we eradicate child slavery in the cocoa sector?’ The company itself already managed to do so in its own value chain, but how to convince

www.uu.nl/alumni

others to get on board as well?’ Hummels explains. ‘Last December, Niels and I visited Tony’s activities in Ghana and Ivory Coast, partly to see how we could involve our two PhD students. One of them explicitly focuses on the cocoa value chain and Tony’s Chocolonely impact on cocoa producers and manufacturers in the region; the second PhD student is given more freedom to look at other chains as well, such as coffee or textiles.’

Tony’s works. ‘Tony’s is an important role model,’ says Bosma. ‘Even though the chocolate market in the Netherlands is already saturated and Fair Trade chocolate has acquired a firm position, Tony’s succeeded in obtaining a large market share. The company’s main contribution, therefore, is to demonstrate that it’s possible to create social value and simultaneously introduce a competitive product — despite the slightly higher cost to consumers.’

Utrecht alumnus Tissa Aunilla is another good example, be it on a smaller scale. Hummels recently visited her chocolate business Pipiltin Cocoa in Jakarta. ‘Working with the university’s Alumni Office, my chair can create value,’ Hummels observes, ‘through developing and sharing knowledge and expertise with the global alumni network. One of academia’s roles is to team up with companies to analyse opportunities for improving their production processes and the impact which results from that.’

Einstein Plan

Increasingly, students actively deploy socially entrepreneurial activities. One example is the so-called Plan Einstein, an Overvecht-based project aimed at both local residents and refugees, in which

Harry Hummels (centre): ‘Social entrepreneurship is really fun.’

several students are enrolled. Kiszelnik explains: ‘Our aim is to create a platform where refugees and local residents meet through social activities, like sports, music, cooking or eating, but also to engage in their professional development as social

‘Tony’s Chocolonely shows that it’s possible to create social value and simultaneously introduce a competitive product.’ entrepreneurs. Our major goal is to ensure that refugees are activated from the very first day they enter, regardless of what the future brings: whether they stay in the Netherlands, travel on, or return home.

Plan Einstein is a collaboration of several organisations, including the Dutch

Council for Refugees and community associations. We also have an entrepre­ neurship programme, developed together with Utrecht University.’

‘Social entrepreneurship means real fun,’ Hummels concludes. ‘Interest is clearly growing among students, in both starting initiatives themselves and in companies who promote the same values.

Tony’s Chocolonely is the most popular, but Fairphone — a company developing sustainable smartphones — has also caught their attention. Understanding everyone can make a difference, no matter how large or small, is what makes our field of research and education incredibly dynamic and attractive to students.’

17

December 2017

Class of 2012 UU students in the year 2017

Photo Maarten Hartman

Enactus is a platform for social and sustainable entrepreneurship by students, with operations in 36 countries. The Utrecht chapter is the largest in the Netherlands.

At Enactus, students run their own business while receiving both university and industry support. In addition, all members take an intensive course in social entrepreneurship at Enactus Academy, where they can also choose from a variety of personal and professional development workshops.

Maud Grootelaar came to Utrecht in 2012 to complete a Bachelor’s programme of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and is currently completing a Master’s programme in Human Geography in Nijmegen. During her time at Enactus, she was a member of Oma’s United, a project aimed at combating loneliness among the elderly. ‘We organised “crafternoons” where the elderly ladies (oma’s) made nice things like flowerpots, notebooks and bags, often using recycled materials. The sale of the goods financed the project,’ she explains.

Oma’s United is no longer running. ‘The aim for any enterprise is ultimately to continue on its own, separate from the Enactus platform. After several years, we sadly decided that it just wasn’t feasible for Oma’s United, and the project was wound up,’ Maud continues. ‘I am now busy setting

Social entrepreneurship by students

‘I learn a lot at Enactus. It’s energising.’

up Toekies, a social enterprise selling T-shirts with prints designed by refugee children.

The proceeds will go back to supporting the children. ‘There’s a lot involved with setting up a social enterprise, and that’s where Enactus facilitates learning. We do crowdfunding, seek to contact our target audience, draw up a business and marketing plan, etc. I learn a lot, but more than that, it’s energising. It’s incredibly fulfilling to actively work with — and for — people who you would otherwise never meet.’

Alumni wishing to support or find out more information about Enactus can do so by visiting the website. www.enactusutrecht.nl

18

December 2017

DUB, the Digital University Bulletin, is Utrecht University’s own independent publication. Visit www.dub.uu.nl/en for the latest news, in-depth features, discussions and columns all about education, research and student life.

dub.uu.nl

Mediation between students and residents by reports of bikes left lying around or students urinating from their balconies.

Most such reports traditionally originate from the city centre and the east and north-east of Utrecht (where there is a lot of student accommodation), but in recent years reports have also been coming in from Zuilen, Rivierenbuurt and Dichterswijk.

In these areas, it is becoming increasingly common for three or four students to share ordinary terraced houses, says Utrecht Utrecht is a student town. The non-student population is greater, however, and the

complaints about student behaviour.

Loud goodbyes on the doorstep in the

Community Mediation coordinator José can den Berg.

According to José, students are generally

life­style differences between the two

middle of the night, unannounced house

groups often cause trouble. Community

parties and daily stomping up and down the

quite happy to sit down and discuss matters

mediation helps resolve these conflicts.

stairs are just some of the complaints about

with their neighbours. ‘In 85 per cent of

students received by Utrecht Community

cases, student houses are prepared to

first months of the academic year in

Mediation, which is part of welfare

cooperate with mediation discussions, which

particular, Utrecht Community Mediation

organisation U-centraal. Last year, Utrecht

is a higher rate than among non-students.

(Buurtbemid­deling), an organisation

Community Mediation received 370

Students are conscious of the fact that

offering help and advice in neighbourhood

complaints. The vast majority of complaints

they cause more disturbances than a family

conflict situations, is flooded with

are noise-related, sometimes accompanied

with children.’

Utrecht’s universities raise the rainbow flag

Minister labels the UU board’s tax declarations ‘unacceptable’

Old U-blad newsletters available for online browsing

By displaying the rainbow flag at University

In a letter to the Lower House of the Dutch

All of the paper U-blad issues from previous

Hall on 11 October, both UU and the HU

Parliament, former minister Jet Bussemaker

years have been scanned and made available

University of Applied Sciences demonstrated

has stated that she finds the tax declarations

online by the University Library. The U-blad

their support for people’s right to express

by members of the UU board unacceptable

was issued as a hard copy until 2010 and

their sexual orientation. It was the first time

and that they should be more closely

has appeared digitally as DUB ever since.

that UU participated in International Coming

monitored by the Supervisory Board.

Thanks to a collaboration with the University

It’s the same every year. During the

Out Day. Johan Rozenbrand, lecturer in

Her letter was based on a report by

Library and the financial backing of the K.F.

Pharmacy and member of the University

the Education Inspectorate on the UU

Hein Fund, all editions from previous years

Council, believes it is important for the

board’s tax declarations in 2013 and 2015.

can now be viewed digitally. DUB has also

university to commemorate the national

The declarations included wine and hotels

created an exhibition of striking cover pages

day. ‘Although inclusiveness and diversity

that were too expensive, as well as taxi costs

from 1969 to 2009, which can be viewed at

are core aspects of the University’s new

that were too high. The board members

the Uithof library in December and in the

Strategic Plan, sexual diversity still receives

have paid back 200 euros based on the

city library from January.

relatively little attention.’

report and the university has tightened its declaration guidelines.

View the U-blad archive at www.dub.uu.nl.

19

December 2017

Alumni interview

Interview with restaurateur Gijs Werschkull

The power of thinking commercially and sustainably Instead of simply railing at the capitalist system, Gijs Werschkull argues for making the right choices within it. At Werschkull’s restaurants Gys — recently crowned as the Netherlands’ most sustainable restaurant — and Syr, ecological and social sustainability are top priorities, as are the financial yields.

‘A

nybody who works in hospitality will want to start their own business at some stage,’ Gijs firmly believes. Certainly not everybody succeeds: people’s ideas and plans sometimes never leave the back of their mind.

But not in Gijs’ case: ‘I was mainly motivated by two frustrations. It all started because, for some reason or other, I always seemed to have vegetarian girlfriends.

I really love eating out, but for them things always seemed to get boring very quickly. Always the same old quiche or goat’s cheese salad.’ Perhaps even more motivating was his frustration with the lack of vision and inspiration in his working environment. ‘I started as a kitchen porter in my student days, and eventually

20

December 2017

started working as a chef. Everywhere I worked, I noticed the lack of a higher purpose besides merely serving customers. I was very keen to promote sustainability, because eating more vegetarian and vegan food and running your business as sustainably as possible is not only better for the world, it also has huge economic benefits. But all my enthusiasm fell on deaf ears.’

‘I’ve got to do something’

Becoming his own boss was the only solution.

Gijs drew up a plan for a business that incorporated sustainability into every last detail. The plan was ready in 2014, and to put his money where his mouth was,

Text Inge Mathijssen Photos Ed van Rijswijk

‘You can do the right thing even when taking a commercial approach.’ he resigned straight away. From the summer of that year, things progressed quickly. By mid-July he had a premises in Voorstraat, on 1 August the renova­tions started and the doors opened on 10 October. Gijs continues: ‘From that point on, we were basically full every day.

Six months later, we opened a second restaurant in Amsterdamsestraatweg, and recently another Gys in Rotterdam.’

In his spare time, Gijs also set up Syr in Utrecht’s Lange Nieuwstraat. ‘When refugees started flooding in in the summer of 2015, I thought — just like many others — “I’ve got to do something!” But what?

Well, setting up a restaurant is something I could do, somewhere for refugees to gain experience in hospitality and create a network.’ Syr aimed to highlight the key importance of social sustainability alongside ecological sustainability, an idea that proved effective in practice.

‘It’s nice to see that it’s possible to encourage contact between people who are new to the Netherlands and people from Utrecht. It helps them put down roots, so they can find their feet much more easily,’ says Gijs. Profits from the

restaurant are also used to enable refugees to study via the uaf Foundation for Refugee Students.

People and profit

To Gijs, it was especially important to start the project without any subsidies or other government support. He raised enough money from crowdfunding to launch Syr. Now that the business is running smoothly, he is also able to pay out the investors by the given deadline.

My Utrecht Gijs Student digs ‘I lived in lots of different places as a student: the Cambridgelaan tower, Tuindorp-West, Amsterdamsestraatweg,

‘Sustainability and social enterprise are not just about marketing.’

Brigittenstraat, De Bilt.’

Favourite spot ‘For nature?

Amelisweerd. In town I like the Ledig Erf.’ Now ‘I live in Rotterdam now, to help little Gys grow big and strong.

‘I wanted to set an example, to show that you can do the right thing even when taking a commercial approach. It’s possible to help people in trouble without placing the burden on society. Although they sound like dirty words to me, it’s about people and profit.’

Gijs looks at the processes in society and his businesses in order to continue making the right strategic choices. To him, sustainability and social enterprise are not just about marketing or a superficial shell, they are the real deal. ‘It’s a matter of thinking differently. Continuing to do everything the old way means you miss not only the point of sustainability, but also

But I still call Utrecht home.’

plenty of financial opportunities.’ Gijs has had to work extremely hard for several years to get everything going. But as he says: ‘Everything we do affects society.

Enhancing our positive impact means we need to grow quickly ourselves. There are plans to export the Syr concept to other cities, but only once everybody has had the chance to recover a little.’

21

December 2017

In the spotlight Suppose a patient is admitted to hospital with tuberculosis, but is not put into isolation, thus exposing fellow patients and hospital staff to an infection risk.

Although there are procedures and protocols, they were not clear to the staff involved. How can this scenario be avoided? MennoVergeer, an internist at the University Medical Center Utrecht and founder of Redgrasp, came up with a solution.

Enterprise with help from UtrechtInc

Quiz game prevents infections

‘I

t’s just like brushing your teeth,’ says Menno.

‘We don’t do it because it’s good for us, we do it because it’s routine. Setting out agreements in protocols or guidelines can work, but the effect is limited. Nobody enjoys reading those tedious documents, so the information either isn’t absorbed or is quickly forgotten. You need to make it part of a daily routine.’

This is the very principle underlying the quiz game he developed in conjunction with business partner Frans van Camp as part of their company, Redgrasp.

The game consists of daily quiz questions answered by doctors and nurses, either by email or at a kiosk in the wards. The competitive aspect is rewarding, it takes less than half a minute a day, and is a playful way to turn regulations into routine.

‘It got me thinking: how can we keep everybody up-to-date? A game makes everything really easy.’

December 2017

thinking about it on my own, and even had a prototype made in India. During that time, I did everything alongside my regular work at the hospital while telephoning India at 5:30 a.m. Eventually, Margriet Schneider (the current President of the UMC Executive Board) arranged for me to receive an encouragement grant and helped drum up some enthusiasm for my idea around the hospital.’

‘Frans and I then went to UtrechtInc. The best thing about an incubator like them is their schedule: it keeps you in line, because you constantly need to show them how things are going. It’s a community of people all working on the same things, so you can ask each other: how do you do that? And then there’s the ancillary expertise, like lawyers, accountants, people who know how to start a company. The most important lesson I learned was to get out of the house and talk to your potential customers.’

What gave you the idea to

develop this game? ‘I was in training as an internist when it came to me. People make mistakes in hospitals, nobody’s perfect. But those mistakes are usually all to do with communication. People weren’t aware of what had been agreed, or it slipped their mind, that kind of thing. It got me thinking: how can we keep everybody up-to-date? A game makes everything really easy.’

22

How did things develop? ‘Firstly, I spent far too long

A doctor who runs a business, isn’t that pretty rare?

‘Although there are doctors who practice teaching or research outside of their work in health care, there are few who run businesses. I think it’s a shame, because the two actually really complement one another, especially considering the current boom in e-health.

The doctors are the ones who know how health care is structured and where the opportunities are.

We definitely need more business-minded doctors.’

Text Stephanie Helfferich Photo Ed van Rijswijk

–– UtrechtInc is the start-up incubator at Utrecht Science Park, currently facilitating 30 start-ups. It offers support for entrepreneurs and researchers to transform new ideas into viable innovations, prototypes or new businesses. Following a fixed schedule, they work towards building a scalable business model, a network of paying customers, a complemen­ tary team and a functional product.

The Garage at UtrechtInc is a co-working facility offering workstations and workshops for trailblazing students, entrepreneurs and alumni who are keen to experiment with setting up an enterprise to help create a healthy and sustainable society.

For more on how UtrechtInc helped support two linguists, turn to pages 6 – 7.

See also www.utrechtinc.nl.

Menno Vergeer: ‘In the future, I want to supply all Dutch hospitals with our quiz game.’

Were you always this enterprising? ‘Let’s

put it this way: when other kids were out building huts, I was reading. I have always been curious and eager to learn. As a student studying for exams, I never went straight to the book — instead I looked at old exam questions, and then researched what I didn’t know. That’s my preferred way of learning: start with a fascinating

‘The most important lesson I learned was to get out of the house and talk to your potential customers.’

question, then investigate the ins and outs, which is essentially also the foundation of our quiz game.’

–– Redgrasp (‘I read it. I grasp it’) is a start-up that makes quiz games

How do you see the future? Will you remain

to increase the effectiveness of

both a doctor and an entrepreneur?

‘Right now, I spend half of my working life as a doctor at UMC Utrecht and the other half running my enterprise at The Garage. It’s a fantastic combination, I want to keep doing both. In the future, I want to supply all Dutch hospitals with our quiz game and maybe even expand to other countries or sectors. However, I’m a strong believer in focus, so once we’ve sorted out health care, we can think about moving into other sectors.’

protocols in health care organisations.

Redgrasp has already produced a quiz for Radboud UMC and is now working with the Dutch Association of Gastroenterologists (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Maag-DarmLeverartsen) and the Internal Medicine and Dermatology unit at UMC Utrecht, among others.

Read more at www.redgrasp.com

23

December 2017

Picture… of the past

Aeterna Veritas

Win a copy!

Veritas has provided two books to be raffled off among Illuster readers.

To enter the draw, send an email alumni@uu.nl and provide your address information.

How did a late-nineteenth-century ‘reading society’ from the Utrechtsch Studenten Corps Veritas collection

(Utrecht Student Association) come to form the basis for the first Catholic student association

photo press agenc y, CS

in the Netherlands, the Collegium Studiosorum Veritas? And how did it grow into Utrecht’s largest

Photo HUA, Het Zuiden

student society, now 1,700 members strong?

These and countless other questions are answered by Cees Willemsen’s weighty new tome Aeterna Veritas, an historical work prompted by the 125th anniversary of the R.K. Studentenvereeniging Veritas student society, founded in 1889. The anniversary publication will be officially launched in early 2018 and is chock-full of interesting facts, such as the tensions between ‘exploring the faith’, the Catholic society’s original purpose, and ‘social revelry’, arguably also an indispensable element of student life.

––

Want to order the book?

Former Veritas members and others who have not yet reserved their copy can obtain one by making a donation of at least €55 to account number NL68 RABO 0187490228, account name Stichting Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Studentenverenigingen (SWOS; has ANBI status) and sending an email to secretaris@veritas125.nl that includes a name, address, email address and first year of membership (if applicable). The book will be sent to the address supplied.

More information on the project can be found at www.veritas125.nl.

24

December 2017

Veritas members and reunion guests arrive at Eigen Huis to celebrate the society’s 50th anniversary in 1939.

The book also reveals how the society managed to secure a foothold at what was then called the ‘National University of Utrecht’ (which was none too Catholic-friendly), as well as its role in Catholic emancipation in general.

Another interesting fact is that Veritas was the Netherlands’ first Catholic society to admit women, in 1904. Women even formed the majority during the final quarter of the last century — so much so that a women’s quota was established in the late 1970s, limiting female representation in the society to 60%.

The society’s Catholic label disappeared after the war, and even its student character vanished in the seventies when Veritas became an ‘open youth society’ that also admitted young working people. The society has therefore seen its fair share of crises. But the society not only rose to these challenges — the hardships are what have made the club what it is today, complete with its Eigen Huis premises on the Kromme Nieuwegracht, as well as its own customs, songs, administrative insignias and flag.

Message from… Dublin

Text Sara Dennedy

Solving our social issues

challenging, and always inspir­ ing. The projects we support

Sara Dennedy obtained a Bachelor’s in History and French at Trinity College in Dublin. In Utrecht she received her Master’s degree in Conflict Studies and Human Rights.“It was not until I studies in Utrecht that I realised where my interest in conflict came from”.

from, strangely enough!

On my return to Ireland, I

have ranged from eliminating

worked in a number of not for

food waste through technology

profit organisations and Govern­

(FoodCloud), turning urban

ment in the areas of human

wasteland into geodesic domes

rights and peacebuilding. This

that grow food (The Grow

gave me a sense of how we

Dome Project), to coordinating

attempt to solve our social issues

volunteer medical professionals

in Ireland in different sectors.

I work with Social Entrepreneurs

to save lives in rural Ireland (Irish

I was sometimes left wondering

Ireland, an organisation based

Community Rapid Response).

where all the new and fresh

in Dublin that exists because,

When I studied Conflict

approaches were! I craved a

in Ireland, we’re not solving our

Studies & Human Rights in

stronger understanding of the

social problems quickly enough.

Utrecht in 2011, my interest was

state of the country, and how we

We aim to give the right

almost wholly international.

could move to a more inclusive, equal, and just society. The idea

supports to the right people at the right time, so that they can

‘I craved a more inclusive

of working strategically with

increase their impact and solve

and equal society.’

determined, ambitious individuals who profoundly

the problem they’re addressing more effectively. I’ve been with

I wanted to immerse myself in

understood these problems,

the organisation since 2015

studying conflicts abroad: how

and had innovative ways to

did they commence, how did

solve them, really excited and

the selection of the social

they evolve and how were they

energised me.

entrepreneurs who we support,

reconciled? It was only through

along with designing and

that experience, and particularly

a relatively unknown concept in

delivering programmes of

the interest of my classmates in

Ireland, but it’s growing. There is

support to increase their social

the conflict in Northern Ireland,

still a lot of work to do to embed

impact. It means I have the

that my curiosity began to shift

the idea that we should apply

chance to work with incredibly

back home to Ireland, where

at least as much innovation,

entrepreneurial, creative, and

reconciliation is an ongoing

creativity, and investment into

motivated people all across

process. Coming from the border

solving our social problems as

the country, who are addressing

region of Ireland, it was only in

we do our commercial ones.

some of our most entrenched

Utrecht that I recognised where

Imagine what kind of societies

social issues. It’s fascinating,

my interest in conflict had come

we could build if we did!

I’m currently overseeing

Social entrepreneurship is still

25

December 2017

Music & Science

Movies & Science

Meet the professor

382nd Anniversary Day

Photo Marie Maerz

Photo Robert Oosterbroek

A pick of what’s on offer

Green Office

––

Especially for alumni

Deaf Child

Tuesday January 30th

Dinner with the Gods

––

Other events

Music & Science in New York City For information about registration for these events, please go to www.uu.nl/alumni/ recent-activities

Saturday January 6th UCAA New Year’s Reception Rechtbank, Utrecht (9:30– 11:30 p.m.)

Every first Saturday of the new year, The University College Alumni Association hosts its traditional New Year’s drinks. This year, the theme is ‘Rainbow Chic’, inspired by the New York landmark The Rainbow Room.

One more opportunity to wear your festive December fancy dress: the brighter, the better!

Friday January 19th Music & Science in Hong Kong

Alumni of all Dutch higher education institutions are invited for an evening on music and science, hosted by Utrecht University and the Dutch Harp Festival. Prof. dr. Pierre Robé talks about using music during a medical operation. World-renowned harpist Remy van Kesteren explores the connection between music and science before playing his concert for you.

26

December 2017

Utrecht University and the Dutch Harp Festival invite all alumni of Utrecht University for this exclusive event on music and science. Worldrenowned harpist Remy van Kesteren will talk about the relation between music and science before playing an exclusive concert for alumni. Another speaker will be confirmed soon.

Monday March 26th 382nd Anniversary Day Utrecht University

The University celebrates its birthday in Utrecht’s Dom Cathedral with an anniversary speech and the presentation of honorary doctorates, the Lecturer Award and the Young Lecturer Award.

Afterwards, the Executive Board will hold a reception at University Hall.

Saturday April 14th University Day 2018

University Day is part of the university’s Anniversary Day celebrations. It is a day full of lectures, with plenty of opportuni­ties to walk down memory lane. You will be informed as soon as the full programme has been finalised.

However, you are advised to save the date now, as University Day is the most popular day for uu alumni, students and staff to get together.

Livestream broadcast from 3:00 p.m.

More information to follow ASAP.

––

Wednesday March 28th

Meet the professor When this issue of Illuster came out, 130 Utrecht professors had already expressed their interest in visiting a Utrecht primary school to talk about their specialist fields.

This year will see a follow-up programme for the first time, when the pupils make a return visit to their professor and experience university life on a ‘campus safari’.

For complete and up-to-date information on the alumni programme

www.uu.nl/alumni/recent-activities

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Studium Generale is the public platform

Holocaust Memorial Day

Studium Generale

Friday January 26th

for knowledge & reflection of Utrecht University. It organizes public events with scientists and thinkers at the intersection of science and society. Events include lectures, talk shows and movie screenings.

A wide selection is filmed and can be watched on demand. We also write blogs about our events.

You can find it all on www.sg.uu.nl/en

On 1 November 2005, the then Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan declared the liberation from Auschwitz on 27 January 1945 to be Holocaust Memorial Day. On this day, the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides are commemorated across the world. Utrecht University has devoted prominent attention to Holocaust Memorial Day in recent years, and next year will be no exception. The Executive Board has asked the Utrecht History Study Society (uhsk) to organise a day of lectures at the University Hall auditorium. This year’s series will focus on the role played by many East European countries in the extermination of Jewish, Roma, Sinti and other minority peoples. Their role is often denied or trivialised. Using several case studies, the uhsk hopes to clarify the reasons behind Holocaust denial or evasion.

Thursday February 8th Is health our new religion?

Green Office Utrecht Science Park (5:30– 6:15 p.m.)

Living healthy is not just about what you eat, it is about who you are. Anthro­ pologist dr. Kristine Krause (UvA) analyses the rise of this new social elite, navigating their way through an urban jungle of salad bars and yoga studios.

Monday February 12th Deaf Child ‘T Hoogt Cinema Movies & Science (7:00– 9:15 p.m.)

Tobias is born deaf. Instead of seeing this as a handicap, he emphasizes the richness of deaf culture. What is it like to be deaf in a world that is designed for hearing people? q&a with dr. Anja Hiddinga (Anthropology, UvA). Tickets for screening are free and available a month in advance on the website.

Entry is free, but please sign up for catering purposes by emailing hmd.uhsk@gmail.com. Programme start: 9:30 a.m. More information on the programme is available at www.hmd.uhsk.nl (Dutch spoken)

Thursday March 1st

Monday March 12th

Extreme food obsession

Patience, patience, you’ll go to

Green Office Utrecht Science Park

paradise! ‘T Hoogt Cinema Movies

(5:30– 6:15 p.m.)

& Science (7:00– 9:15 p.m.)

Where is the line between people take their green diet plans really seriously and developing an eating disorder? Psychologist prof. Eric van Furth (lumc) on the research of orthorexia and other food obsessions.

Seven North African-born older Muslim women go out to explore the world, after their husbands passed away. They want to form new connections. What is necessary to succeed on this road to emancipation? q&a with dr. Fenella Fleischmann (Social and Behavioural Sciences, uu). Tickets for screening are free and available a month in advance on the website.

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December 2017

In the picture

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Nifty networking The Social Impact Factory (SIF) is a workspace for social entrepreneurs, housed in the magnificent former Staffhorst music store building, directly opposite the Tivoli Vredenburg music complex. At SIF, social entrepreneurship is ‘The New Normal’, or in other words: it’s fine to make a profit, but not without taking social responsibility in areas such as sustainability, re-integration and social cohesion.

One of the groups using SIF is Time Space, an initiative by former UU students. They noticed the lack of the perfect study environment, a space where study can be combined with coffee and a chat. To them, study time means either a) being distracted by day-to-day chores, the TV, your phone, your bed or your housemates, or b) going to the library, which is often full and where the silence is deafening.

Socialising is also important, because coming into contact with other people and cultures is a key aspect of any

(Read more about the collaboration between SIF and Utrecht University on pages 14 –17.) sifutrecht.nl and timespace.nl

Photo Maarten Hartman

study programme.