Erasmus School of Economics Alumni Affairs would like to invite you to the annual Alumni Day in collaboration with The Economic Faculty Association Rotterdam (EFR) on 9 April 2026. The theme of this year is 'defense economy', making a trade-off between the resources willing to spend on defense and other priorities, while being vulnerable to threads. Experts from defense, innovation, and economic policy will share their perspectives on tackling the economics of defense.
- Date
- Thursday 9 Apr 2026, 14:30 - 22:30
- Type
- Alumni
- Building
- Erasmus Pavilion
- Location
Dinner at Excelsior
We are honoured to welcome Alar Karis, president of Estonia. He will receive the World Leader Cycle Award, and will be providing an in-depth look at his career, experiences and an in-depth interactive Q&A.
Speakers & Panelists
- Alar Karis - President of Estonia
- François Bausch - Former minister of Defense, Luxembourg
- Pieter Hasekamp - Director of CPB
- Maarten Smidts - Director Industry & Innovation, Ministry of Defense
Don’t miss this inspiring afternoon filled with thought-provoking discussions, valuable connections, and exclusive insights into today’s pressing economic challenges.
For any questions on the day programme please contact EFR at: chairman@efr-inspirationdays.nl
After the Day Programme all alumni will head to Excelsior, Honingerdijk 110, 3062 NX Rotterdam (5 minute walk from Campus Woudestein) for the Alumni Dinner. Where good food will be served and it will be the perfect opportunity to connect with your fellow alumni.
During the evening, we will welcome Dr Luca Henkel, Assistant Professor at Erasmus School of Economics. Luca recently received an international research grant to study the real-world impact of artificial intelligence in the workplace. In a short talk, Luca will share insights into what AI means for organisations and professionals today and what we might expect in the near future.
We will also hear a personal story from Maria Poretskova, an alumna who was able to pursue her studies thanks to the Erasmus School of Economics Scholarship Fund. Her experience highlights the very real difference alumni support can make for talented students.
The dinner itself is offered to you as our guest. As seating is limited and the event is consistently fully booked, we kindly ask that you only register if you are certain you can attend. If you register but are unable to join us and do not cancel in advance, a no-show fee of 50 euros will apply.
During the evening we will invite you to consider making a voluntary contribution to the Erasmus School of Economics Fund, helping future students and researchers create societal impact.
Programme
The current Timetable is as follows:
| 14:30-15:00 | Walk-in & Welcome |
| 15:00:15:45 | Keynote speaker and handover World Leader Cycle Award: Alar Karis |
| 15:45:16:00 | Break |
| 16:00-17:00 | Panel Discussion: Insights from leading experts |
| 17:00-18:00 | Networking Drinks – Connect with alumni, students, and experts in a relaxed setting |
| 18:00-18:30 | Small break for traveling to Excelsior Stadium |
| 18:30-22:00 | Erasmus School of Economics Alumni Dinner |
