This anniversary magazine shows that we have every reason to be proud of the 60th anniversary of our School. We are vibrant, sparkling, and alive & kicking. The positive energy, passion, and enthusiasm are palpable at every level—young and old, researchers and support staff, teachers and students.
Our anniversary is a moment to cherish and celebrate all we have achieved and a reason to reflect and look ahead. Because in life, including university life, it is not just about a single moment but also about what that moment is built upon and where the road ahead leads. To quote Gandhi: "The future depends on what you do today". I would add that the future is also shaped by the foundations laid in the past. So, it is about the past, present, and future.
The past of our School should not be taken for granted. As former Dean De Doelder told me (see the interview in this magazine) 60 years ago, other faculties were not at all eager for a new and modern law School in the Randstad—one that focused on trade and, therefore, on real life.
That early beginning has brought us to where we are now: a strong law School, firmly rooted in society, and with a keen eye on what is happening around us—how law, criminology, and tax law really work. The interviews and reports in this magazine show that much of our education and research is focused on social issues and developments, such as the Port of Rotterdam, technological innovations, and sustainability initiatives. We summarise this with our motto: Where Law Meets Business. Moreover, we do it in the Rotterdam way: with courage, entrepreneurship, and rolled-up sleeves.
Building on these foundations, the future looks bright and promising to me. We are a modern, vibrant and ambitious faculty, flexible and agile. We move with the present and prepare for the future. Each of us contributes to the great things we achieve in the field of research and education, and also in the field of working atmosphere and collegiality. Our strength lies in collaboration. In this way, we strengthen each other and form a colorful whole. As dean, I am particularly PROUD of this. As far as I am concerned, we will celebrate at least another hundred lustrums.
Harriët Schelhaas
Dean of Erasmus School of Law
