Testimonials

Far away from me

 “I started working as Coordinator Internationalisation at Erasmus School of Law in February 2020. Six weeks in, everyone had to switch to working from home, which made my start difficult. Since then, I have made good progress, and I aim to be the bridge-builder for internationalisation within Erasmus School of Law. For some, internationalisation is obvious. However, I can imagine that internationalisation seems of no great concern to others, especially when your focus lies on Dutch Law or the Dutch job market. But internationalisation offers opportunities to everyone, that is something I would like to show to students and colleagues.

Internationalisation is quite diverse. It is not just about offering education in English or an international experience for students by setting up an exchange programme at a university abroad for a couple of months. It also is about cooperating with universities abroad in research and education, developing competencies, mobility of staff, promoting our faculty internationally, et cetera. In my opinion, it is not about internationalisation as such: it should always contribute to the quality of the core business of Erasmus School of Law. With the board, I am currently working on a strategy to embed internationalisation further into the policy and make better use of the opportunities for research and education, for example, in the context of the new EU-programmes, like Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. An essential part of my job is raising my colleagues’ awareness about the possibilities and opportunities internationalisation can offer and supporting colleagues in developing their initiatives. I am also in close contact with the central services of EUR dealing with internationalisation matters, including as a representative of the faculty in a couple of EUR-wide meetings. A more practical side of my job is preparing cooperation and exchange agreements with universities abroad. That brings along interesting (online) meetings. Being in contact with people from other ‘cultures’ is the icing on the cake in this role. But do not get me wrong, I also enjoy working with my Dutch colleagues!

Meeting in Sanders Building

 “Sometimes I get the feeling that I am desperately behind in getting to know my new colleagues and the organisation of Erasmus School of Law. Dealing with the Corona measures also creates quite a challenge for me. In the six weeks I was able to work in the Sanders Building, I only met a limited number of colleagues in person. Meeting people online feels quite formal and limited to me. I look forward to being at the campus in person and meeting the other colleagues live – which are still quite a lot of people. However, working from home did give me plenty of opportunity to immerse myself in matters. As a result, I feel like I know better what I am talking about right now. Also, working remotely, I can better focus without being interrupted.”

Discovering my international side

 “Internationalisation intrigued me from a young age. After completing my first year of Law in Utrecht, I decided to specialise in European and International Law. This means I did not study Dutch Law; instead, I opted for a field that interested me most. I spent my study years well: I did an internship at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris. I did several student-assistantships, and I was a board member of a study association for International and European Law students. We organised study trips to EU Institutions and other international organisations. I also partied a lot. Long story short: I had an excellent time in Utrecht.

In that period, I learned about the importance of internationalisation, luckily that has never faded. It made me realise that the world is bigger than your own world. The idealist in me hopes to be able to contribute to a mutual understanding, tolerance and cooperation through internationalisation.”

Going beyond your bounds

 “Open-minded people who are prepared to look beyond their borders, literally but also figuratively, inspire me. People like Ruben Terlou and Thomas Erdbrink appeal to me. In their documentaries about China and Iran, they mingle with local people. They show a different side of these cultures, contrasting with what is usually provided about these cultures and regimes.”

International aspect as a common thread

 “Ever since I started working, all my jobs have had an international element. My first job was at the Utrecht University as a lecturer in European Community Law, also to Erasmus+ students. After a year, I made a move to a lobby organisation focused on Europe. I worked two days in Brussels and three days in The Hague. After that, I ended up at the international department of the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment. As a policy officer of European and International Affairs, I took part in meetings of the Council of Europe and the EU. After becoming a mother of two children, I took a break from working, but sitting at home was not really my thing. My first job interview was an instant hit, so I started at the British Embassy in The Hague, where I worked as a Political Military Advisor Benelux for seven years. Within the embassy, the work ethic is a lot more formal than within Dutch ministries. The job really opened my eyes even further. I had to go to Brussels and London frequently. The international environment, the pace and the level of work were very stimulating. Despite the formal atmosphere, I always had a wonderful time.”

Cooking Studio Verkerk

 “After leaving the British Embassy, I considered opening my own cooking studio. That was one of the items on my bucket list. Cooking is my great passion, and it seemed like a nice challenge. I already had started writing a business plan, and I had already given a couple of workshops, but at the last moment, I decided to not go ahead with it. Though it was a wonderful project, the work would be very intense, also at weekends and nights. After that, I started at Erasmus School of Law after working at the Asser Institute. My current position is also quite intense, but in a different – and, to me, a more pleasant – way.”

Internationalisation without saying

 “I tried to raise my kids with an international perspective. As a result, the oldest finished a two-year master in Norway and the youngest works for a game developer in England. I am tremendously proud of them. Since my kids are on their own two feet, I have plenty of time and energy for a new challenge, so I am happy that this job, with an international touch, crossed my path.

I hope to have experienced tremendous development within my job at Erasmus School of Law in ten years’ time. I hope we will no longer talk about internationalisation as something yet to develop, but as something obvious and embedded in policy and organisation.”

Everything all at once

“I was born and raised in Rotterdam, so the choice for the Erasmus University was an easy one. After studying Psychology for a year, I decided to switch to Law. In high school, I spent a lot of time debating, and my friends used to tell me that I should study Law and become a lawyer or a politician. After starting my bachelor’s in psychology, I realised that this study did not suit me, as it did not offer the challenge I needed. That is why I decided to follow my friends’ advice and gut feeling after all and switch to Law.

In my first year of Law, I wanted to focus on the courses solely. Everyone who knows me a little knows I am not one for sitting still, and I prefer to do a thousand things at once. Accordingly, in the summer of my second year, I started with several side activities; I became a volunteer at the law clinic, became a member of the study association, immediately joined one of the committees, and a job on the side could not hurt either. I am not one of an easing-in period; thus, I went from zero to one hundred in just six weeks. If I set my mind to something, nothing will slow me down and not even an ankle surgery. Three days after my surgery, I went back to my office on the 8th floor. It did get a little complicated as we had a fire drill just one day later, as we were not allowed to use the elevator during this drill. The “caterpillar” for the stairs was not working, so my manager and I had to use the elevator anyway. I also switched from studying full-time to part-time to avoid any study delay. Looking back on this period of my life, I am pretty proud of all the things I did, but at the time, being so busy seemed self-explanatory.”

Looking for kangaroos

“One of the reasons for all these extra activities was my dream to study abroad, specifically at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. There is always a selection process to study there, so I tried optimising my chances by doing many things during my studies. Eventually, I was accepted, and not much later, I hopped on a plane to the other side of the world. My experience abroad was indescribable and exceeded my expectations. For me, the culture and country stand out. It is extraordinary to be able to get on a train that takes you to a field with 30 wild kangaroos in under two hours.

The courses at UNSW were exciting. I will never forget one of the lecturers; he gave a so-called intensive course. When a teacher manages to keep an entire class engaged for eight hours straight on a Sunday, that teacher is genuinely exceptional. An exchange is a true enrichment of your study time and life, but I admit that being so far away from home is not without its challenges. Casually calling home was not possible because of the significant time difference. At UNSW, I lived with four other students, so we always supported each other and knowing you are not the only one who is homesick can be a consolation. Most of the exchange students have to deal with this one way or another, so I believe it should not be a taboo to talk about this.”

A so-called child of the School

“In the summer of my second year studying Law, I started looking for a part-time job. Whilst searching, I came across a job offer at the Erasmus School of Law Alumni Call Campaign. A six-week project with higher pay than my previous job, so I decided to apply. Applying for that job turned out to kickstart the rest of my career. During the fundraising campaign, I stood out to the project leaders because of my large donations, and after the project had finished, they asked me whether I would like to continue working at the School. That is how I became the first student assistant for the MyFuture programme and how my career at Erasmus School of Law took off.

After a year at the MyFuture program, I went on exchange, but afterwards, I continued working at the Development department (now Communication, Marketing & Relations). From that moment, it has been quite a rollercoaster because I’ve had many different positions. Once again, I was a student assistant. Later, I became the project leader of MyFuture, alumni liaison, communications officer, and currently, I am the coordinator of the Department of Communication, Marketing & Relations. Because of this variety of roles and tasks, I am regularly asked for help or give advice about my previous activities, and it is not always easy to say ‘no’ to that. I am a ‘child of the School’, but I can sometimes long for a fresh start and a new first impression.”

Communication is about connecting people

“Proper communication is of great importance in every organisation, certainly within an educational institution. It stimulates effective and efficient cooperation, clarifies responsibilities and goals, and gets everyone on the same page. Communication is about connecting people and providing a sense of involvement. That is what makes the art of communication so beautiful, and it is something I strive for every day. Especially in times like these, when our colleagues and students naturally feel less connected amongst each other. I aim to improve that during my time at Erasmus School of Law.”

Being more in the present

“Ever since I was a child, I have kept my eyes on the future, and I sometimes even forgot to live in the moment. I tend to continuously think about my next move, what is to come and how to deal with that. If I am honest, that can be pretty tiring and sometimes prevents me from truly living in the present. Luckily, I became more aware of that, so I got better at letting things be and living in the moment. In some ways, I wished that I did things differently during my study time to enjoy it all truly; instead, I worked hard to build my resumé. You only are a student once, so that is something I try to convey to the current students: live in the moment because the present does not come back.”

My mother is the strongest person I know

“I am not one to idolise people. Particular events or people in my life contribute to the person I want to be, but I do not think you should hold onto role models too much. Taking advice or looking up to someone’s specific characteristics is fine, but in my opinion, we are all individuals with our own story.

I might not have a role model, but I am very close to my mother. In my opinion, she is the strongest woman on earth. I have a deep respect for her and how she raised three kids and provided them with a warm and safe home, despite the challenges thrown at her. I am grateful for that, and I should tell her that more often. I was the youngest child, so in the end, I was aware of a lot of the challenges, but we faced them together. It might sound strange, but in hindsight, I would not have wanted it any other way. Partly because of this, I am incredibly close with my mother, and it taught me what is truly important in life.”

Gent is my hometown

“I decided to study Criminology, because I am interested in law, psychology and sociology. All these fields come together in the study programme of Criminology. I studied in Gent for five years: bachelor and master Criminology and both the European Criminology and Criminal Justice Systems masters. After graduating, I was offered a research job in Gent. I joined the research project “Leadership and leadership development at the police agency”, commissioned by the Belgian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The research project was a great way to gain experience in the field. I had only just graduated, when I started interviewing mayors, prosecutors, and police chiefs, sometimes even in French!

After conducting research for two years, I had learned a lot and discovered my passion for research. Due to a fellowship by the Special Research Fund from Gent University and the University of Applied Sciences in Gent I was able to conduct doctoral research into the trafficking of electronical waste (e-waste) and hardwood, with a focus on the governance context of this phenomenon in the Port of Antwerp. During this time, I was also able to do fieldwork in Ghana, which has been an incredible experience.”

From New York to Rotterdam

“After my doctoral research, my partner and I moved to the United States. He got a job in New York (Cornell University, Ithaca) and I got to finish the last six months of my appointment at HoGent remotely. Not long after receiving my doctorate, I started working at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice (City University of New York). I taught Theoretical Criminology and Research Methods, but I also learnt a lot about the American educational and judicial system and about American society. However, the job presented quite the challenge on a personal level. Cornell University and John Jay College are five hours apart; so, I stayed in Manhattan three days a week and the rest of the week I went back to Ithaca, a beautiful place located by Cayuga Lake in the wooded hills. The green environment suited me better than the city, even though I enjoyed exploring ‘the Big Apple’.”

“After two and a half years, me and my husband decided to find jobs in closer proximity together. We weighed multiple options, but the offers in Rotterdam seemed like the best fit for both of our ambitions. I started working at Erasmus School of Law and my husband at Rotterdam School of Management. In the meantime, I was granted a postdoc fellowship from the Flanders Research Foundation, which allowed me to start my research about environmental crime at Gent University. This was a parttime appointment which enabled me to also work for the department of Criminology at Erasmus School of Law. At the time, I used to travel to Gent for my research approximately once a week, but I am glad to now have a fulltime appointment here in Rotterdam.”

Inequality in society and economy

“In addition to my work at the Criminology department, I have been a permanent member of the Erasmus Initiative on Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity (DoIP) since 2018. Therefore, I spend some of my time with researchers outside of our faculty. This really excites me as we share an interest and a passion for all cases concerning inequality in society or the economy. I like working with my colleagues from DoIP, because together we take a step outside of our faculties and get to learn about other disciplines and shared interests. It allows me to continue to research environmental crime, from more perspectives than criminology alone. For example, philosopher Yogi Hendlin and I are currently recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for a project on the production, use and regulation of so-called “forever chemicals” (e.g., PFAS).”

From January 2021, I have also been appointed co-chair (with René Repasi) of ‘Public & Private Interests’ within the sector plan of Erasmus School of Law. I look forward to further developing research on public and private interests within legal sciences and criminology, together with René, the postdocs, and PhDs, and with the others that are involved in the sector plan.

Combining research and education

“Because of my appointment at DoIP, I could spend a lot of time on my research. In the past two years, I have spent a lot of time on the research project on drugs crime in the Port of Rotterdam, assigned by the Rotterdam Consultative Body for Safety, consisting of municipality, police, customs, and public prosecution services. My colleagues Richard Staring, Robby Roks, Elisabeth Brein and Henk van de Bunt and I presented our research report in May 2019. But we still like to keep ourselves informed on the latest developments in the port. It is nice to hear that our recommendations are being appreciated and implemented by public and private actors.

Together with criminologists from Maastricht and Rotterdam, Karin van Wingerde and I also conduct action-oriented research for the Dutch Research and Documentation Centre into the so-called reinforcement movement: improving the approach to subversive drug crime. During the research we closely follow 13 (of the 126) projects throughout the country and mainly examine them from a public administration perspective.

Besides my research, I have taught the minor Criminology for several years. However, my focus within education is set on the supervision of students during their thesis and co-teaching two courses in the Masters programme Criminology and the International Research Master (IMARC) in close collaboration with Karin van Wingerde (Corporate & White-Collar Crime) and Robby Roks (Organised Crime). With support of Community for Learning and Innovation (CLI) we have redesigned these courses to the model of case-based learning. This means that students take on real cases of company- and organised crime, for which they develop legal policy advice in small groups. I really enjoy developing and teaching of courses together with others and would therefore really recommend it.”

Friends around the world and nature close to home

“Nature is a great source of inspiration for me. As a kid, I grew up playing in the woods in Hertsberge, a small town near Brugge. During my holidays, I love to spend time in the mountains of for example Austria, Switzerland, Norway, or Canada. At the moment, travelling has been put on the backburner. Even spending a weekend with friends and family in Belgium is very difficult. Especially in this time I consider myself very fortunate to have nature close by. About a kilometre from my home, there is this little creek where we can swim in summer or ice-skate like last winter.

My social life is also very important to me. I have a group of close friends from Belgium, who I talk to or meet up with on a regular basis, no matter where in the world I am. I also like to keep in touch with friends that I have met on foreign adventures and I have a strong family relation.”

Interesting people and fascinating research

“Last January, I was appointed professor and I already got to experience many great things during my doctorate and post doctorate research. I am very happy with my work at DoIP and Erasmus School of Law. I work in a great team and I love how direct the Dutch are, I might even have adapted this directness (or maybe I always had it in me, who knows).

I am also proud of what I achieved with colleagues on a research level. In addition to our research in the port and the waste crime research, I spent some time in Louisiana research local coastal land loss. For this project, I did some fieldwork at a native community on the Island Isle-de-Jean-Charles; I was invited to a first nation community to talk to someone who has lived on the island for 85 years, who told me everything about their community. This resulted in great research material.”

Plenty to learn and discover

“Being a mom of two young daughters and working fulltime, can be quite the challenge, especially during an ‘intelligent lockdown’ or when they are sick. Within the academic world I still see many great challenges on the horizon. I, for example, aspired to take on more responsibilities within Erasmus School of Law, and due to my recent appointment, I have the chance to do just that. I love the combination of research and education. Therefore, I can see myself working in academia for a long time. If my partner and I would ever receive an offer for a position that suits us both and in which we could live in the mountains and the jobs would suit us both, then I might say goodbye to the Netherlands. However, it should be a very good deal, before we would even consider it!”

Studying Law was a deliberate choice

“Since high school, I was determined to study Law. My grandfather, with whom I had a good relationship, was a practising lawyer, and he partly inspired me to pursue the same degree. Although, I cannot say for certain how I came about the idea of studying Law. For some, Law is seen as the degree for those who do not know what else to choose or the ‘easy degree’.  For me, however, going to law school was a very deliberate choice.

As a student, I was not the stereotypical party animal, but I certainly did enjoy student life and the large number of pubs and restaurants that can be found in Brussels and Leuven. I am still in contact with the group of friends I made as a student, and we meet up regularly and occasionally even travel together.”

Student of the world

“I studied for two years at the (former) Catholic University of Brussels and three years at the Catholic University of Leuven. During my time in law school, I also went on an exchange to New York for six months, which was an amazing and fruitful experience. After which, I started my PhD research in Property and Insolvency Law back in Leuven. During my research, I travelled to the Stellenbosch University (South Africa).

Although my research did not include South African Law, it allowed me to meet many inspiring people, and I was able to find the time and calmness to figure out and write down my research outline properly. I highly recommend all PhD candidates to step out of their daily routine and solely focus on their writing. When you can do this in such an inspiring environment like Stellenbosch, surrounded by mountains and vineyards, close to the coast and Cape Town, you are very fortunate.”

Fighting for a place in the world of academia

“I have always wanted to continue in the academic world, but the vacancies in Flanders are scarce because of the limited number of universities. Unfortunately, after completing my PhD, I could not immediately find a job because others already filled the available vacancies within my field of expertise. Sitting around waiting for a job was never an option for me; thus, I decided to go abroad for a year and work as a visiting researcher at Harvard Law School. There I researched covenants and servitudes and worked with Professor Henry Smith, famous within the world of Property Law.

During my time at Harvard, I applied for several positions, including a teaching job in English Property Law at the Queen Mary University in London. I came in second in the selection process. After my year in the United States, I started working as a lawyer in Belgium for a year, hoping that at some point a vacancy in the academic world would come available.”

Golden ticket from my mother

“My mum told me about a vacancy at the Department of Property and Insolvency Law at Erasmus School of Law in Rotterdam. I did not have high expectations because Property and Insolvency Law differs greatly between countries, and I studied Belgian Law. It does show some similarities with Dutch Law, but there are also a lot of differences.

The night before the interview, I returned quite late and tired from a trip to Stockholm. I even contemplated not going to the interview. Eventually, after the encouragement of my fiancé, I did go, but without much preparation or expectations. That same evening, I received a call with the request to start on 1 September 2015. It was unexpected but a very welcome phone call.”

Teaching Law to soldiers

“Simultaneously with my appointment at Erasmus School of Law, I started working at the Royal Belgian Military School, where I taught Contract Law to soldiers looking to enter the higher ranks in the Military. There, I got my first teaching experience, and I enjoyed it. Currently, I focus on my work at Erasmus School of Law because working in Rotterdam en Brussels at the same time turned out to be quite the challenge.”

(Innovative) education

“During the weeks of my courses, I mostly focus on my teaching: preparing lectures, weekly meetings with the tutors, drafting exams, answer questions of students, and, of course, grading the exams afterwards. When I am not teaching a course, I am involved in several projects and faculty entities.

For example, I am the Vice Director of Erasmus Graduate School of Law (EGSL). In the past few years, we have successfully digitalised our training programme within EGSL. This way, so-called external researchers – who are not (able to be) on campus – can participate in a programme of the same quality as our on-campus programme. In addition to that, I have recently worked on developing a whole new elective course (Assurances and Insolvency) with my colleague Erik de Kloe. This course is currently offered to students of the master programmes ‘Private Law’ and ‘Corporate Law’. The remaining time, I spend on research, preferably focused on internationalisation and recent societal evolutions, such as data.”

Who owns data?

“Data plays a continuously growing part in all aspects of our society, but one question usually remains unanswered: “who owns the data?’ That is what I am currently researching. This question, together with the trends of sharing economy and circular economy, is the most urgent challenge in the field of Property Law – and Law in general – for the next few years.

Before thinking about the legal statute of data, one has to understand this complex matter as much as possible. That is why I am trying to set up a cooperation with IT specialists, who can explain to me (amongst other things) what data actually are, what happens when you share a file, copy, delete, save them and so on.”

Rotterdam has become my home

“The decision to move to the Netherlands was not without its challenges, and I am proud of myself for taking that step because now I feel at home in Rotterdam. Ofcourse, my accent usually gives away that I was not born and raised in Rotterdam, and it will probably continue to do so. At the start of my first lecture, students look up and start to chuckle or look surprised because of this every year.

Ever since I was a kid, I have been a fan of the Netherlands, so my parents were not too surprised that I ended up across the border. I think that the Dutch people are usually very positive about us ‘Flemings’, especially at Erasmus School of Law, and more positive than vice versa sometimes.”

Inspiration around me

“I am not someone who looks up to certain people or idols. What inspires me the most is the people around me: my friends, family and fiancé. I am proud of the fact that I have become an Associate Professor at Erasmus School of law in only a couple of years, and I hope to become a full professor in the future, preferably in Rotterdam.”

My name is Sandra Santos and I work as a Chartering Analyst at Braskem Netherlands B.V. in Rotterdam. Braskem is part of the chemical and petrochemical industry, which has a significant share in several supply chains and is essential for economic development. Our purpose is to make people’s lives better by creating sustainable solutions through chemicals and plastics.  

My current work entails monitoring vessels from the CPP desk, making sure operations work as smoothly as possible. The position includes handling the vessels, ship-owners, broker screening (compliance, credit risk etc). Further, to assist with cash flow and freight payment management, and vetting process for every vessel hired. Besides, to support on post fixture issues such as LOIs, change in BLs, quality issues, shortage claims etc. At last, it also demands action on green shipping projects in regards to the decarbonization targets set by the IMO, such as monitoring the speed, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of our time-charter and spot vessels. 

The knowledge I have acquired in the Master's Degree in Maritime and Transport Law is reflected throughout my work every day. As a chartering analyst, I can safely say that the courses on Charter Parties & Bill of Lading, Marine Insurance and the Law of the Ship elective provide a clear map of the shipping field. This offers a solid foundation to the future maritime lawyers by helping us to perform our work successfully and to continue growing in the world of shipping.

Joost as a student

“I studied Law here in Rotterdam. I lived in Coolhaven but had friends with whom I always studied on Campus Woudestein or at EMC. I spent a lot of my time in the University Library. Usually, we would study during the day in the library, had dinner together and continued studying afterwards. I also went clubbing with this group of friends. For me, going out was an essential part of being a student.

Besides studying, I was a student assistant at the Criminal Law department, and I used to work out a lot. I joined The European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) in Rotterdam and Probus, the civil law association within JFR. Honestly, going out was my “main hobby”. I did that the most besides studying.

By working as a student assistant, I was already involved in many activities within the Criminal Law department, so I naturally became a part of a multitude of projects. I participated in many activities as a student assistant, and after I graduated, I continued to do so, but on a full-time basis. I do not have a spectacular story about finding my first job as I simply applied for a full-time position within the department.”

Contributing to new legislation remains a highlight of my career

“Soon after my appointment, I joined the Antillean project team, led by Hans de Doelder, Professor of Criminal (Procedural) Law at Erasmus School of Law. This team has contributed to the formation of the New Caribbean Penal Code, and the revision of the Caribbean Code of Criminal Procedural Law. At that time, I was in Curaçao six times a year for two or three weeks to write new legislation. After the Caribbean revision, Hans and I also wrote new legislation for the Penal Code of Suriname for a local legislative committee. In 2015, this code was adopted as active legislation.

I am most proud of the Penal Code’ revisions because we worked very hard and our propositions were adopted. We expect our revision of the Code of Criminal Procedural Law to be implemented any time now. Together with a small group of colleagues, we have worked on it for a long time, and it cost us a lot of time and effort. For example, we had been working on the Caribbean Penal Code between 2003 and 2013. Every occasion that our work becomes active legislation, it is a great compliment and a milestone in my career.”

Finding it difficult to say “no”

“Besides working on the project in the Caribbean, I am part of a multitude of projects. I have done much research for the police, Marechaussee (Dutch military police), FIOD (Fiscal Information and Investigation Service) and PwC. Also, since 2015, I am a deputy judge for the Rotterdam Court of Justice. I jump from one project onto another, which has been a constant throughout my career. Often, I cannot say “no”, and I should do it more often; however, I tend to find the projects very interesting and tempting.”

I aim to write as much as possible because I enjoy writing legal codes and books the most. In the past, I wrote columns for ‘de Havenloods’. I started after being interviewed by them about murder. They asked me if I would be interested in writing a weekly column for their magazine. I continued to do this for five years, after which I was ready for a new challenge.”

Writing and teaching is what I love the most

“I do not have a fixed work schedule. Most days start at 8.45 AM by turning on my computer and reading my emails. After which, I usually start writing. Every Tuesday, I write a newsletter for my website ‘SR Updates’ including the three most important verdicts of the Dutch Supreme Court in the previous week. Also, I teach a course biweekly, usually to practising lawyers. In the end, I spend most of my time writing, because I want to publish books. My passions are writing and teaching.”

Students and teachers are a union, without an authoritarian relationship

“My biggest challenge at this time is the felt gap between my students and me. It can be difficult to bond with students in a short period of five weeks. Students can easily find each other or the tutors, but it seems more challenging for the lecturers to connect with them. In particular with bachelor students as there are 800 of them. That creates a division and especially right now when all lectures are online.

Some students ask questions during my lecture or the breaks, but most ask their questions to tutors or other students in WhatsApp group chats. Honestly, I would like to be a part of those group chats, so I know what occupies them and which topics require more explanation in my lectures. It would also be beneficial for students because they would get a better idea of what is expected of them. Canvas might offer a possibility to chat but is used much less than WhatsApp.

You can clearly feel the division between teachers and students in the way students express their opinions about our exams and teaching. On occasion, we receive legal letters of complaint, which does bother me as it is not how I want to communicate with my students. In my opinion, students and teachers are a union, without the traditional authoritarian relationship. It is not like high school, where the teachers are in charge.”

It was like talking to a brick wall

“My workweek changed a lot due to the switch to online education. When we suddenly had to stay home as much as possible, it certainly took me some time to adapt. Luckily, the lecture rooms were already assigned to us and fitted with recording equipment. That is why we decided to proceed with the lectures on the planned dates, but with an online audience.

It felt quite bizarre to give a lecture in an empty hall. I did my first lecture on my own, but that quickly changed. I did not like to be alone in such ample space, because it feels like you are talking into the void. Also, every fifteen minutes, the lights would go out because the sensors did not detect any movement in the hall. If someone is there with you, that does not happen, and it feels less like talking to a brick wall.

It was very quiet on campus with everyone studying and working from home. I still had to be on campus to record my lectures, and sometimes I would come in early to get some work done in my office in Sanders Building. This way, I would not be bothered or distracted. When more people started to come to the campus, I did worry about maintaining our social distance. Luckily, we quickly set up a system within our department to notify colleagues about any plans to work on campus that day.”

Online education is a more significant burden for students than for teachers

“How our education will look like in the coming months depends on the speed of the vaccination program. After most people are vaccinated, I think everything will get back to ‘normal’ quite quickly. I expect that the social distancing will stay and that our education will remain online, at least in the short term.

Personally, online education does not bother me that much, and it is a more significant burden for the students than for the teachers. A big part of their study experience consists of getting together, meeting new people, and exchanging views in person. That is way harder with online courses and social distancing.”

My family is my biggest source of inspiration

“Whilst growing up, I looked at the way my parents and my uncles and aunts lived their lives and what they were doing. My family focuses on what interests and satisfies them. I have learnt that from a young age, and I am very proud of it.”

My name is Ynze de Jong and I work as a Senior Claims Handler at the Claims department of Willis Towers Watson division Corporate Risk and Broking.

My current work entails the handling of claims within the Marine department. The claims I am dealing with concern a broad variety of fields within Maritime and Transport Law, for example claims corresponding to Carriers liability, Marine cargo, Land based equipment, P&I, Charterers Liability and Hull & Machinery policies.

The work includes evaluating claim notifications in relation to policy cover, informing underwriters, instructing surveyors and lawyers in close cooperation with underwriters, discussing and negotiating with underwriters and the insured on the possible settlement of claims under the policy and coordinating recovery if applicable.

The knowledge I have gained in the master Maritime and Transport Law is very valuable in my day to day work. When starting the Master, I was the oldest student with 54 years of age and had gained during my career already quite some practical experience in the logistical field. Nevertheless I gained more and valuable in depth legal and theoretical knowledge during my study. This in depth knowledge is useful when advising clients or discussing with underwriters or opponents on certain Maritime or Transport law issues. I would therefore surely recommend the master Maritime and Transport Law to students who want to work in the Marine department of an insurance company or insurance broker.

Although I hoped that after my study the field of Maritime and Transport Law would hold no secrets for me anymore, I can tell you that this was a mere illusion. It is a very broad and interesting field that is continuously developing and will keep you on your toes.  I still learn new things every day!

My name is Ana Carolina Gossain and I am working as a Legal Analyst for BG Freight Line BV, the headquarters being in Rotterdam.

BG Freight Line BV is a shipping line that provides a comprehensive range of logistics services to and from Ireland, the UK, and continental Europe. These services include door-to-door shipping, feedering, and quay-to-quay shipping for all types of containerised cargo.

My current work entails drafting Charter Parties, reviewing and providing legal advice regarding Bills of Lading, Terminal Contracts, and Transport Service Agreements. Additionally, I assist the Head of Claims. A working day as a Legal Analyst at BG Freight Line BV roughly looks like coming to work and checking emails first thing, evaluating and drafting several type of contracts, doing legal research, and maintain contact with different stakeholders in order to procure facts and evidence, that will enable us to handle claims properly.

The knowledge I have gained in the Maritime and Transport LL.M is reflected in my work on a daily basis. The courses on Charter Parties and Bills of Lading, Transport Law and Bills of Lading especially, have been crucial to the work I do as a Legal Analyst at BG Freight Line BV.

My name is Ramoe Jagesar and I’m working as a (strategy) consultant for KPMG Advisory in The Netherlands. My current work consists of supporting clients in the Public Sector on various topics. The projects range from business cases, policy evaluations, impact assessments, strategy execution and the design (or implementation) of new organizational structures. The work I do typically consist of gathering a lot of data and insights (mostly through desk-research and interviews). We use the obtained information for an in-depth analysis on the problems that our clients are facing and examine possible solutions to move forward. 

The knowledge I have gained in the master is reflected in my work through the valuable (practical) skills you need in a business context. During the LL.M. you are exposed to academically challenging research subjects, but also receive ample opportunities to further improve your critical thinking and (written/verbal) communication skills. Mastering these skills are essential for your professional career, regardless of the industry you want to work in. The university is known for its excellent academic staff. In a small-scale teaching environment, the professors are stimulating you to get the most out of your time as a student. Being in the vibrant city Rotterdam and having a classroom full of students from all continents of the world, ensures you will have a very enjoyable (cultural) learning experience.  

My name is Sonia Vanzo and I’m working as an in-house legal counsel for Sanne Group Luxembourg, which is a leading service provider in the investment funds industry.

My current work entails addressing all legal related needs of the company in a team of two, working together with the company's legal team head. Working in such a small team allowed me to learn at an extremely fast pace, being involved in the company's legal and regulatory framework.
This leads to a less strict daily job routine, as I have had several different tasks. For example, I have worked on setting-up new procedures, new agreement and terms and conditions templates, monitoring the legal and regulatory standing of the company as well as providing the company's clients with appropriate agreements, reviewing and negotiating the necessary clauses together with the client's lawyers.

The knowledge I have gained in the master is reflected in my work especially through my company law knowledge and my negotiation skills. I truly believe that the international focus of the Commercial and Company Law master efficiently covers all the most important concepts that a young legal professional should know at the beginning of their career, no matter what country they will be working in.
During the master, I also had the chance to represent the university at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition, which was a remarkably valuable experience that enriched my commercial and arbitration law knowledge and most importantly allowed me to develop several soft skills, being instructed by encouraging and supporting coaches.

In my opinion, there are numerous ways to develop one's skills by being engaged in the different opportunities the faculty offers (for example student panel, moot court competitions, student associations), which are as important as the legal knowledge gained during the studies and which certainly facilitated me to find a job during the completion of the LLM.
In conclusion, I am satisfied to have chosen this particular master and would recommend it to students interested in commercial and company law.