Effective 1 January 2026, Manuel Buitenhuis, alumnus of the Erasmus School of Philosophy, will be appointed as a member of the management team of the Directorate for Higher Education and Student Finance (HO&S) at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW).
Appointment at OCW
As an MT member at HO&S, Manuel works on fostering a strong, accessible, and adaptable university of applied sciences and research university sector. He leads three teams: the Taskforce on Managing International Student Flows, the Internationalisation Team, and the Data, Research and DUO Team. His portfolio includes realising government objectives in the field of internationalisation, strengthening the Dutch position in international collaborations, and optimising cooperation with implementing organisations such as DUO.
Manuel describes it as “a privilege to contribute to Dutch education and the society it serves from this role,” emphasising the importance of connection when addressing societal challenges together.
Alumnus and engaged lecturer
Manuel Buitenhuis is an alumnus of the research master’s programme in Philosophy and Economics at the Erasmus Institute for Philosophy and Economics of the Erasmus School of Philosophy, from which he graduated in 2015. Before that, he studied Economics and Philosophy at University College Utrecht and completed a research master’s in History & Philosophy of the Natural Sciences at Utrecht University.
He also remained connected to the Erasmus School of Philosophy: in 2019 he was a guest lecturer in the course Philosophy & Public Policy, which he co-taught with Constanze Binder within the Research Master. This course formed the foundation for a new educational track within our master’s programme, in which he still teaches today.
From Research Master course to defining MA course: From Theory to Practice
The course that Manuel co-developed and taught has served in recent years as the basis for an ambitious educational trajectory within our master’s programme. This educational innovation resulted in the new MA skills course From Theory to Practice, which places the public and practical dimensions of philosophy at its core.
In From Theory to Practice, students learn how to apply philosophical insights in societal and professional contexts. The course is now a core component and profiling element of our MA in Philosophy.
Through this development, the MA in Philosophy aligns seamlessly with current societal issues and professional contexts—an approach made possible in part by the teaching experience and contributions of alumni such as Manuel Buitenhuis.
