“If it were easy, we wouldn’t be here right now”

Therefore, Impact at the Core organised the Impact Education Dialogue: education and the transitions in Rotterdam on Monday October 3rd, 2022. In a talkshow-setting, prof.dr. Arwin van Buuren (Academic lead of Impact at the Core) led the conversation between leading figures from both the Rotterdam municipality and the Erasmus University Rotterdam. They discussed what contributions our education could make to the transitions in the city. What is it that needs to be done by the university and Rotterdam? During this conversation, the table guests tried to come to a shared vision. This wasn’t always easy, but like Arnoud Molenaar stated: “If it were easy, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

The spoken language during the Impact Education Dialogue was Dutch. That’s why the most critical viewpoints have been summarised in English below the video.  

Making an impact with our education isn’t done in a day. This opens the floor to the following question: where do we start as a university? For Lyanda Vermeulen-Kerstens this couldn’t be more clear. She thinks we should shape our education with the real world in mind and embrace a more practical approach. An internship shouldn’t be the only time students experience the world that awaits them after their education. There should be a long-lasting educational curriculum that invites students to go beyond the borderline of our university. The mbo (intermediate vocational education) already organises its education in such a way. This would be an excellent opportunity for students who enjoy learning in a more practical way. The multidisciplinary aspect of this educational curriculum would prove to be incredibly valuable since our future asks for multidisciplinary professionals. Vermeulen-Kerstens emphasises the importance that students get paid for their time in the field. This is to fight against the inequality of opportunity amongst students. It is all about having choices and options to choose from. Some students thrive in the lecture halls. Others want to get their hands dirty in the real world.

It is a development that Jannelieke Aalstein would like to see as well. She would love it when students start their studies by going into the city to learn. Not to jump into action but to see what is happening. What catches your attention? And what would you like to change in what you see? Take this with you with everything you do during your academic career. In every class you take, and with every paper you write. Another change Aalstein would like to see is that the university would not invite the major to open the academic year but five ‘regular’ Rotterdammers. This would strengthen the message that after their four years at the university, the students will venture out into society to make the changes needed. Still, their journey to making an impact starts right here at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

About five thousand students start their education at Erasmus University every year. Most of them have no sense of direction or know what they want with their studies, so stated Ed Brinksma. Besides that, these students need time to get used to student life. Brinksma acknowledges that it is crucial for students to get the chance to broaden their horizons and that they need to venture into the city to see for themselves the issues that taunt society. However, we must be realistic and realise that some students also come to the university for a more traditional approach to their studies.

Albert Wagelmans agrees. He states that students should be taught in the discipline of their choosing before they can work with students and professionals from other disciplines on societal issues. A multidisciplinary approach is complicated, and all significant societal issues require a multidisciplinary approach. We see this at the Convergence. Experience researchers who have enjoyed a monodisciplinary education first need to learn to understand each other’s language before they can work together.

The university is on the right track considering multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration. Both between the university and other sectors, as between the university and other educational institutes. What makes it difficult to spur ahead with our ambitions program is to get societal issues on the agenda in the rooms where it happens. This also counts for the municipality, Arnoud Molenaar states. He thinks that it could be helpful when the university could formulate the right questions. But besides that, continuity is invaluable to making a lasting change. Molenaar states that it is the Rotterdammers that make the city. The resilience of the city lies with them. As a university, we should embrace a more demand-driven approach. There is no use staying in our ivory tower. We need to get into the neighbourhoods if we truly want to make an impact.

Learn to work from within the city, Beitske Boonstra agrees. A lot is happening at the university, but we don’t share it enough with each other. We also receive this feedback from our partners in the city. There is a need for continuity; as a university, we must provide this. Boonstra speaks about the fire inside the students of Erasmus University. They want to do something meaningful for the society they are part of. We must teach our students that one can’t create an impact alone. This is something we need to do together. This can take years of hard work. You need commitment and patience. But in the end, we will make an impact together with the city. That’s what’s it all about.