Opening ceremony Saxion academic year 2021-2022: ‘We need to make our circle of influence as large as possible’
It feels like coming home, the university can finally open its doors again. However, not everyone may and can be present at the same time, which is why Saxion has chosen a digital opening of the new academic year, so we can still all start together. In the Wilminktheater in Enschede students, staff and the Executive Board look to the future together with the business community. With the theme: ‘Toekomstmuziek’ or Looking to the Future, it is not only about the new academic year. This also addresses the question: where is Saxion heading in the long-term? How do we view the future together?
Thousands of visitors were digitally present to witness the opening ceremony of the academic year. Jennie Lena, Rob Dekay, Manuela Nzenge and members of Symfonia Jong Twente provided musical inspiration. The orchestra was seated in front of the “House of Saxion” symbolically positioned on stage where Voice finalist Marc Floor performed ‘Coming Home’, just as board members of Saxion’s study societies could come home again this evening. Their flags adorning the stage. Architecture student Merna Elgohary presents. Saxion staff member Monique Sleiderink chatted with various guests. In keeping with tradition, proceedings were kicked-off by President of the Executive Board, Anka Mulder, who was asked among other things, about Saxion’s long-term vision.
Saxion’s circle of influence
“This week as far as I’m concerned, the vision is that Saxion can open its doors once more. That all students are able to enter our premises again,” says the President of the Executive Board. The other vision she sees is one requiring immediate attention and action: Anka refers to current events such as the climate crisis, corona and developments in Afghanistan. In doing so, she gives personal examples. “These have affected me deeply,” she shares. What kind of role can Saxion play in this? To find out, we can according to Anka look to the ‘circle of influence’ and ‘circle of concern’ of management guru Stephen Covey. “If you keep focusing on the ‘circle of concern’ then you’ll become unhappy. We need to focus on the other circle. And we have to make that circle of influence as big as possible.”
Saxion wants to take even more emphatic steps in this area, by reducing its own CO2 emissions by a third. Furthermore, in education, the focus of International Business and Commercial Economics students is no longer on just making as much profit as possible. Anka: “Students learn about Conscious Business. Because that is the future.”
Also Saxion’s regional focus is just as important as ever. “That’s our circle of influence. With our partners. With our students.” And even though Enschede is the university’s largest location, Saxion wants to become more visible in Apeldoorn and Deventer. These Saxion cities are also knocking on the university’s door, says Mulder. She wants more attention to go to Apeldoorn, Deventer and the surrounding Region ‘Stedendriehoek’.
There’s a lot to discuss
Of course, in an hour and a half many other topics are discussed. For example, attention is given to declining student numbers and the effects of this on the region, the complexity of making timetables and about workplaces for teachers and students, now that there are both online and offline classes. After all, a new way of working and studying makes different demands on the Saxion community. The hybrid professional, who works in both education and business, will also play a greater role in higher education in the coming years.
With Gerben Edelijn and Sander Verschoor, CEO of Thales and company director at VDL respectively, the conversation is about an increasingly complex world where technical applications are being used for a variety of purposes. Technology offers perspective and opportunities, but also asks us to make difficult decisions when it comes to a safe and sustainable world. Edelijn and Verschoor are also concerned about diversity in the workplace and the much-needed professionals of the future: “Our shareholders will demand that we develop more broadly,” according to the Thales topman. “We are good at working together in the Eastern Netherlands,” says the VDL company director. “as businesses among ourselves. But also with education and research.”
The new Saxion corporate video was also presented during the official opening of the Saxion academic year 2021-2022. This year students worked in the Saxion XR Lab on a symbolic opening gesture fit for the opening of a new academic year. Using technology that is still being developed, students made a virtual version of Executive Board President Anka Mulder. She opened the year by playing the piano, in honour of the theme ‘toekomstmuziek’ (music for the future i.e. looking to the future).
The Executive Board concluded the online event for viewers with a final and sincere message: “enjoy” and ”make it a great year.”
