No shortage of major topics and super prizes at this year’s opening of the academic year. An opening all about ‘Smart practitioners’ and facing up to challenges. It was certainly a packed programme: from a sun-drenched Climate Square to a surprising green business idea. Here is a brief summary of an inspiring start to academic year 2023-2024.
Assembled and ready again this year: representatives from Saxion's student associations. Firmly holding their banners aloft, they descended the stairs of the main building in Enschede along with the Executive Board. Backed by rousing music, they made their way through the crowd and stepped up onto the stage.
Anka Mulder, President of Saxion's Executive Board, did not dive straight into her opening speech. Instead, she first wanted to make the tense excitement that accompanies an opening ceremony more tangible to the audience, by holding a quiz. Including the stand out question: “What was I wearing during the opening ceremony last year?” The audience’s reaction: “Rubbish from the river IJssel!” Followed by a burst of laughter. The answer was literally true, however in reality a little more flattering: last year Anka wore clothes partly made of plastic collected from the river IJssel.
Major topics
This made the perfect bridge to the subject of sustainability, also strongly linked to another major topic. In sizzling summer temperatures and overlooking the sparkling new Climate Square, there was one topic that could not be ignored. “Through our teaching and research, we try to contribute to solving climate problems,” says Anka. “A wonderful example of this is the Climate Square, which we will be opening presently. Around 50 students worked on this under the supervision of lecturer Kristoff Dervaux .”
No single student should be disadvantaged, no matter where she or he lives.
Equal opportunities wherever you are
Anka attaches great importance to the contribution of the new generation. Particularly at regional level, involving working on solutions for diverse societal challenges. This requires “Smart practitioners.” Anka also made a plea for a national education policy that is not primarily focused on efficiency, but rather one which provides a comprehensive range of courses for all students. “No single student should be disadvantaged,” she told the audience, “no matter where she or he lives. And no matter which sector they are studying in.”
Pressure on the flanks
Anka certainly has good reason for pointing out the importance of equal opportunities for all students. The report Elke regio telt (Every region counts) indicates that government policy is primarily deployed in regions that are already prosperous, which only serves to increase ‘pressure along the flanks of the Netherlands’. The importance of a vital region was also emphasised on stage by Arne van Hout, Directorate-General for Public Administration and Democratic Rule of Law at the Ministry of the Interior. In his speech he described students in this context as “the real gold”. He presented Anka with a ‘wish list’ focusing on the broad development of young people.
Ank Bijleveld, President of the Twente Board, said in response to Arne’s words that she didn’t notice the “antenna of The Hague in the region”. She indicated that ‘the region’ primarily benefits from long-term investments in the broadest sense of the word. Something that received a round of applause from those present.
Prizes
After all these words of wisdom it was time for the Entrepreneur Award, the prize aimed at stimulating students in their development of a sound business idea or start-up. This year the award was extra special: it was the first time the prize was being presented since the corona pandemic. The four finalists enthusiastically made their business pitches in front of a full house, but it turned out to be Bram Kuipers who had impressed the jury the most. He won the Entrepreneurs Award 2023 with his business Triple Green Innovation.
We desperately need the entrepreneurs of the future.
The honour of announcing the winner went to Jan Willem Meinsma of the Saxion Executive Board. “We desperately need the entrepreneurs of the future,” says Jan Willem. “They give substance to the transitions that we, as society, are going through.” Taking part in a major transition is exactly what winner Bram is doing. His Triple Green Innovation is busy developing special trays for growing lettuce on water, which are both energy-efficient and prevent ground water pollution. A.k.a. sustainable vegetables of the future.
Also heralding its return was the Saxion Graduation Prize. This time Timo Koos of the Executive Board had the honour of announcing the winner. He was greatly impressed by the thesis written by winners Timme Hummelink and Rinze Mulder’s from the School of Business, Building & Technology. Their thesis entitled ‘Meten = weten’ (The numbers tell the tale) provides tools to help gain better insight into the progress of sustainable transitions.
Opening of Climate Square
When Anka Mulder climbed back on stage in her wellington boots it was almost time for the opening of Climate Square. She coaxed Kristoff Dervaux to don his wellies too. Not only to stop them getting wet feet in the wadis in the square, but also as a statement that you should not take yourself so seriously in these ‘individualistic times’. Anka expressed her hope for a society with a little less ‘me’ and a bit more ‘us’. After leaving the stage she and Kristoff were both given a brightly coloured watering can and together they started filling up the wadis. Providing promise of a fruitful academic year.
Extra: full speech Anka Mulder (pdf)
Photography: Dennis Moekotte / Moekotte Media
