The Lebuinus Church (Grote Kerk), was the atmospheric backdrop for this year's opening of the Saxion academic year 2026-2027. A place where past, present and future meet, as was evident from the stories that were shared. Centred on the theme ‘In A Different Light’, this year's opening was not only thought-provoking, but also poignant, as underlined by the keynote speech by Remco Spithoven, Professor of Digital Resilience: “The online world is you and me. We are at a turning point in time and must realise that our resilience comes from the strength of the collective.”
Kirstin Gramlich’s impressive organ playing also gave this year’s traditional parade the more formal character of a procession. And that felt exactly right in the setting of the centuries-old Lebuinus Church. Accompanied by enthusiastic applause, the boards of the student societies, the finalists, the winners and members of the Executive Board proceeded down the central aisle to the stage. Event chairperson Martje van Ankeren, Programme Manager Research at Saxion, extended a warm welcome to all those present. She noted that this year’s edition was entirely organised and supported by Saxion’s own students and staff. “Something to be proud of,” said Martje. Just as we are proud of the remarkable achievements of staff and students over the past year including: Abeje Mersha (winner of the Delta Prize), Atilla Németh (winner of the Probation Research Award), Marloes Postel and her team members Marieke Krakers and Marjolein den Ouden (winners of the Anka Mulder Research Award) and Renate Mattiszik (winner of the SURF Research Support Champion Award for higher professional education). The finalists of the Graduation Award and the Saxion Entrepreneurs Award were also part of the parade. They would be mentioned again later.
Saxion's earliest roots
In her opening speech, Inge Grimm, President of the Executive Board, described the Lebuinus Church and the surrounding Grote Kerkhof as the cradle of Saxion’s and Deventer’s higher education traditions. Knowledge was already shared and disseminated centuries ago by scholars such as Geert Grote and Desiderius Erasmus in the vicinity of the Latin School, Atheneum Illustre and printing houses that earned Deventer its reputation as a city of books. “A place of inspiration and craftsmanship, of knowledge and progress. From writers, philosophers, scientists and book printers,” said the President of the Executive Board. The link to Saxion, at the start of a new academic year, with a view to the future, felt more than obvious. In her speech, Inge Grimm addressed not only the students and staff present, but also the large regional knowledge network which includes Saxion: “We need each other, on the way to a future where care and safety, digitalisation and sustainability demand our full attention,” she concluded.
We need each other, on the way to a future where care and safety, digitalisation and sustainability demand our full attention.
Thought-provoking keynote
Her words were a fitting prelude to the thought-provoking keynote by Remco Spithoven, Professor of Digital Resilience. Over the past year, he and his research group contributed their expertise to KPN's ‘Everyone Except’ campaign. Using the extended commercial, which is more like a short film, he took the audience into the world of a secondary school student who becomes the victim of online bullying and social exclusion. The commercial had been shown on television in recent months, but on the big screen, in the soft autumn light of the Lebuinus Church, the images struck an even deeper chord.
The power of the collective
In his keynote, Professor Spithoven reflected on the enormous impact that the online world has on the welfare of children, young people and students. “That world can be overwhelming. Just as we can feel powerless in the face of Big Tech companies,” said the professor. “But that online world is you and me. We are at a turning point in time and must realise that our resilience comes from the strength of the collective. In the Netherlands, we are used to sorting things out on our own, but historically, we have always relied on the strength of the collective.” With that, he appealed to everyone to stay engaged in the conversation and join forces to strengthen digital resilience. From small scale to large: from the conversations parents need to have with their children around the kitchen table to bringing together research efforts at both regional and European levels. Therein lies the hope for the future, when it comes to creating online safety, according to Spithoven.
Remco Spithoven, Professor of Digital Resilience
With due respect
The candle ceremony for students and staff who passed away this past year was conducted with due respect by all members of the Executive Board. Every year it remains a moving moment, one in which family members, colleagues and fellow students remember their loved ones. There was room for a poem and for the song “Lichtje Branden” (keep a light burning) by Suzan and Freek, sung by HRM student Tess Reurink, who previously appeared as a participant in the television programme The Voice. Later on, Tess also provided a technically accomplished and heart-felt rendition of “I'm Not So Tough” by Ilse DeLange.
Tess Reurink
Precious Saxion moments
Alongside the quiet and moving moments, there were also plenty opportunities to celebrate the new academic year. This included the short, video-portraits of Sandra Hobbelink, Koray Arslan, Marjon van Zalk and Melissa van den Brink. In their “Saxion moments” they told about one particularly special moment that had touched them. For Koray Arslan, it was the moment when he received his master's degree, exactly on the same day he celebrated Eid al-Fitr with his family. It was a special conclusion to an intensive period of studying and fasting. And also a crowning achievement for his career switch from professional footballer to working in education, where he is currently a study programme manager at Saxion. His story, and those of the other participants will all be featured on saxion.nl in the coming weeks.
Entrepreneur Award
The final of the Saxion Entrepreneur Award was an exciting neck and neck race between Lyanna Haytema with her concept A Fitting Home (Passend Wonen), Gabriël Citgez with his business Lavarex and Isabel ter Haar with her bag brand Beloire. Lyanna convinced the jury with her strong pitch as well as receiving the most public votes and so emerged as winner. With A Fitting Home, she helps elderly people with the transition of moving into a smaller home, care or residential complex, where not only the interior is key, but in particular creating a feeling of safety and being at home. “Moving house can be incredibly emotional for the elderly. I don't just want to create a beautiful space, but above all the comforting feeling of being at home in a new place,” said winner Lyanna.
Lyanna Haytema
Best Bachelor's Thesis
The Saxion Talent Award for the best bachelor's thesis went to Sanne Lueb. With her thesis “Impact of tuktukrental.com” she identified the effects of the platform with regard to social, economic and sustainable development. In order to make the effects more concrete and quantifiable, Sanne developed a model and a dashboard. In doing so, she translates complex social issues into a practical instrument that can be directly applied in practice.
Best Master's Thesis
Amy Kerr, from Ireland, won the Saxion Talent Award for the best master's thesis: “Transforming denim through advanced multi-layered weaving, embedding post-treatment production steps during weaving and incorporating recycled content to reduce the environmental impact”. Amy researched how denim production can be made more sustainable through innovative weaving techniques and the reuse of materials. The thesis combines current, state-of-the-art knowledge with careful and reproducible applied research. In doing so, Amy has not only developed new insights for making the denim industry more sustainable, but has also provided a platform for broader application in the textile sector.
Sanne Lueb and Amy Kerr
Robot Aletta
After a varied programme, full of meaningful stories, moments of reflection and award ceremonies, the time had finally come to officially open the Saxion academic year. All the main players gathered on stage behind the Executive Board who simultaneously performed the opening together. By hitting a red button, they declared the 2026-2027 academic year open. The afternoon was concluded by swaying along to the sounds of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man”. This was done under the conductorship of robot Aletta, who walked across the old church floor keeping the beat with both robot arms. Then all those present started singing the well-known song. New technology, on historic ground. You can’t get any more symbolic than that.
Photography: Jason Buitenhuis - Saxion
Videography: Thomas Busschers - Saxion
Translation: Graeme Cunningham - Saxion
