Twente Summer School will be a brand and organizational support structure for summer events that are high-tech, human touch. Currently under development, it plans to consist of various programs from different faculties on Bachelor, Master and PhD level by 2013. These programs will be open for international and local students. Executive trainings are also possible.
The idea is to establish a common ground for complementary activities which will strengthen the international profile of the university. Students will have a one-stop website to glance at special courses of interest. Also, the organization of seminars, summer camps or workshops will be significantly more efficient.
Sander Lotze is one of the initiators of the Twente Summer School. The head of Internationalization of the Strategy & Policy department believes that the university has a lot to gain. ,,In the past, very successful and high-quality summer programs took place, but they lacked coherence to each other and the university profile. Also, the perceived organizational burden does not stimulate staff to follow up on new initiatives. An umbrella organization could take away some drawbacks and promote extra intellectual challenges during summer.’’
Experience
Professors Petra de Weerd-Nederhof, Menno de Jong and Aard Groen also belong to the Twente Summer School think-tank and are both experienced in organizing summer programs. Menno de Jong for one, greatly enjoyed his former summer programs in behavioral science.
Negotiations on how to realize the Twente Summer School best are still on-going. It will most likely be developed in stages. De Weerd-Nederhof: ,,There will be a pilot this summer. This will consist of existing programs, such as the summer school on entrepreneurship with Higher School of Economics, Moscow, and Technische Universität Berlin.’’ In 2013, organizers may answer to a call to receive some PR, financial, and organizational support, which will ensure a balanced high-tech human touch offer on all educational levels.
She also explained that it is strongly preferred when programs are linked to each other through a larger event. A congress on nano-technology, for example, could be a linking pin to other programs to optimally engage keynote speakers and participants. Rotating events that take place in Enschede and at partner premises by turns are equally appreciated.
Sander Lotze is very happy that the idea witnesses a revival.,,It was born already years ago, and now it seems that there is finally some follow-up. The campus is a beautiful location.”
Mariska Roersen
