Behind the scenes with Arianne Colenbrander

Meet Arianne Colenbrander, the new Program Director for the Alliance VU-UT at the UT.

Behind the scenes with Arianne Colenbrander

In this second edition of Behind the scenes, we introduce Arianne Colenbrander, the new Program Director for the Alliance VU-UT at the UT. Arianne has been working at the University of Twente for eight years, most recently as Marketing and Communications Advisor. In that role, she was closely involved in marketing strategies for existing and potential new educational initiatives within the alliance, including setting up recruitment for the Creative Technology bachelor's program. Now, she is leveraging her experience to strengthen and expand the collaboration between VU Amsterdam and the UT in all its facets.

The energy of collaboration

“What excites me most about this role is the incredible energy within the alliance. As a Marketing and Communications Advisor, I worked closely with colleagues from VU Amsterdam and saw firsthand how committed everyone is to making this collaboration a success. During work visits, I witnessed not only the breadth of our partnership but also the dedication of everyone involved to turning plans into action. What I find particularly special is that, despite the geographical distance, VU Amsterdam and the UT are both complementary and like-minded. Together, we have the power to make a real impact.”

Strengthening and building

“In my new role, I’m particularly keen to learn about everything already happening within the alliance, as well as the ideas still taking shape in the minds of colleagues. That’s why I’ll be having lots of conversations: What’s going on? Where are the opportunities or challenges? How can we strengthen each other?

There are already clear agreements between our universities regarding education and research. My aim is to build on that – strengthening what works well and expanding on new opportunities. At the same time, this period calls for careful decisions. The Executive Boards and Steering Group are actively discussing these matters to ensure that all perspectives, both within and beyond the alliance, are considered.”

Get to know Arianne

“I’m really looking forward to meeting the people behind the initiatives within the VU-UT Alliance. I’d love to grab a coffee – or tea – whether in person or online, and I can’t wait to connect with everyone.”

Arianne can be reached via email at a.a.colenbrander@utwente.nl or by phone at +31 53 489 8942.

“I hope to see you all at the working visit in Amsterdam on 4 November!”