Blog: Falling off the pink cloud

Alma Schaafstal reflects on the challenges and lessons learned during the Creative Technology launch at VU Amsterdam.

Falling off the pink cloud

Sometimes, things seem to be going really well. And then, suddenly, the realisation hits: we really need to accelerate what we're doing to launch in Amsterdam in just a few months. Indeed, a few months. Not a year anymore. Hiring new top educators is progressing but too slowly. After all, we still want to provide our new colleagues with a strong foundation in Enschede. As we become more concrete, the differences also become clearer, and we encounter new obstacles. Like battling with websites.

Why do you care about websites, Alma? Well... because they're quite important for the students. I challenge everyone to see what happens when you try to apply in Amsterdam: you're bounced between the websites of Amsterdam and Twente. It's not ideal, and when students say they can't find their way, I completely understand. Thankfully, the issue is being recognised, and work is underway to improve the situation. Honestly, this will lead to a much better website!

Passion, teamwork and dedication to students

Sometimes I hear that I might love CreaTe a bit too much. Not too much, no, but enough that I give it everything I have and can to ensure the students have a great experience. We're doing everything we can as a team to give them a quality education and experience. There's still so much to do on every front, but everyone is very busy, and in many cases, this is something that comes as an additional task.

Amid all the pressure I feel right now, it's also important to pause and reflect on what an amazing program it is. How much we enjoy being part of it and how great the vibe is. That's why I’m happy to share a preview of a video we recently made with Simon Pruijn about what makes CreaTe unique: the vibe. And if you watch it and think, "I want to be part of that too", you’re more than welcome to join us!