Blog: Vroom, vroom...

Alma Schaafstal shares how exciting steps are being taken towards the launch of CreaTe in Amsterdam, from formal approvals to building momentum.

Vroom, vroom...

And suddenly, a number of things started to accelerate. The Faculty Council approved the business case, and our application was approved by the Higher Education Efficiency Committee, making it a funded program. We've also started recruiting colleagues and have made progress with the positioning of CreaTe. And last but not least, we had two fantastic days with our colleagues from VU Amsterdam in Twente.

So, what am I going to talk about? Random things. Recruitment: it's going quite well. Right now, I'm happy with how far we've come, knowing how hard everyone has worked and how flexible they've been. Travel. It's interesting how colleagues from abroad don't bat an eye at a 2.5-hour train ride. That's good news. Because this is a process that requires careful planning. How do we organise the work and the associated travel for our future colleagues, so it's fun and manageable?

CreaTe's future and growth

We're learning a lot from the insights provided by Markteffect about how prospective students view VU Amsterdam, the UT and CreaTe. They think that studying at a technical university looks great on a CV. They also believe that at the UT, you'll focus more on the 'doing' side of things, while at VU Amsterdam, it's more about the 'thinking' side. Additionally, they expect more diversity in Amsterdam, which I can easily imagine. The relevant and hands-on nature of CreaTe appeals to prospective students. And of course, these are just impressions, but we need to work with them. I think, from a consistent positioning of CreaTe, we need to clearly show the integration of the program across the two different universities and cities. One may appeal to you more than the other. Let that Tech Campus stay in Twente and let Amsterdam keep its own image.

Then, there was the productive visit from our colleagues from VU Amsterdam. Two days of getting impressions of CreaTe students at work, and two days of intensive physical and mental exploration of the campus and CreaTe. Timetables, recruitment, visuals, specialisations, academic skills and professional development. In every way, it was Humane by Design. This is how we are building the program in Amsterdam and giving that fascinating new mindset a place in the overall curriculum. And that’s pure gain. By being open to each other's strengths, we make CreaTe even more relevant, interesting and attractive for future students. And if there's anything that feels good, it's that.

And now... summer is almost here. There's still a lot of work to be done in the coming year. But for now, not just yet. Enjoy your holiday!