Giving and taking responsibility

Interview with coalition leaders Philipp Pattberg and Bart Koopman

Responsible Societies Coalition leaders Philipp Pattberg (VU Amsterdam) and Bart Koopman (UT)  on collaboration, the new generation, pleasure in the job and the power of the marathon.   

‘There are many similarities between our universities in terms of how we look at the world and how we want to do things. Because we share the same values, we strengthen each other. At the same time, we also complement each other. This combination provides a very fertile ground for a successful collaboration. 

Impact on society

What we also share is a broad outlook. In Twente, for example, it is never just about the technology in itself but also about the world behind the technology. What can we do with it and what impact does it have on society? This focus on impact on society is also evident in Amsterdam. For us, it is not a question of wanting to be the best either. We mainly want to make a difference. And we also see that there is a great need for broadly trained technical talent. Together we can provide that talent. 

Additional expertise

Our broad view and approach is reflected in the relationships we develop with the government, businesses, civil society organisations and citizens. We are at home in many markets. In terms of content, our broad perspective is reflected in all kinds of subjects. For example on the subject of AI and self-driving cars. Because of our complementary expertise, we can look at many different aspects such as technology, safety, energy and liability.   

The enormous pleasure of not only being able to look into each other's kitchen but also to actually work together.

Collaboration is natural

Our collaboration is a conscious choice and at the same time inevitable. Because you can't tackle the big global challenges on your own. You need strong partners. Moreover, for the new generation of scientists, staff, students and alumni, collaboration is entirely natural. Everyone is very open to it.  

Spreading and embracing

The name Responsible Societies is not about image but fits in very well with our social orientation. We do not only want to convey the power and possibilities of responsibility and sustainability to others. We will also increasingly embrace, apply and further develop these ourselves. Because everyone understands their great importance. Our new generation also plays an important role in this. They are already replacing planes by trains and meat by vegetarian options more often. 

Getting down to work

Of course, there are expectations about our collaboration. That is fine, but as far as we are concerned it is mainly a matter of getting down to work and see what happens. And yes, we hope that we will be able to meet each other live more often. At the same time, covid has shown that we can work together remotely very well. A future new hybrid way of working certainly will give our collaboration another boost. 

Our name is not an image thing but fits in very well with our social orientation.

A long breath

We are already getting that boost, by the way, due to the success of our first joint bachelor's programme in Mechanical Engineering, which started in 2019. The time and energy we put into developing this course is now paying off. As far as we are concerned, it also shows that successful collaboration takes a long breath. More of a marathon than a sprint. You need a clear direction from management, but you really have to build the collaboration bottom up from the shop floor. The most important guideline here is: what do people want from and do with each other? And above all, don't make things more complicated than they already are.   

Keep explaining

Our collaboration is currently experienced mainly by a relatively small group of people who are directly involved. These people are very enthusiastic. That's great, of course, but it also means that there is still a world to be won. Communication plays an important part in this. Both within our own community and beyond. We must continue to explain why the collaboration is so important and how we can create even more impact on and effect for society. If we do this in a clear and appealing way, we are convinced that more and more people and parties will want to join us.  

Making a difference

For us personally, it is also great to be intensively involved in this cooperation. It is sometimes jokingly said that scientists focus on the three Dutch P's: Poen (Money), Pret (Fun) and Prestige (Prestige). For the time being, fun is the most important factor for us. The enormous pleasure of not only being able to look in each other's kitchen but also to actually work together. By bringing together as much knowledge, experience and enthusiasm as possible, we are able to make a big difference. How great is that? And the fun also has to do with creating the right preconditions. That is mainly a question of putting the jigsaw together until everything fits.'