Welcome new alumni! - Maastricht University

entoen.nuThe heading of this ContinuUM foreword refers to an interesting website. You will find fifty icons,each of which acts as a window to a part of the history of the Netherlands. This is the splendidresult of the Netherlands’ canon committee. Which subjects relating to the history of our countryare an absolute “must” for all Dutch citizens and any other global citizen with an interest in theNetherlands? History is obviously in the past, but it also forms an important basis for the future.This not only applies to a country, but also to a dynamic organisation like Maastricht University(formerly the State University of Limburg). Former students belong to that past, and alumni areimportant to the future of Maastricht University.At the start of this Academic Year, MaastrichtUniversity presented a new StrategicProgramme. An ambitious plan, which buildsupon successes from our university’s recentpast. But perhaps we should dwell moreexplicitly on this past. A UM Canon Developmentcommittee could be set up. Which ideasand events from our short history should beinscribed into our memories and those of thepeople who succeed us? The answers to thisquestion will undoubtedly form an inspiringchronicle. Entertaining, fun, but also a basisfrom which UM can grow and flourish.When I started work in Maastricht in 1979,I was sent a copy of the Blue Book. This wasthe UM catechism of the day. Looking back, it makes you proud of the UM’s pioneering role ineducational reform. But you also see less successful aspects, such as the intended contribution tothe reorganisation of the Dutch healthcare system. Many more developments have been initiatedsince then. Although some of them are now history, they are still instrumental in realising newsuccess stories today. I refer particularly to all the internationalisation activities organised byMaastricht University.Contents2 Foreword3 ContinuUM readers’ survey: Let’s hear from alumni!4 Starting your own business: the ultimate adventure7 UM News flashes8 Professor of Cardiology Yigal Pinto in search of the Holy Grail10 Faculty news in brief12 News from the Alumni circles14 Made in Maastricht: Marike Jager15 From the Alumni Office: UM wants lifelong connections!16 If your work is also a hobby. Portrait of Aalt-Willem Heringa18 Masters in the spotlight19 Alumni active in international student recruitment task force20 Alumni in the picture22 News from the UM Scholarship Fund23 Nermin Dizdarevic & Bibiche Wymenga. E-mail from …Viennawww.alumni.unimaas.nlWe wish you lots of good luckand warmth in 2007!A UM Canon, set up with the assistance of alumni; that would be perfect. A Blue Book withContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006colourful edging. Or even better: a new UM website to include this canon. And we should ensurethat the education programmes of every single course include a few activities designed to givestudents a little more intellectual substance in terms of “the international world”, for example,and “learning for learning’s sake”. This would help to embed the distinctive features of UM morefirmly. All students would spend a short time considering questions such as: what are the opportunitiesand threats presented by the international world, how should we deal with it, what isthe best way to learn, etc.? Spinoza concluded his ‘Ethics’ with the words: “All excellent things areas difficult as they are rare”.Is anyone volunteering to help set up the UM Canon?René VerspeekGeneral editor ContinuUMDirector of Student Services, UMrene.verspeek@ssc.unimaas.nlYear 5 | number 2 | December 2006Editor’s addressRedactie ContinuUMCommunicatie &RelatiebeheerPostbus 6166200 MD MaastrichtThe NetherlandsT +31 (0)43-388 5238F +31 (0)43-388 5225General editorRené VerspeekEditor in chiefLucia M.J. GeurtsEditorsNicole HanssenIne KuppenDaniëlle Townsend-PrevooAlumni platformEditorial boardLynn BergerJeroen JansenJudith KuijkKoen TimmermansContributors tothis issueJanneke BrouwersJos CortenraadNermin DizdarevicJores de GoeijSteven GoetstouwersAalt-Willem HeringaMarike JagerFemke KoolsEllen KrijnenSofi KurniadiGerard MolsYigal PintoBas PossenRichard ReeseMiquel StaalBibiche WymengaContact persons of theAlumni circlesFaculty contact personsUM Scholarship FundPhotographyAppie DerksPhilip DriessenFranco GoriLeann PoethSacha RulandRoger SendenDesigngewoon biel.www.gewoonbiel.nlPrintingSchrijenLippertzHuntjenswww.slh.nlCirculation30.000 copiesChange of address/subscriptionT +31 (0)43 -388 5221alumni@ssc.unimaas.nlContinuUM is a magazine for, by and about alumni ofMaastricht University. It is published twice a year andis sent free of charge to all alumni and, if requested,to doctoral candidates, university staff members,students and relations of Maastricht University.We invite all readers of ContinuUM to send theircomments, suggestions and feedback to the editorsvia e-mail at lucia.geurts@ssc.unimaas.nl,or by telephone: +31 (0)43-388 5233.

Take part!Give us your opinion of yourmagazine. Take part in thereaders’ survey and go to:www.flycatcher.nl/continuum_ned.That’s where you’ll find the onlinequestionnaire. If you can’t fillin the questionnaire online, callthe Alumni Office and ask us fora paper version,phone +31 (0)43-388 5221.Let’s hear from alumni!Is ContinuUM easy to read? Does it contain enough things you like to read? Should it be more concise, trendier, glossier? Or quite the opposite?Or do you like it just as it is? By taking part in the readers’ survey all alumni can give their answers to these questions and help to improve their magazine!ContinuUM readers’ surveyAt the same time as this magazine isshould be allowed to be expressed aslook at the magazine once in a while. AEveryonepublished, the ContinuUM readers’ surveymuch as possible. That applies just asreaders’ survey will help us to do this.Three important reasons for all of us towill go online. It has been set up by themuch to the content as to the form, stylereflect on ContinuUM. All of us, includingmarket research agency Flycatcher on theand frequency of publication.Last but not least: ContinuUM costs money.you, the readers and users of ContinuUM.initiative of Maastricht University and inIt is produced professionally and has anIt goes without saying that everyone whoclose cooperation with the Alumni OfficeContinuUM was first published as an alum-ever-widening circulation. To be abletakes part will be kept informed.and the editors. Flycatcher will also applyni magazine in December 2002. Last yearto continue keeping within budget weAnd the results will eventually be publishedits expertise to conducting the survey andit underwent some minor restyling butdecided in 2004 to publish twice insteadin ContinuUM.processing the results.Goal-oriented, good and affordableIt’s your turn to have your say! The AlumniOffice and the editors want to know whatyou think of the magazine. After all,ContinuUM is a ‘magazine for, by and aboutalumni of Maastricht University’. Alumni’sopinions and wishes mean a lot to us andthe content and structure are still broadlybased on the aims formulated four yearsago by the Alumni Office and the editors.It’s a good idea to check regularly whetherthose underlying principles are still valid.Maybe they need to be adjusted. Or maybethey still hold but they are no longer beingimplemented properly or carefully enough.And that’s another reason to take a closerof three times a year. And still the costsare too high. By taking a critical look at themagazine’s size, form and production inparticular, we may be able to make savings.www.flycatcher.nl/continuum-nedOn behalf of the Alumni Officeand the editors of ContinuUMLucia M.J. Geurts,Editor in chieflucia.geurts@ssc.unimaas.nlT +31 (0)43-388 5238ContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006

Text: Jos Cortenraad and Lucia M.J. GeurtsStarting your own business isbecoming increasingly popular, and thatalso applies to university graduates.Why do highly educated people takethe risky decision of starting their ownbusiness? What are their experiences,and what ‘adventures’ do they comeacross on the path they have chosen?Three alumni tell us more.Follow your dreamStarting your own business:the ultimate adventureBas PossenBas Possen: “Running a business is somethingyou learn by doing it”no more than a bubble. After a favourable piece in Elsevier and aninterview in a television show by Karel van der Graaff, all hell brokeBas Possen studied business administration in Maastricht fromloose. I was swamped by customers, investors, job applicants, and1990 to 1995, after which he did a postdoc as a registered account-journalists. I was also unable to withstand the temptation to growant. He then completed the master’s programme in Corporatethe business as quickly as possible. And that turned out to be aTreasury&Finance at the London Business School. After four yearsbusiness trap.”with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Amsterdam, he decided it was time“My business plan had prepared me adequately. I was alsoto start his own business (www.possen.com).well-equipped in terms of skills related to financial structures,administrative organisation and tax aspects. And I was also able to“I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs steeped in a tradition of ‘bet-make good use of an extensive and solid network. But with regardter to be a small boss than a big servant.’ PricewaterhouseCoopersto the nitty-gritty skills of real entrepreneurship, I didn’t have a clue:was a fantastic employer, but after five years of working ‘from thenegotiating with Germans and Italians about cooperation, letting ansidelines’ in advising top managers and entrepreneurs on a rangeemployee go who turns out to be the rotten apple in the team,of issues, the temptation to give it a go myself simply became toonegotiating with the bank for a line of credit, etc. You can only learngreat. PricewaterhouseCoopers had a special scheme in place whichthat in practice, and regardless of all your education and otherenabled me to take up five months of paid leave, during whichpreparation, that’s always a matter of falling down and pickingI worked out a business plan, made the necessary contacts, andyourself up again. My first company grew wildly and quickly at thearranged start-up funding. I collected information from a variety ofbeginning. Too many things happened at the same time and theysources, ranging from ex-colleagues and former fellow students tohappened far too quickly. I opened too many branches too quickly,the Chamber of Commerce and the literature. At the end of 1999,hired too many people, acquired too much funding, and expandedI updated my business plan, found some coaching and man-internationally before I was ready. As an inexperienced entre-aged to obtain some venture capital.”preneur, I ended up reactingto circumstances“The business concept behind my company wasinstead of managingindividualised clothing. Using three-dimensionalthem. The end resultbody scanners, you can take measurements aswas a restructuringquickly as a flash and then select fabric, model andof the company andother options. My first company was establisheda new start, and Iin Amsterdam right in the middle of the notoriousam now building onInternet hype. I landed in a frenzied environment,my original idea in aContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006where everyone was frantically trying to push, pulland take advantage of a boom which turned out to besolid and realistic way,with a great deal ofpleasure, and within aninternational frameworkas

well. The business now comprises several companies: Possen Fashion,smaller. Besides, I wanted to be able to show the tax authoritiesEuro IT&C and (later) CustoMax, an Internet platform for clothingthat I was generating my own income.”retailers for customised clothes and unit production.”Jores de Goeij: Tailor-made advice“When I started, I went to the Chamber of Commerce to getinformation on starting my own business, and I looked around for anJores de Goeij studied at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.accountant. Via friends who also have their own business I metAfter completing his studies in 1999, he decided to first do someWim Nix at RAAD Maastricht, who played an important (advisory)travelling. He then lived in Costa Rica for a while, where he workedrole in the development of my company. The Chamber of Commerceat various jobs, including a job as a teacher at a bilingual secondarylikes to think big, and that did not seem very realistic to me in theschool. He returned to the Netherlands three years ago, and on 1beginning. My accountant has always thought things through withSeptember 2004 he established a language company in Maastrichtme at my own level of scale.”(www.eurolingo.eu).“My company is called Eurolingo, and I deal with all aspects of language:“When I returned to the Netherlands, there were not many teachinglanguage courses, translations, interpreting services, languagejobs available in South Limburg. So I had three options: applying forconsultations and coaching, and extra lessons. All my students getsocial welfare, doing work I didn’t like, or starting my own business.tailor-made education, and that is our strong suit. Many of ourAlthough I hadn’t yet worked out the last option in my mind,customers come from the University and the Art Academy, but otherI simply started by giving private teaching lessons in Spanish andsectors are also represented. The translation activities are growingDutch. My private classroom was a back room on the third floorsteadily, and I already work with a large number of translators.”measuring 3 by 4m. I simply posted some tear-off strips of paperwith my Hotmail address at the University, the Academy of Visual“I am now self-supporting, which of course is a good thing. But I’mArts, and the Conservatorium. It soon turned out that there wasconvinced that improvements always remain possible, so I’menough demand for my services, and my room got smaller andcontinually involved in making things better, although that is generallya slow learning process. Preparing for new steps, in particular, demandsan incredible amount of time. The way I see it, if you want to doJores de GoeijRichard Reesesomething, you should do it in the best way possible or not at all.So if I want to prepare one page of acquisition material, I’ll be busy formonths, making sure that everything is perfect right down to the lastdetail. In the near future, I’ll be putting a lot of energy into acquisitionsin particular. In the next few years, I plan to open branches in Akenand Luik; in the long term, I want to open branches globally.”Richard Reese: “Focus on what you want to achieve”Immediately after completing his studies in 1997 (InternationalManagement), Richard Reese left for Bucharest, Romania, where ayear later he started a training agency for companies, primarilymultinationals, called Human Invest (www.humaninvest.ro).“When I finished my studies, I had two job offers from large companies,but my biggest fear at the time was to end up knowing whatI would be doing in five years and what my position and salary wouldthen be. I was hungry for adventure and wanted to carve out my ownPhoto: Philip Driessenpath – in Romania, which I saw as a land of unlimited opportunity.While doing an internship there previously, I had been favourablyimpressed. When I arrived there in 1997, I started working for LariveContinued on page 6 >>ContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006

Starting your own business: the ultimate adventureContinuation of page 5International Business Development. But after a year, I decidedI could do better on my own. It struck me that people in Romaniawere generally not very skilled in communication and cooperation.It was also obvious to me that some serious training efforts wouldbe required to implement the necessary behavioural change. Thatwas the opportunity I saw, and I’ve managed to benefit from it,even though things did not work out quite as I had imagined.”“I don’t think you can ever be fully prepared to start your own business.What you need is a good concept and lots of energy to get youthrough the initial period. If you focus on what you want to achieve,you have a better chance of making it. The first year was the hardestfor me, particularly because of the enormous amount of bureaucracyinvolved. It took me four months (plus the required change underthe table) to set up my company. That was, by the way, very quick forthose days. The process generally took up to an entire year.”“A foreign country presents you with extra challenges and handicaps:a different culture, language, customs, mentality and environment.It’s difficult to find a good and reliable business partner abroad. Atfirst, there were many people who wanted to start a joint venturewith me. But most of them simply wanted to capitalise on myWestern image and aura of success. It was sometimes difficult tokeep them out, but I managed to retain my friendly composure andto launch other cooperative proposals which did not put me at risk.In the end, I found a partner in Viorel Panaite, after we had first testedeach other extensively in various projects. I needed a Romanianwho would understand the Romanian mentality, and Viorel neededa brand name, as he was not big enough by himself to tackle thelarger projects. We make a very successful team.”“When I started, I was one of the first. Now there are over 40 seriouscompanies that offer training services. We’ve managed to maintainour position in the top three. We’re something of a pioneer in theRomanian market: we make a habit of launching new products.We were the first to introduce Leadership – according to the modelpropagated by the American Ken Blanchard – and we also workwith marketing guru Tom Peters. We invite these people to givepresentations, which has generally been very successful. HumanInvest now employs 11 people, and we continue to grow and investin people and ongoing development.”Photos: Sacha RulandBe smart - be a highflying starter!Janneke Brouwers works as a consultant at theBusiness lessonsCompassand know what entrepreneurship is all about.StartersCentrum Zuid-Limburg. Her portfolioThe advice may be free, but it does cost a fairUM alumnus Steven Goetstouwers supportsThe added value component lies primarilydoes not include all that many university grad-amount of work. “Starters have to write theirBrouwers’ arguments in favour of the Hoog-in the mutual exchange of ideas anduates. “They don’t generally think they need toown plan, in which case they’re forced tostarters programme. He was formerly theexperiences. Goetstouwers: “The groupsask others for advice,” explains Janneke Brouw-organise their thoughts clearly and logicallyproject leader for Hoogstarters Maastricht andconsist of students, graduates and peopleers. “They already have a good idea as well ason paper. Not all brilliant ideas are also com-is now project leader for TechStart, an exten-who have started their own business. Youa network from their student days. They oftenmercially feasible. It’s better to figure that outsion which enables participants to translatecan learn a lot from each other, especiallyalso have the financial resources to purchasesooner rather than later, and to avoid an even-their ideas into reality. “At Hoogstarters, you in-since the people are involved in totallyconsulting services, for example from an ac-tual business failure. This applies to universityvestigate your potential market in quite somedifferent sectors and ideas. Together, youcountant. In such cases, they tend to skip overgraduates as much as it does to bricklayers.”detail. Where is your target group located,work on translating an idea into reality.the StartersCentrum, perhaps because they’reJanneke Brouwers actually prefers to referwhich direction do you want to take, and howOn your own, it would take you a lot moreafraid of losing time or think we have noth-potential starters with a bachelor’s degree inwill you finance it? It’s all about structure andtime, and you might not even succeed.”ing to offer them.” That’s not always a smarttheir pocket to the Hoogstarters Maastrichtinterrelationships. That’s what you write downMaastricht University, the Maastricht citydecision, according to Brouwers. “Universityprogramme, where university graduates getin the business plan. Besides being intendedcouncil, the provincial council of Limburg, andContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006graduates often think they already know it all.After all, they’ve already had advanced training,can think strategically and switch gearsquickly, are often internationally oriented, andhave learned to anticipate developments. Butif they approach a bank for a loan, they’ll stillhave to submit a business plan. In such cases,they often go to a commercial consultant, whowill prepare one for them at a fairly stiff price.If they come to us, we do the same for free.”three to four months of high-level businesslessons. “It’s a very valuable experience,” saysJanneke Brouwers, who is also one of theteachers at the programme. “You get somevery good basic preparation for starting andrunning your own business. The participantsdiscover that there is more to the world thantheir own network.”for external consumption, it’s primarily aninternal tool. It will serve as your point ofreference and measuring instrument for years– it’s your compass.”Learning from one anotherThe Entrepreneurship & Business Planningmaster class lasts for three to four monthson average. Each week, a meeting takes placewith several teachers who are experiencedthe European Fund for Regional Developmencooperated in launching the HoogstartersMaastricht scheme in 2000. The project hadtwo goals: retaining knowledge in Limburgand creating jobs. The project has alreadyexpanded throughout Limburg. In additionto Maastricht, similar training opportunitiesare now being offered In Venlo. The projecthas led to the creation of 60 new companies,some of which are based in Limburg.

Text: Femke KoolsPhoto: Franco GoriIn search ofthe Holy GrallContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006His heart is in research. He speaks animatedly aboutthe lab and how things can sometimes emerge fromnothing. “Science is like architecture; enormouslycreative.” The care he provides patients as acardiologist is more of a trek through the jungle.“You solve the problems you come up against, youhack your way through the jungle, but a week later,the undergrowth has grown back. Having said that,fighting in the jungle has its attractions and is certainlya constant learning experience. I like to keep in touchwith the sharp end.” These are the words of Yigal Pinto,cardiologist in the Maastricht academic hospital (azM)and Professor of Cardiology at UM. This successfulresearch scientist is not particularly impressed by titles.“I don’t want them calling me Professor.” A tale of Ajax,molecular clocks and his search for the Holy Grail.Yigal Pinto is an accomplished narrator. Hecan explain highly complex research usingfigurative language, and whereas it can bedifficult to find a good punch line to headinterviews with many academics, in Pinto’scase it is a quite a job selecting just one. Ifthe open day for journalism had not beenso boring, he might even have been theinterviewer himself. “Science isn’t really thatdifferent from journalism. There is very littlepoint in carrying out terrific research if youcan’t write it up in a way that will appeal topeople. You should always have a nose for agood story, even in the scientific world. Likeany other scientist, I want to uncover newthings, expose the truth, show people what’sgoing on.”Polaroid photoHis research focuses on the ageing of theheart muscle. Current medical techniquesare largely directed at recognising heartfailure once the patient shows symptoms.“This is practically Mediaeval. Why wait untilthe disaster has taken place? It’s like waitinguntil the car hits a tree and the patient dies.We are focusing on molecular research of theheart muscle. In the future, we hope that wewill be able to identify those people who arelikely to develop heart failure.”In traditional research carried out on animals,the entire heart muscle is examined after ithas become diseased. Working closely withthe UM Pharmacology Department, Pinto’sresearch team was able remove minisculeparticles of heart muscle from animals underanaesthetic, so that they could later be monitoredif they developed signs of heart failure.The tiny amounts of genetic material fromthe minuscule particles were copied, makingevery grain of this ‘molecular Polaroid photo’legible. As a result, the molecular differencesbetween animals that later developheart failure and those that do not will beclearly visible. The protein galectin-3 wouldappear to be a good indicator for the future.

Professor of Cardiology, Yigal PintoMeasuring the amount of this protein in theAges too. I’m quite sure that the barber’sAlongside a demanding career, Yigal Pinto isGroningen. “We also assisted with scientificblood has been used to test a large numberpatients didn’t think: ‘What naive methods’.”also father to three children. His wife worksresearch, but I found the descriptive natureof patients for potential heart problems andwill soon be used in the azM on a larger scaleHoly Grailfull-time as a Doctor of Internal Medicine.“I think we have achieved a good balanceof the research very frustrating and I hatedthe fact that you couldn’t formulate firmas part of the day-to-day care.Pinto is a staunch supporter of biomedicalin our family, although I still think I see tooconclusions about the underlying phenome-Molecular clocksinnovation. In his opinion, the costs of thehealthcare service are rising alarminglylittle of my children. But I go home at sixo’clock and I’m there for them until they gonon. There was usually no hard biologicalevidence for diseases.” This is partly whatAnother branch of Pinto’s research focusesbecause we are being forced to compensateto bed. And I watch them play football everypersuaded him to “research the biology ofon the protein Lamin A/C. People with anfor our lack of profound medical insight bySaturday.” He is selective in the meetings anddiseased human beings”, as he now refersabnormality in this protein suffer from adeploying a broad combination of advancedcongresses he attends. But alongside theto his work. In 2001, he started at the azMrare disease called Progeria, whichmedical techniques. “Mature technology isweekend newspapers, his absolute favouriteas a cardiologist, and four years later he wasmanifests itself as a vastly acceleratedbased on a deep and fundamental un-for the Sunday morning is the magazineappointed Professor at UM. On the subject ofageing process in the entire body. Teenagersderstanding, which makes it highly effec-Nature Genetics. His dark head of hair gives ahis ambitions: “Of course I’m ambitious.look like pensioners and often die beforereaching the age of twenty. Many patientstive, simple and relatively cheap. Take, forexample, antibiotics for pneumonia. Youclue to his roots. He does not come from thenorth, but from Israel. His parents moved toBut I do this because I love it, not because Iwant to put the world to rights”, he laughs.with hereditary heart failure also have thisknow exactly what is causing the infectionGroningen when he was just two. “The Pintosmutation in Lamin A/C. Pinto is still tryingand exactly which antibiotics are effectiveoriginally came from Portugal. They fled inHis research has advanced in leaps andto discover why the abnormality only causesagainst which bacteria. This is so simple thatthe seventeenth century. Some of them wentbounds, particularly during the past twothe heart muscle to age rapidly in thesewe no longer consider it ‘high-tech’. A typicalto Amsterdam to make their fortune, whichyears. At the beginning of this year, thepatients, and not the entire body.case of mature technology. But we stillexplains the Amsterdam Pinto houses whereNetherlands Heart Foundation awarded him,His ultimate dream is to be able to measurelack this deeper understanding in so manythe walls were papered with banknotes.as an ‘established investigator,’ a personalhow a heart ages. “I am looking for molecularareas. Our society tends to focus on makingOthers, including my ancestors, headed southresearch budget of half a million Euros.clocks. The heart is actually a timer that goestangible products and on technologicaland ended up as shepherds in Morocco.“Fantastic, I appreciate the recognition, butoff, or stops ticking, after a specified numberchallenges, rather than on knowledge andWhich is fine,” he says with happy irony.it was also a logical step in the direction ourof beats. Suppose your heart is programmedto work for eighty years but when you reachunderstanding. I have serious doubts aboutwhether this is the best way to resolve theAmbitionsresearch group was heading. We successfullycompleted every step of the applicationtwenty, your heart is actually forty; it hasmedical issues we are facing today.”Pinto studied in Groningen and did hisfor subsidy from the Netherlands Heartused up forty biological years in just twentyBack to his own issue: the ageing of thepostdoctoral fellowship in Boston and Berlin.Foundation together. A past highlight incalendar years. At present, I prescribe myheart, or the timer that shows how long isHowever, medicine was not his first choice.my career was my appointment as memberpatients medication to prevent future heartleft before it stops ticking. “This timer is my“Sometimes I felt I wanted to study medicine,of the Young Academy of the KNAW (Royalproblems, but the idea that this medica-Holy Grail. Once I find it, I shall retire. I amand my parents were certainly very keenNetherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences)tion works is based on large-scale researchamong ten thousand people. There is noguarantee that the medication will work foreveryone. You only find this out in retrospect,when someone stays healthy up until the ageof eighty or ninety. It is actually ‘half-bakedtechnology’, even though we think we havecome a long way in medicine. Scientists wereproud of their achievements in the Middleconvinced that this will happen some timeduring the next fifteen years. Once you stopcherishing a dream, you might as well packup your research. I compare it with my sonand his ambition to become a professionalfootballer with Ajax. It’s irrelevant whetherhe makes it or not; at present I’m perfectlyhappy to dream along with him.”for me to become a doctor. I had even beengiven a place, but I wanted to show everyonethat I could make my own choices, so Istarted reading English instead. Six monthslater, I met a medical student and it graduallydawned on me that this was what I reallyto do. I was accepted again; it’s as if it wasmeant to be.” As a student he managed toget a job in the cardiac operating theatre inin 2005. The party that my friends organisedin Amsterdam was particularly memorable.Or a series of less significant things thatdemonstrate the international worth of ourresearch. The fact that we now dominateinternational meetings about heart failure,whereas we used to feel small andinsignificant. This gives me a kick. We aremaking such enormous progress.”ContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006

Faculty news in briefFaculty of Arts and Social SciencesFaculty of Economics andBusiness AdministrationFaculty of Humanities and Sciences10ContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006Award for Wiebe BijkerWiebe Bijker, Professor of Technology andSociety at UM, was recently awarded theJohn Desmond Bernal Priz in Vancouver(Canada). This is the highest internationalaward in his field. The prize is a lifetimeaward, which is conferred annually on oneperson whose entire scientific works havemade an internationally significantcontribution to historical and sociologicalresearch into the development of scienceand technology. According to the jury,“Wiebe Bijker’s work constitutes a hugeand very important step towards creatinga new bridge between the history oftechnology and the science of sociology”.The jury also praised the “highly effectiveand committed leadership qualities”he has displayed in his various roles in theinternational scientific community.Wiebe Bijker is delighted with the jury’srecognition of the various different aspectsof scientific work: “Science is not onlyabout research and education; it also hasa political, moral and personal side.”Photo: Franco GoriCum Laude PhD for Pieter CaljéPieter Caljé (History) obtained his PhD onThursday, 14 September for his thesisentitled ‘Groningse studenten en hunacademie. De inbedding van de universiteitin de samenleving in de negentiendeeeuw’ (Students in Groningen and theiracademy. The embedding of the universityin society in the nineteenth century).The assessment committee and thePhD committee awarded this thesis thedesignation ‘cum laude’.‘A romantikus rend’Eastern Europe is showing an interest in‘The romantic order’ by Maarten Doorman(Philosophy). The Hungarian translation(‘A romantikus rend’) appeared recentlyand next year a Czech edition will comeonto the market. ‘The romantic order’ isa synthesis of the history of ideas andcultural philosophy. The book presentsthe historical background to a number ofcontemporary debates and dilemmas andthrows new light on today’s culture andon ourselves.Increase in student intakeOnce again, the Faculty of Arts and SocialSciences has been able to welcome morenew students than last year. The intake forthe bachelor’s degree in European Studiesis 296 students, while the bachelor’s degreein Arts and Culture (including the Englishlanguage version, Arts & Sciences) hashad 141 applications. The intake for themaster’s programmes rose from174 students last year to 211 this year.FEBA on top againThe Keuzegids Hoger Onderwijs, theNetherlands Guide to Higher Education,has for the second time in a row put theEconomics, Econometrics and InternationalBusiness courses in first place.The Economics and International Businesscourses are also in first place in the specialissue of Elsevier magazine. A strikingfeature was the “fabulous” 9.2 thatMaastricht students gave for opportunitiesfor studying abroad.Inauguration of Harry HummelsProfessor Harry Hummels was appointedProfessor of Ethics, Organisations andSociety on 1 January 2006. On the occasionof his inauguration on 3 November hepresented his book ‘Cooking the books’,which links ethical issues (food forthought) to recipes. Hummels hopes thathis book will contribute to the discussionamong managers, investors andsocial-service organisations about socialand ethical questions and environmentalissues. ‘Cooking the books’ is available frombook shops for €18.95 (of which €2.50 goesto the Ronald McDonald house).Review committee praisesUCM programme and alumniIt seems likely that University CollegeMaastricht (UCM) is set to become thevery first officially accredited UniversityCollege in the Netherlands. This was theresult of the inspection visit the reviewcommittee that is responsible for puttingforward recommendations to the NVAO,the primary accreditation organisation forthe Netherlands and Flanders. Three scoresof ‘excellent’ and an incredible eight ‘good’scores were proof that the committee washighly impressed.In the opinion of the committee, UCMshould serve as an example to collegesand universities around the world. The finalprojects, the so-called ‘capstones’, are ofan exceptionally high quality for studentsjust completing their bachelor’s degree,and a large number of UCM graduateshas been admitted to prestigiousmaster’s programmes at the universitiesof Oxford, London and Warwick, orColumbia University in New York. Othergraduates continue their studies inresearch master’s programmes, and alsothose who enter the employment marketdirectly are doing well.This positive (initial) assessment is a jewelin the crown for all those who have spentthe last five years working within oralongside UCM, says Louis Boon, dean ofUCM. He was very surpised by thecommittee’s approving words. “On readingother quality assurance assessments,I realised this morning that the score ‘good’was an achievement in itself, never mind‘excellent’. If you then consider that wewere judged excellent in terms of both theprogramme and the standard of ourgraduates, I really am very impressed.Everyone here is”.

Alumni circlesMeeting on the occasion of PrinsjesdagVisit to the Dutch SenateVisit to the Dutch SenateMeeting on the occasion of PrinsjesdagTopical meeting on pandemicsLooking backMeeting on the occasion ofPrinsjesdagThe 64 participants visited various rooms,including the plenary chamber in the Senate,and honest actions. With the help of a specificcase, attention was focused on dealing12Alumni Circle The HagueIn accordance with Dutch tradition,Prinsjesdag, the ceremonial opening ofwhere legislative proposals are approvedor rejected and where the annual Dictationwith dilemmas critically and making theright choices. The workshop was followedMaster classesTwo master classes were recentlythe Dutch parliamentary year, took placeon the third Tuesday of September. In theConcordia Theatre, the Queen’s speech andContest in the Dutch Language is also held.Former clerk for the Senate, L.J. Klaassen(LLM), explained the workings of the Senateby a round of drinks.‘Speed reading’ workshoporganised in The Hague. On 7 June, Markthe budget memorandum were elaboratedto the participants. Following the tour, aSpeed reading refers to the skill needed toRutte – the newly chosen leader of theupon, from a financial and economic per-three-course dinner was served in the Houseread a document, book or magazine at veryVVD, the Dutch liberal party and Statespective, by drs. H. Monnickendam, actingof Representatives. In a dinner speech,high speed and still be able to effectivelySecretary for Education, Culture anddirector for budget affairs at the MinistryProfessor J.Th.J. van den Berg presented hisprocess and store the information in yourScience – debated, in his usual informalof Finance. Professor J.Th.J. van den Berg,perspective on the significance of the Senate.memory. The Alumni Circle of Utrechtfashion, with 30 UM alumni fromThe Hague. The theme of the master classa leading authority in the field of Dutchpolitics and the parliamentary system,Alumni Circle Utrechtorganised a speed reading workshop on11 December, which turned out to be anwas ‘The reform of higher education’.With Karl Dittrich acting as moderator,provided some insight into the historyand nature of the budget memorandumWorkshop on Integrityitem in very high demand, in view of theenormous interest generated.the alumni in attendance discussed Rutte’sambitions with regard to improving theas well as his perspective on the electionsand formation of a new government. AfterHow do you deal with dilemmas and howdo you weigh the various arguments toAlumni Circle West-BrabantContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006quality of Dutch higher education. Ruttewas also quite willing to share his experienceswith the public regarding the campaignleading to his nomination as partyleader. A wealth of critical questions, a soliddebate, and a sociable get-together overdrinks afterwards all combined to create asuccessful master class. On 28 November,a master class was scheduled under theguidance of J.P. Balkema (LLM), member ofthe Supreme Court of the Netherlands.an interesting discussion, the evening wasrounded off with a sociable get-together.Visit to the Dutch Senate andHouse of RepresentativesOn 25 October, the Alumni Circle of TheHague organised a visit to the Dutch Senate(Eerste Kamer) and dinner in the House ofRepresentatives (Tweede Kamer). The visitwas a great success. In addition to alumnifrom the vicinity of The Hague, alumnifrom the entire Randstad area and evenarrive at the right decision? These kindsof questions were dealt with during theworkshop on integrity and defining yourown limits, organised on 25 September bythe Alumni Circle of Utrecht. The workshop,with the title ‘Integrity, where are yourlimits?’ was led by Koos de Vlas of De VlasConsulting. The participants used the Socraticdialogue to search for answers to thequestions posed. De Vlas made it clear thatit is necessary for individuals in a group ororganisation to develop ethical awarenessTopical meeting on pandemicsAre we ready for a situation in which a fluepidemic brings our country to a stop?On 12 October in Theatre Café ‘De Avenue’,alumni from the West-Brabant Circlelistened in fascination to a presentation onhow a pandemic occurs and whether thegovernment is ready for such an event.Ton Wouterse, senior staff officer for ‘GHOR(Emergency Health Service) Midden- andWest-Brabant’, discussed the measuresBreda registered for the excursion.in order to promote independent thinkingbeing taken at the European and national

Meeting in UtrechtAlumnikring AmsterdamMarco Mulleneersm.mulleneers@chello.nlSteven Willekensswillekens@hotmail.comAlumni circle BrusselsJeroen Jansenjeroen.jansen@telenet.beRik Servaisrservais@eamonnbates.comMaster class withMark RutteMaster class withMark RutteMaster class withMark RutteAlumni circle The HagueLonneke Smeetslonnekesmeets@yahoo.co.ukAlumni circle GermanyRonald Braunronaldbraun@hotmail.comNils Hemmerlenilshemmerle@gmx.netAlumni circle LondonHans Petrihpetri@madasafish.comlevel to prevent a pandemic from occurring.He talked about which scenarios havealready been worked out for several possiblecatastrophic situations. Marion Koopmans– a virologist employed by the RIVM(National Health Institute) in Bilthovenas well as consultant for the WHO in thearea of food safety and coordinator of twoEuropean research projects in the field ofemerging infections – explained the natureand significance of the various types ofinfluenza and provided an overview ofpandemics during the last century. Thegovernment is aware of the risk posedby a deadly flu virus and is taking variousmeasures to combat new viruses, includingscientific efforts. André Postema, Vice-President of the UM Executive Board,moderated the discussion and assured theaudience that Maastricht University has alsoprepared a scenario for such emergencies.And finallySocial get-togethersThe summer sun and autumn winds werereason enough for the alumni circles ofAmsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague toorganise some very enjoyable and sociableget-togethers over a few drinks.Jot down in your agendaThursday 4 January 2007New Year get-togethers in Amsterdam and Utrecht;Saturday 20 January 2007Meeting in London on strengthening the UM networkabroad and the role which alumni can play in thatregard; the President of the Executive Board, Jo Ritzen,will be present on behalf of UM;Thursday 1 March 2007Swinging meeting of the Alumni Circle of Amsterdam,also to be attended by Rector Gerard Mols;Thursday 15 March 2007Alumni Circle of Zuid-Brabant organises a workshopwith the title ‘Good intentions’.A large number of activities were still in the processof preparation when this edition of ContinuUM wentto press.All alumni activities can be found in theActivity Calendar at AlumniNet. Visit this siteregularly for updated information and registration!www.alumni.unimaas.nlAlumni circle MaastrichtMarc van Tilburgmvantilburg@maastricht.kvk.nlAlumni circle New YorkGustavo Neiva De Medeirosg.medeiros@dutchphone.comAlumni circle Noordoost-BrabantSimon Schoonensimon.schoonen@personalcompanion.nlAlumni circle ParkstadEugene Brullhbad.brull@planet.nlAlumni circle RotterdamKaren Temminkktemmink@hotmail.nlAlumni circle UtrechtFreek Hermkensfhermkens@oi.nlAlumni circle Venlo/SevenUMJos Valksjos.valks@arbounie.nlAlumni circle West-BrabantKoen TimmermansKoen.Timmermans@shell.comAlumni circle Zuid-BrabantFancy van de Vorst-Sendersrvdvorst@noknok.nl13ContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006

Made in MaastrichtText: Jos CortenraadPhoto: Philip DriessenMarike Jagersongwriter, singer, and health sciences graduate14ContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006Marike Jager won the Grote Prijs van Nederland, first prize, inthe category of singer-songwriter in 2003. Since then she hasworked tirelessly at her career in showbiz. She tours throughthe country with keyboard player Henk Jan Heuvelink anddrummer Haye Jellema, has recently produced her first albumand dreams of a tour of Canada. And what does the 27-year oldwho was born in Amersfoort answer when asked what she’sdoing for a living? “I don’t know. I am working at it but I don’tcall myself a fully-fledged singer or songwriter. I don’t reallyhave the courage to do that, simply because it is my ambition.”This comment typifies Marike Jager. She finds itdifficult to make choices. “After finishing high schoolI first travelled for a year, backpacking throughAustralia and Asia, so that I could think, becauseI really didn’t have any idea what I wanted to do.Go to university, sure, but to study what? It endedup being health, medicine and life sciences in Maastricht.My sister was studying medicine there andwas very positive about the town and the university.”Sensitive to atmosphereThe psychological side of the health, medicine andlife sciences studies appealed to her in particular.“I enjoy thinking about how people behave and alsolike listening to them. I am exceptionally sensitiveto atmosphere – I notice it if there is love in the airor if there is a simmering row going on betweentwo people. That’s why I also took various coursesin psychology, including legal psychology, as part ofmy studies. My dissertation was about the way inwhich children can be influenced. The suggestibilityor the illusion of memory in children is huge, it’sso very interesting. So, even if my choice of studywas more or less coincidental, I did complete theprogramme with a great deal of pleasure. I havedone and experienced so many things in Maastricht.These were years that for a major part have mademe what I am.”Singing along at full volumeBut this was not enough to make it a career, becauseshe found that while studying in Maastrichtthe urge to sing her own texts on stage appearedto be irresistible even though up till then she hadhad no past history in a group or had ever madeany attempt at a talent show. “No. I did have pianolessons for a while. The only ‘music’ that I made wassinging along at the top of my voice with songs inthe car when we went on holiday. These were oftenBeatles numbers, a passion that I have inheritedfrom my parents. I was given a guitar as a presentfor my fifteenth birthday. From that day on it alwayswent with me when I travelled, also during my yearin Australia and Asia, and shortly after that whenI trekked through South Africa. But a career in themusic business …? No, at most just a secret thought,nothing concrete.”Everything changed when Marike Jager met a girl inthe train while going to Utrecht, who spontaneouslytold her a rather sad life story. On that same dayshe worked the story into the song text ‘Hide andSeek’. Later on more song texts flowed from her pen,all of them based on happenings and experiences.‘Lizzy’ for example, is about a chambermaid in SouthAfrica with whom she built up a relationship in ashort time.Breakthrough‘Hide and Seek’ is not her first own text, but it wasthe key to getting on stage. In 2002 she sang anumber of songs during Studium Generale’s OpenStage in theatre Kumulus in Maastricht, won thesong festival for students later on, the Sky RadioTalent Hunt and the Grote Prijs van Nederland in2003. She completed her study, but the music viruswas too strong. Once she had moved to Utrecht,she recorded her first album under her own labelMorning Coffee Records with music that can best bedescribed as bluesy guitar pop. The album receivedhighly favourable critics and her singing careergathered momentum.Experts and certainly the fans think that her majorbreakthrough is close by. “You know, I really enjoythe performances so much. When it clicks with thepublic, when you feel that you are getting through,when the atmosphere is great, that’s fantastic andI get cold shivers. Does that make me an artist?Maybe. Is it a definite choice? Maybe. I am sopleased to be able to do this, that is something Ido know. We have chosen to do everything in ourown way. We do work with the record company V2that distributes the album, and there are peoplewho plug and promote the album via the media ona freelance basis, but above all we want to remainourselves. I don’t look any further ahead than that.”

News from the Alumni OfficePhoto: Franco GoriThe two UM Alumni Officers, Ine Kuppen (left) and Daniëlle Townsend (right)Alumni coordinatorsUM Alumni OfficersIne KuppenTelephone: +31 (0)43-388 5231E-mail: ine.kuppen@ssc.unimaas.nlDaniëlle TownsendTelephone: +31 (0)43-388 5220E-mail: d.townsend-prevoo@ssc.unimaas.nlUM wants lifelong connections!What do alumni find important in their relationship with their alma mater and what do they expectfrom their university? Why should they want to keep in contact with it and vice versa? MaastrichtUniversity wishes to have a lifelong link with its alumni. This means there is plenty of work to be done!Alumni are important for the university andthe university can also be important foralumni. More than 25,000 people have nowgraduated from UM! This is something to beproud of but also something that should notsimply be left unused. It naturally forms a giganticnetwork that both the university andthe alumni can make use of. After all, thereis a great deal of knowledge and experienceamong our alumni spread across the entireworld, and what about the influence that25,000 UM ambassadors can exercise! TheExecutive Board also recognises the importanceof a professional policy for alumni andhas even designated it as one of the actionpoints in the UM’s strategic programme.Readers’ surveyThe central motto of our alumni policy is‘Find and bring together’. In order to ensurethat everything is properly organised we aregoing to carry out a survey in cooperationwith the research bureau Flycatcher to findout what you as alumni need. We want toknow what interests you as an alumnus/alumna and how we can maintain andstrengthen the lifelong connection with you.A reader’s survey has been set up forContinuUM as the first step. You will findmore about this on page 3. The AlumniOffice is a facilitating department thatmatches its services to the wishes of thealumni, the faculties and UM. You can takepart in this reader’s survey by completingthe online questionnaire (www.flycatcher.nl/continuum-ned). We would also appreciateit immensely if you also register yourself forthe Alumni panel for future surveys. After all,it’ your opinion that shapes our policy!Priorities listWe will do our utmost to develop the alumnipolicy further on the basis of your wishesand needs. After all, this is how we can createa lifelong connection. Last year’ s meetingbetween alumni and representatives ofthe Executive Board resulted in a prioritieslist of activities that are currently beingprocessed within the Alumni Office, andwill be carried out with the support of theExecutive Board and in cooperation withfaculties and alumni. This plan includes itemssuch as the improvement of communicationand the way in which this is done,a database, a stronger position for thealumni circles, and naturally the embeddingof the alumni policy within the universityand the faculties. Keep a close watch onus via the website and please mail us allyour ideas and comments so that we havesomething to work with!We will definitely let you know theprogress of these good intentions.We wish you all the best, both in businessand in your private lives, and hope that2007 may be a successful year in a caringenvironment for us all!UM Alumni OfficersIne Kuppenine.kuppen@ssc.unimaas.nlT +31 (0)43-388 5231Daniëlle Townsendd.townsend-prevoo@ssc.unimaas.nlT +31 (0)43-388 5220Faculty of Arts and Social SciencesHannie SpronckTelephone: +31 (0)43-388 3149E-mail: hannie.spronck@fdcw.unimaas.nlFaculty of Economics andBusiness AdministrationLeann PoethTelephone: +31 (0)43-388 2056E-mail: l.poeth@efb.unimaas.nlFaculty of Health, Medicine andLife SciencesMedicine:Veerle GhesquiereTelephone: +31 (0)43-388 5642E-mail: v.ghesquiere@oifdg.unimaas.nlHealth Sciences:Linda JanssenTelephone: +31 (0)43-388 1977E-mail: l.janssen@facburfdgw.unimaas.nlFaculty of Humanities and SciencesPeter BrouwersTelephone: +31 (0)43-388 3380E-mail: p.brouwers@facburfdaw.unimaas.nlFaculty of PsychologyIrma KokxTelephone: +31 (0)43-3881883I.Kokx@Psychology.unimaas.nlFaculty of LawEllen van HezikTelephone: +31 (0)43-388 3259E-mail: ellen.vanhezik@facburfdr.unimaas.nlUniversity College MaastrichtIna EngelenTelephone: +31 (0)43-388 4978E-mail: ina.engelen@ucm.unimaas.nl15ContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006

Text: Nicole HanssenPhoto: Franco Gori16If your work is also your hobbyProfessor Aalt Willem Heringa,Dean of the Faculty of LawHe loves education, students, young people.You only have to read his online Deanblogto feel the enthusiasm and dedicationwith which he welcomes the new cropsof students and helps graduates preparethemselves for the outside world. He inheritedhis love of education from his father,who was principal of a grammar schoolfor many years. “New students arrive hererather like high school first-formers. Four,five, six years later, they leave as adults. It’sabsolutely fascinating. Young people areso keen and so competent. We train them,provide them with the knowledge theyneed to make something of their lives. It’sa long-term investment and it is absolutelyessential. We need good education. Ultimately,the students are the ones who willdevelop into young adults and hopefullymake a difference to society.”Social involvementThis was Heringa’s own reason for choosingto study law: social involvement. Well,it was one of the reasons. Another reason(“like so many other law students”) wasthat he couldn’t find anything else thatappealed to him. The sciences were out ofthe question (“it’s not in my genes”) and hedid not want to take one of those nondescriptsubjects like sociology, which wereso popular in the 1970s. The work he sawthe lawyers in his family doing appealed tohim: concrete, language-based, up-to-date,at the sharp end of society. He decidedto study in Leiden. After graduating, heContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006He should have gone into forestry according to the test he took at highschool, designed to help students choose a degree programme. It was abad test that gave poor advice, was his conclusion. He opted for a career inwhich he would be able to make a real contribution to the world around him:law. To be precise, comparative law and human rights. He hopes to passthis awareness of social involvement on to the next generations. And whocould be in a better position to do this than the Dean of the MaastrichtFaculty of Law? The fact that he likes “organising and contemplating”upholds firm ideas about the path he intends to take and is “inflexible” inhis goals, makes him the perfect choice for this position. Particularly duringthe past three years, when unavoidable cutbacks of one and a half millionEuros meant that the faculty was sorely in need of the qualities he had tooffer. Enter: Aalt Willem Heringa.

embarked on a career there as a researchheading. The European Law School becamea healthier financial and organisationalacross as friendly, open and interested.scientist in constitutional law, specialisinga reality years after the original plan, andcondition than three years ago.Our interview confirms what I had learnedin Human Rights Law and Comparativenowadays we even have the complete“I took a hard line regarding theabout him during my prior research. A manConstitutional Law. This too was all aboutEnglish-language version we hadreorganisation process: this is the pathwith a heart for what he believes in, whosocial involvement: people in society, basicenvisaged. So fifteen years later, theI have chosen, these are the choices Idoes what is necessary to achieve his goals.values that should apply to everyone.traditional law programme in Maastrichthave made, these are the goals I have set.A man who can talk passionately aboutModest as he is about his own contributionhas been turned completely upside down.”Anyone who doesn’t agree will have tohis wife, who is a painter, and his own(he always speaks in the third person), heconvince me. But until someone does,three young students aged 19, 21 and 23.refers to his research in the area of humanSo good education has his full attention.I’m sticking to this path. I was very uncom-His youngest daughter is following in herrights as one of best achievements of hisBut could you describe the educationpromising and I can imagine that this putfather’s footsteps by studying law, and thescientific career.currently being given at the Maastrichtsome people’s backs up.”middle one has opted for psychology.No longer a scientistFaculty of Law as good? In the NetherlandsGuide to Higher Education published lastHeringa realises that a lot of the people heworks with see him as a “firm leader”, who“They’re great girls and we are a very closefamily. I am not really cut out to be a houseHowever, Heringa can no longer callautumn, the law programme only attainedis “inflexible”. This firmness extends furtherhusband. I lead a busy life and my work ishimself a scientist; logically, the Dean isa poor seventh place. In the special issue ofthan his work and can also be seen on thevery important. It’s a kind of hobby thatexcused from publishing the threeElsevier that appeared later, “Studeren”, thehockey pitch every week. He won’t put upcarries on after six o’clock simply becausecompulsory pieces of work expected of allMaastricht programme in Dutch Law waswith any nonsense during a match. “I justI enjoy it. It’s my greatest passion.researchers every year. “The content of myawarded joint fourth place.don’t like losing, even at the veteran level.It’s a decision you take consciously, awork has obviously changed considerablyBy no means good, admits the Dean with-I put everything I have into my game andresponsibility that you take on. This doesn’tover the years. I have very little time forout hesitation, but understandable. “On theI expect the rest of team to do the same.”mean that I don’t have time for my familyresearch. Managing is my main task, andone hand, this is only the second year since“So I suppose I am quite firm, but thator other things. It just means that I havethat’s fine with me. I’ve always enjoyedthe introduction of the Bachelor/Masterdoesn’t mean that I trample all over otherdifferent priorities. It might take me sixorganising, making sure that things runsystem. This entailed considerable changespeople. I lie awake worrying about thingsmonths to get round to fixing a loosesmoothly.to our programmes. At the same time, wetoo. About individual cases, personalwire that my family has been complaining17But I never imagined I would enjoy it thiswere also undergoing a reorganisation thatstories of people who have lost their jobs,about, and I rarely choose to spend mymuch. Whether we are talking about fallingrequired a lot of effort. We simply lackedsituations that I was totally unable tofree time with other relations. You won’tnumbers of students, a reorganisation orthe time for devising improvements to ourresolve. I know you have to accept setbacksfind me at one of those annual familythe declining quality of education, I alwayseducation. So the poor assessment didn’tlike these simply because you can’t dotree-planting events somewhere in thesee things as a challenge rather than acome completely out of the blue. Thisanything to change them. But it’s easiernorth of the country. Looking back, it’sproblem.”doesn’t make it all right, but I would rathersaid than done.”probably just as well that I didn’t chooseGood educationuse my energy making sure that we comeup with suitable swift improvements than“On the whole, I am happy with thepresent state of affairs. It was a harda career in forestry!”In the 19 years that Heringa has worked atmaking excuses for something that canslog at times, but things are graduallythe Maastricht Faculty of Law, educationalno longer be changed. You can make hugeimproving now. Our main concern is toadvancement and improvement have al-leaps from a seventh place, and this is oneachieve a stable balance after all theways been high on the agenda. One of theof our new goals: to improve the quality ofmanagerial changes that have taken place.”most important developments in whichour education so that the students give usHe is modest about his role. “I don’t reallyhe had a hand was the introduction of thea good assessment next year.”think about myself in this respect. I tendbachelor’s programme at the European LawSchool (ELS). “The idea of a European LawReorganisationto think it could easily have been someoneelse in my shoes overseeing the start ofSchool was first broached in the 1990s.We initially set up an English-languageMaster’s programme MIC (Master inComparative and European Law) as a sortof pilot project. It was a huge success.It turned out that we had anticipated well,as Europe was starting to take on a moreprominent role. Once I have had an idea,I never forget where I was originallyTo his mind, the ‘old’ goals have beenachieved; the English-language track ofthe European Law School, the Master’sprogramme in Forensics, Criminology andAdministration of Justice, and also thereorganisation are amongst Heringa’s trophies.However, his efforts were not alwaysappreciated. The proposed cutbacks wereeventually made and the faculty is now inELS or the reorganisation. I haven’t got anygreat plans for the future. I’m enjoying myjob at the moment, but this might changea few years from now.”PassionsUncompromising, firm and inflexible hemay be, but the Dean of the Faculty of Lawis anything but unsympathetic. He comesIf you would like to readmore about the day-to-dayadventures of the Dean,visit his Deanblog via:http://www.rechten.unimaas.nl/blog/aaltwillemheringa.htmContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006

Masters in the spotlightFaculty of Health, Medicine andLife Sciences/Health SciencesBiopsychology & PsychopathologyFaculty of PsychologyApplied Cognitive PsychologyOne of the central propositions in cognitiveMaastricht University has a growing range of master’s programmes on offer.This feature takes a look at one of the (new) master’s programme from eachfaculty. More detailed information on all master’s programmes can be foundon the UM website: www.unimaas.nl (“Prospective Master’s students”).The English language research Master’sprogramme in Biopsychology & Psychopathologyis a joint programme given bythe faculties of Psychology and Health,Medicine and Life Sciences. It focuses onpsychology is that our behaviour is not somuch caused by actual events taking placearound us, but by the way we interpretthese events. It is not simply the sound ofcreaking branches in a forest that frightensknowledge, the brain and behaviour.a lonely rambler, but the way he interpretsFaculty of Arts and Social SciencesEuropean Public AffairsThis one-year, English language Master’sprogramme trains managers to organiseThe programme includes Cognitive Neuroimaging,Neuropsychology and AbnormalPsychology. A maximum of sixty studentsthis sound. An inexperienced, anxiousperson will quickly put the noise down tosomething frightening. A person who isThe Master’s programme in Europeanthis strategic function of learning andcan take part in this two-year course.familiar with the sounds of the forest willPublic Affairs (EPA) is a one-year course. Ittraining. The multidisciplinary approach,interpret this sound differently andhas been organised in collaboration withbased on insight from organisationalIn some of the courses, students will be in-display different behaviour. All kindsthe EIPA (European Institute of Publicstudies, education and training sciences,troduced to the foremost theories, models,of subconscious thought processes takeAdministration), an independent instituteand labour and personnel economics,techniques and analytical methods in theplace between the external stimulus andfor training, research and advice in thewill provide graduates with strategicarea of biopsychology and psychopatholo-our reaction to it (the response). Processesarea of European affairs. The EPA Master’sinsight into the changing demand forgy. The curriculum also comprises colloquia,like the one described above are theprogramme aims to provide studentscompetencies. They will be taught toskills training and workshops. Most of thecore of the three subjects that jointlyand professionals with a thorough under-organise individual, team and organisa-second year is spent on an internship andform the specialisation Applied Cognitivestanding of the complexity of Europe andtional learning in order to enhance anwriting a thesis.Psychology: Experimental Health18the European Union.The programme provides high-quality professionaltraining to people wishing to enhancetheir curriculum to an internationallevel. The basic principle of the course is toorganisation’s competitive position.Faculty of Health, Medicine andLife Sciences/MedicineCardiovascular Biology andMedicineFaculty of Humanities andSciences/MICCKnowledge Engineering andComputer ScienceSeptember 2007 will see the start of thePsychology; Psychology and Law; Workand Organisational Psychology.Faculty of LawForensics, Criminology and theAdministration of Justiceextend analytical skills to enable Master’sStudents with a keen interest in andtwo-year combi-Master’s programme inThe Master’s programme in Forensics,graduates to tackle concrete problemsserious motivation for research shouldKnowledge Engineering and ComputerCriminology and Administration of Justiceefficiently. Participants acquire practicalconsider the two-year, English-languageScience. Learning and working form ais based on a multidisciplinary approach toexperience during an internship lastingresearch Master’s in Cardiovascular Biologyduality in this programme. Participantscrime and criminal procedure.two months. A substantial number of EPAand Medicine. The programme introducesinclude both UM students and employeesThe programme aims to expand insightalumni have been appointed to importantstudents to a stimulating scientific environ-from outside companies or organisations.into legal practices and into the position ofpositions in both the public and the privatement, which will arouse their curiosityWork activities are integrated intocriminal procedure in relation to societalsectors.about the various aspects of this multi-the curriculum. The combi-master’sdevelopments. The programme exploresFaculty of Economics andBusiness AdministrationManagement of Learningdisciplinary research field. Students workclosely with senior researchers.This internationally-oriented programmeprogramme is specifically aimed at peoplewith several years of work experience.The work-oriented part of the programmethe causes of crime and looks closely athow criminal evidence is acquired. Legalpsychology focuses on the behaviour ofactors involved in criminal proceedingsOrganisations see learning and developingprovides biomedical research trainingcomprises a research project and a thesis,and the psychological aspects ofknowledge potential as top priority areas.in the area of cardiovascular disease bywhereby the subject will be relevant to theestablishing the truth. Criminology isContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006This means that learning and developmenthas become a vital part of general staffingpolicy. Organisations offer a wide portfolioof activities, such as on and off-the-jobtraining. They also encourage informallearning processes via coaching, mentoringand team work. Increasingly more organisationsare also turning to external professionalsto provide training in learning anddevelopment.means of a balanced mixture of theoryand practice. Master’s graduates in CardiovascularBiology and Medicine are top candidatesfor a biomedical PhD programmeor for a career (possibly international)in applied scientific research, in the lifesciences industry, for example.institute where the student works. Most ofthe research is carried out during workinghours. The learning part of the curriculumconsists of eight modules. Students mustattend the UM once a week for this part ofthe programme. Every student is assignedtwo supervisors, one from the UM and onein the workplace.the study of the causes and explanationsof criminal behaviour. Forensic psychopathologyconcentrates on the legalaccountability of the offender; forensicaccountancy plays a role in combatingfraud and forensic medicine is importantin terms of investigation and furnishingevidence.

Alumni active in internationalstudent recruitment task forceText: Lucia M.J. GeurtsPhoto: Roger SendenThe aim is described very clearly inthe 2007-2010 Strategic Programme:“By 2010, Maastricht University(UM) will have an intake of 3,100bachelor’s students (in 2005: 2,650)and 2,750 master’s students. Asin 2005, 30 percent of bachelor’sstudents will originate from abroad.The percentage of master’s studentsoriginating from other EU countrieswill have increased to 35 percent andto 15 percent for those coming fromoutside the EU.” To accomplish this,an international student recruitmenttask force is needed, in which alumniwill also be asked to participate.Maastricht University needs to keepgrowing, not least in order to keep itsfinancial situation healthy. The Dutchmarket is saturated and student mobilityhas increased due to the Bachelor/Masterstructure as a result of the Bologna declaration.This means UM will have to reach theinternational market. “Moreover, as we havebeen saying for years, we are an internationaluniversity. This needs to be clearlyvisible, in the student population as well asin all other aspects. A mixed student populationenriches the educational environment.Students from different nationalities havedifferent views on how to solve problems,which are rooted in their own cultures”, saysRector Gerard Mols.The number of international students at UMis quite significant: it has the largest numberof international students of all universitieson the European continent. The majorityof these students are from Germany andBelgium. A report prepared in 2003 by theUM at work at an education fair in Turkeyproject group on international recruitmentpolicy – chaired by Ellen Vos, Professor ofEuropean Law – gave several recommendationsfor tackling international recruitmenton a broader basis and more effectively.The group recommended a more centralisedapproach, based on the joint efforts of all thefaculties, aimed at several target countrieswhere recruitment campaigns are expectedto have a realistic chance of success.Target countriesSince then, recruitment efforts have beenimplemented quite energetically. An externalconsultant has been recruited: TimRogers, an expert in the field of recruitmentand branding. A list of eight target countrieshas been prepared, based on a range ofcriteria. These criteria include whether UMalready has contacts in a specific countryand whether a country has already showninterest in Maastricht.The role of the faculties in the new approachis more crucial than it used to be. Under theleadership of the Rector, representativesfrom the Faculty Boards or faculty deanshave formed the Recruitment Admission &Selection platform. This platform makes aninventory of the target countries,determines strategy, and is responsible forvarious decisions, including the selectionof the target countries. There is also a jointbudget. “Exchange of information also takesplace within the platform,” says Mols.“Faculties make use of each other’s contactsand experiences in other countries”.Country teamsEvery country is different in terms of regulations,the quality of teaching, the way inwhich people view Maastricht, etc. Eachcountry therefore requires a separate approach.That’s why UM has set up countryteams. Country teams are composed offaculty representatives who are familiarwith the country in question and/or havea link with that country. The team exploresthe market to determine the best way torecruit the right students with a minimuminvestment of time and money. Ellen Krijnen,student recruitment manager: “Each countryis different, and you have to take that intoaccount in the recruitment plans. We useagents in some countries, and of coursewe still visit education fairs. But in China,for example, contacts are established viainstitutions, at the highest level, rather thanvia fairs. In India, prospective students wouldrather talk to a staff member than a student,so there too we focus our efforts on cooperationat institutional level. We also presentUM via the media and via guest presentationsat foreign universities, as we recentlydid in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. Efforts arebeing made to establish close cooperativeagreements with the best Turkishuniversities. There’s a great deal of competition,so you have to pitch your product aseffectively as possible and be able to provideinterested parties with detailed information.We have already prepared informationfolders for education fairs etc., with specificinformation per country.”Involvement of alumniUM alumni in particular are very muchinvolved in the efforts being made by theinternational recruitment task force. EllenKrijnen: “There are a great many educationfairs in Germany. That is also why we planto organise informal gatherings in Germany,where prospective students can meet UMalumni. At the end of November, a delegationof UM master’s students will be visitinga fair in India. We have had discussionswith alumni in London on the best way toapproach prospective students in the UnitedKingdom. That was a real eye-opener andvery inspiring.” But this is just the beginning.Ellen Krijnen is convinced that theknowledge, experience and contacts possessedby alumni can be used to muchgreater advantage. “It would be fantastic ofcourse if prospective students in their owncountry were able to talk to a UM alumnusabout studying in Maastricht. It’s importantfor us to be able to arrange such meetings.”The Alumni Office would very much like toplay a role in such plans, both as an intermediaryand as a central point of contact.Do you want to be actively involved ininternational student recruitment?Please contact Alumni OfficerIne Kuppen, ine.kuppen@ssc.unimaas.nlor phone +31 (0)43-388 5231.19ContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006

Alumni in the pictureWelcome new alumniHundreds of UM students graduated in the past fewmonths, either from the ‘old-style’ doctoraal programmesas a doctorandus or from the new-styleBA/MA system as a Bachelor or Master. This meansthat the number of alumni has rapidly increased,bringing the number of alumni to more than 25,000!A warm welcome to all brand new alumni!On 19 and 20 October four groups of students fromthe Faculty of Law received their bachelor’s of master’sdegree. On the left the happy bachelors, on theThe bachelors of the Faculty of Law.right the two groups of master’s graduates.No fewer than 700 students from the Faculty ofEconomics and Business Administration made itto the graduation finish line.The new masters of the Faculty of Law.On 24 and 25 October, 38 students from the Faculty20of Psychology received their master’s degree. Amongthem are also a student with a bachelor’s degree fromUniversity College Maastricht and an economicsstudent, who, together with another15 students, was awardedthe designation ‘cum laude’(distinction). The graduatesreceived an MSc mug. All newmasters were personallycongratulated(see photos).ContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006Alumnus shortlistedThe PhD thesis ‘Waar gaan wij heen met het Fries?’, about thedevelopment of the Frisian language in the Netherlands, byalumnus Bastiaan van der Velden (law faculty) was one of the sixnominees shortlisted for the Dr. Joast Halbertsma award. Thisprize is awarded once every three years for scientific work aboutthe Dutch province of Friesland in the area of history, languageand literature science and social sciences. In 2004, Van der Veldencompleted his PhD research on the use of Frisian in legislationand administration during the last two centuries. The prize waseventually awarded to a series of books on Fries pottery.Arts and Social Sciences alumnusappointed as artistic leader ofart cinemaDavid Deprez, alumnus of the Facultyof Arts and Social Sciences, has beenappointed as artistic leader of FilmhuisLumière in Maastricht.Graduating and racingStudying and racing: the perfect combination for Xavier Maassen.As a race car driver he did fairly well in the Formule Renault 2000,and he recently graduated in International Business from UM.His bachelor’s thesis was entitled: ‘Sport Sponsorship: CEO’s Toy ora True Marketing Tool’. Even though car sports will always rank first,Maassen will continue to work on his specialism ‘Sport sponsoring’on a regular basis in future.

Welcome alumni babies!Alumnus writes winningCarnival songLaw alumnus Joof Schöpping, together with three others, has written this year’sMaastricht Carnival song. On Sunday 5 November, their song ‘Reube, friet en beer’(Kale, chips and beer) was proclaimed the best Maastricht carnival song in theformer Platte Zaol.Joof Schöpping, controller and deputy director in the law faculty, wrote the songtogether with Fokke Fernhout, researchers at the FL, and two friends.To get in the mood, here is ‘De teks vaan ut Vastelaovendleedsje 2007’.REUBE, FRIET EN BEERM’n ma die is vaan Lummel Miene pa dee kump oet HierVaan Mestreech is geine En mien tant die woent in KierVeer zien vaan Wiek en Wolder Dao tösse sjijnt ’t leechDao zien veer neet gebore En dao ligk noe zjus Mestreech’Dao zien veer neet gebore En dao ligk noe zjus Mestreech’Neeltje Vermunt and KoenTimmermans had a boy on 9 July,Stijn Henricus Adrianus.Neeltje studied economicsand medicine, Koen studiedinternational business. >>Tim and Esther Leiner-Lutgenshad a baby daughter on 6 July,Willemijn Emma Inge. Timand Esther studied medicine.21Op aondraank vaan mamake Leet iech ’t beer miech smakeIech wis ‘m good te rake Wie ‘nen tempeleerPa zag: ‘laot iech ins dinke En op de touwkoms klinkeEs iech diech zoe zeen drinke Biste ech MestreechteneerPrize for Floor KrooiArts and Social Sciences alumna Floor Krooi was awarded the incentive prize of the‘Stichting Victorine van Schaik Fonds’ for her master’s thesis ‘Bibliotheek in context’(library in context) on 7 November. She carried out research into the newestdevelopments in libraries. “The thesis is well written, informative and inspiring, theresearch broad-based and thorough”, the jury said. Krooi also compiled a demo cd-rom.The Stichting Victorine van Schaik Fonds stimulates publications in the field of libraryand information.Would you like to share any news and/or photos with other alumni?Send them to the Alumni Office, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht;alumni@ssc.unimaas.nlContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006

News from the UM Scholarship FundAlumni friends make the differenceThe UM Scholarship Fund has launched a new project, ’50 Friends make the difference’, withthe aim of building a network between business, alumni and international top talents.Each year, fifty friends will give three international top talents the opportunity to follow amaster’s programma at UM. Employers or companies of UM alumni in particular are invitedto become one of the 50 new friends of the Scholarship Fund. The programme consists ofthree meetings, including a festive presentation ceremony of the scholarships, a topicalmeeting and the annual contributor’s day.You can become a friend by making an annual donation of €1250 into the Scholarship Fund.Miquel StaalA large number of firms including Vodafone, Océ, ING, ABP, DSM, Sabic, Q-Park, andorganisaties such as Woonpunt, Stg Elisabeth Strouven and the Provincie Limburg, as wellas private persons are supporting the realisation of the Scholarship Fund. In the 2005/2006academic year, their support has enabled UM to invite the first fourteen international talents– a wonderful start of a new development which would not have been possible without thesupport of many individuals and organsiations.22scholarship for Sofi Revilia KurniadiIn June 2005, Miquel Staal completed his bachelor’s programme atUniversity College Maastricht (UCM), which made him the 20,000th alumnusof Maastricht University. During the opening ceremony of the 2005/2006academic year, a scholarship carrying his name was therefore establishedin his honour. This scholarship, destined for a master’s programme at UM,has been awarded to Sofi Revilia Kurniadi from Indonesia.University dinerThe first edition of the MaastrichtUniversity Dinner will take place onThursday 29 Maart 2007. The aim of thisnew initiative is to build and strengthenthe relationship between alumni, business,students and professors of UM. SpecialNew York marathonscholarshipfor two AfricanstudentsIn November 2005,55 alumni and staffPhoto: Philip Driessenmembers fromMaastricht University and the azMguest is Professor G.J. Cerfontaine,university hospital participated in the NewMiquel Staal tells why a student from this country has been selected: “My father was born inpresident and CEO of Schiphol Group.York Marathon. Their aim was to collectIndonesia, and I’ve had a special connection with this country ever since I was a child. That’smoney for three scholarships to enablealso the reason why I live and work there now. Although this region has huge potential,there is a lack of funding for education. So it was not a difficult choice to give a woman fromIndonesia the opportunity to study in Maastricht.”Sofi Kurniadi is enrolled in the master’s programme in Public Policy and Human DevelopmentYou can become a donor forthe UM Scholarship Fund bymaking a donation to:international students from developmentcountries to follow a master’s programmaat UM. Two of these scholarships werepresented during the opening ceremonyat the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance. “The scholarship has opened the wayGIRO 888 50of the academic year by Erica Terpstra,for me to go abroad and continue my studies at an international level”, says Kurniadi. “It is aBANK 65.36.63.242chairwoman of NOC*NSF.useful experience in many ways. I get the chance to meet students from different parts of thein the name of Universiteitsfonds Limburg.With the aid of this scholarship, OnkisoContinuUM | Year 5 | number 2 | December 2006world and become acquainted with their views. I’ve learned that cultural differences do nothave to be an obstable. On the contrary, looking at a problem through the mind of anotherperson enriches one’s own analysis. This experience not only enlarges my knowledge but alsobroadens my vision in many different ways.”Miquel Staal hopes that Maastricht University will be able to realise similar scholarships inthe future. Sofi Kurniadi too hopes that more students from Indonesia will be given theopportunity to gain the same international experience as she has. This is possible only withsupport from the international community.Please specify ‘SBF’ and your date of birth.For fund transfers from outside theNetherlands, the following codes apply:Iban code: NL21INGB0653663242BIC code: INGBNL2AThe Scholarship Fund gives internationaltalent from Emerging markets theopportunity to follow a master’sprogramme in Maastricht.Abinet Gebrekidan from Ethiopia (on theright of the photo) started the master’sprogramme in Social ProtectionFinancing at the Maastricht GraduateSchool of Governance in September.On the left is Kaijage Johanssen fromTanzania, who is also studying at theMaastricht Graduate School of Governance(Public Policy and Human Development).

e-mailText and photo:fromViennaNermin Dizdarevic and Bibiche Wymenga“Pa-Pa aus Wien!”current topic. The embassy functions as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the Netherlands abroad: precisionand preparation are essential as are regular contacts with The Hague. My study providesme with a unique view of the National Opera as well as the rest of the city’s rich cultural heritage.The total of about 175 cultural events organised each year attest to the interest for Dutchculture as well as the prominent role played by art and culture in general in Austrian society.Nermin Dizdarevic is a European Studies alumnusWhile following the European Studies programme, I decided to do an internship at the DutchEmbassy in Vienna at the same time that the Netherlands was holding the EU chairmanship.It was an exciting time for me, and the four-month internship was too short. So it came as avery pleasant surprise when, two years later, the embassy asked me to fill the position of Pressand Cultural Affairs officer. Immediately after the phone conversation, I literally jumped for joy,somewhere in downtown Maastricht at the time.I’ve now moved to Austria and share responsibility for ‘disseminating’ Dutch culture in Austria.It’s quite a big and varied job, and my responsibilities include organising cultural events, evaluatingfunding requests for small-scale cultural projects, accompanying the ambassador duringworking visits and on social occasions, and frequently reporting to The Hague. In addition,I’m responsible for maintaining relations with the Austrian press. For example, I accompanydelegations of Austrian journalists to the Netherlands to get on-the-spot information about aI often have the opportunity to entertain friends and family from the Netherlands. The cityand surrounding area have quite a lot to offer and act like a magnet. And besides, who wouldnot want to stay in a Viennese Altbau Appartement for one or more nights, with its typicallyhigh ceilings and white folding doors? ”Wien ist wie ein warmes Bad, man schläft einfach ein.’’The city certainly lives up to this reputation: it really is a great place to live, and I already feelquite at home.Bibiche Wymenga is a European Studies alumnaToday we had our first snowfall here! If you add the exciting election race and the process offorming a coalition to the mix, you end up with the well-known waltz in three-four time …In September, I began my internship at the embassy’s political department. As part of mywork, I provide background reports, accompany the ambassador to various discussions, andrepresent the embassy during visits from various delegations. I also work on projects for ourupstairs neighbours in the Dutch ‘Wiener Mélange’: the permanent representatives of theNetherlands to the United Nations as well as the Organization for Security and Cooperation inEurope (OSCE).23This internship came at just the right time for me. After I completed my studies, it gave me theperfect opportunity to find out what people were cooking up at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.And after a few weeks of touching, tasting and cooking, I was ‘sold’. I’m now going through theselection procedure for the (diplomats) group and awaiting the results of the procedure.I was very curious about Vienna. The wide range of German, Bohemian and Balkan influencesmake Vienna into a very fragrant as well as unique mixture. On the one hand, the city is opento new experiences and events. For example, there is a rather outspoken Picasso exhibition inthe baroque Albertina Museum, and a trendy neighbourhood is developing around the rathersleepy Mariahilferstrasse shopping street. Many young designers and interesting restaurantsare finding a place here. And the Museum District is a major source of inspiration. On theother hand, Vienna is also a city of tradition. If you are heir to a title, many doors will swingopen for you, which would be considered quite old-fashioned in the Netherlands. But sometraditions are of course timeless: the profusion of bars, eateries and Konditoreien act as amagnet for a public of all ages. In the theatre, the public is younger than in the Netherlands:people very much enjoy watching the lively works of Elfriede Jelinek or a modern opera suchas ‘I hate Mozart’. Nermin wrote that it’s easy to fall asleep and simply disappear in Vienna.But remember: the Viennese never lose their acuteness, as witnessed by the profusion of dailynewspapers and sharp election slogans. “Pa-Pa aus Wien!”Nermin (left) and Bibiche (right): “Unique view of the Staatsoper”ContinuUM | Year 5 | nr 2 | December 2006

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