2005: UM Alumni in New York City! See page 12!

2005: UM Alumniin New York City!See page 12!Magazine for, by and about alumni of Universiteit Maastricht Year 3, Issue 3, October 2004www.alumni.unimaas.nl

ear 3, issue 3, october 20042c ontinuUM yA different outlook on the worldGetting a different outlook on the world is oneof the aims of every university. More and moreuniversities believe that such a different outlookshould be an international one.The Universiteit Maastricht shares this viewand challenges students throughout the worldto come to Maastricht, to look at the world froma new perspective, in a new way.Travelling is a hobby of mine. One of the firstthings I do when I go on a trip is buy a map, ora street plan. By now, I am able to draw a map in my mind of many parts of the world,even if I have not been there myself. When I was young, we played a game that consistedof "tracing" the route of various rivers from the atlas. Then, without the context of thecountry or continent, just by looking at that simple line, one had to guess which river itwas.I see the world before me, Europe in the middle of the map. Africa lies beautifullyunderneath it, as if it is a foundation for Europe. Why are we so careless in ourcontacts with this continent? To the left of Europe, a large ocean and then that huge,long stretched-out North, Central and South America. I can see myself again in 2000,spending a few months in Seattle wandering around; I can draw out the bay, stretchingin the direction of Vancouver. I can also visualise South America, even though, unfortunately,I have never been there. To the right of Europe, we see Asia, with China rightin the middle. And below, to the right is Australia, yes "Down Under".What a surprise it was for me when I stood in front of a map of the world in China,it looked completely different. Remarkable, what had happened to the world sinceA Dutch version is available at AlumniNet:www.alumni.unimaas.nlContents2. A different outlook on the world3. UM News Flashes4. "Sometimes you must be smart enough to leave people alone":Interview with Gerard Mols6. Making Opportunities Work: Bianca Smeets and Marloes Potten8. 2004/2005 calendar9. Brief Faculty News11. News from the Alumni office12. UM does ManhattanDoctoral degrees UM alumni13. Alumni circles15. E-mail from… Oxford16. Made in Maastricht, Esther Versluis17. Photographs from the old shoebox; International UM18. "The UM will also break new ground with fundraising!":Interview with Piet Eichholtz20. Help the UM to broaden its horizon with the Study Grant fund21. The UM depicted, UM Guesthouse22. My favourite spot, by Ruud Hupperts23. Maastricht Graduate School of Governancewww.alumni.unimaas.nlI started travelling? Not Europe in the middle, but China, and America to the right andyes, Europe to the left. That is what is so charming about the globe; you can print it flatin many ways. And that is a starting point for looking at the world differently. AndréHazes in his coffin on the centre spot of a full football stadium, with people singing atthe top of their voices. Not a strange image for Africans, but a subject for discussion forus level-headed Dutch.So, getting a different outlook on the world; broadening your horizon, being open tonew ideas, new customs, different cultures. In that respect, education remains the bestguarantee for a good future. Internationalisation of higher education is a must. Becausethe field demands it, because academics must take the initiative in internationalising aliveable world, and because it is fun.René Verspeek,General editor of ContinuUMDirector of UM Student ServicesVolume, number 3 /October 2004ContinuUM is amagazine for, by andabout alumni ofUniversiteit Maastricht.It is published threetimes a year and is sentfree of chargeto alumni, and alsoupon request to Ph.D.candidates, employeesand students ofUniversiteit Maastricht.Editor’s addressContinuUM EditorialBoardSSC/AlumniP.O. Box 6166200 MD MaastrichtTel. +31 43 3883200Fax +31 43-3883538General editorRené VerspeekEditor in chiefNicole HanssenNaturally, we invite all ContinuUM readers tosend their remarks and comments, ideasand criticisms to the editor. To do so, pleasesend an e-mail to n.hanssen@ssc.unimaas.nl,or call +31 (0)43 388 3200.EditorsNicole HanssenIne KuppenRené VerspeekEditorial Board AlumniplatformContributors to thisissueJules CoenegrachtJos CortenraadMilly DebeyePiet EichholtzMargriet GroenGuesthouse UMRuud HuppertsGerard MolsChris de NeubourgMaurice OliversMarloes PottenBianca SmeetsRenée SpeijckenEsther VersluisAlumni circles'contact personsFaculty contact personsPhotographyAlumni officePhilip DriessenFranco GoriCarin OudenaardeLayout and printingSchrijenLippertzHuntjensCirculation21.000 copiesChange ofaddress/registration+31 43 3883196alumni@ssc.unimaas.nl

UM News FlashesCo-operation with University of LiegeIn memory of Prof. Dr. Co Greep2 August 1929 – 17 August 2004On Tuesday, 17 August of this year,Pim Martens appointed asProfessor of SustainableDevelopmentat the age of 75, Prof. Dr. Co Greep,Prof. Dr. Pim Martens (36) was appointed as Professoremeritus professor of Generalof Sustainable Development as per 1 July 2004. TheSurgery at the Universiteitchair is a joint initiative of the Universiteit Maastricht,Maastricht, passed away. Professorthe Open University of the Netherlands, the HogeschoolGreep was involved in the creationZuyd and the Province of Limburg. The initiative sprangof the Universiteit Maastricht fromfrom the need for integrated research into sustainablethe very beginning. He was a realdevelopment from a scientific perspective, and to makeOn 6 July, the rector of the University of Liege,founding father, who started his work in 1972. In 1978the results usable in society.Willy Legros (left in the photo) and the presidentof the Executive Board of the Universiteit Maastricht,he took over the building deanship of the Faculty ofMedicine. Under his deanship (1978-1984), he laid thePeace prize for Theo van BovenJo Ritzen, signed an association agreement in Maastricht,basis for the present structure of the faculty, which -On Friday 22 October, the Carnegie Wateler Peace Prizethe aim of which is to promote increasingly closer -knitunder his supervision - grew to be a fully-fledged2004 was presented to UM professor Theo van Bovenco-operation between the universities of Liege andfaculty with its own unique profile. During the samein the Peace Palace. He received the prestigious DutchMaastricht. It should also make it possible to set upperiod, the St. Annadal hospital was turned into apeace prize from the hands of the chairman of Carnegiejoint expertise centres in a number of fields at anuniversity hospital and developed further as the azM.Association, Mr. Hans van den Broek, during a festiveinternational level. The association agreement leadsThe university showed its appreciation for his greatceremony. Emeritus professor of International Lawto an intensification of existing relations and the intro-merits by awarding him with the Dr. J.G.H. TansTheo van Boven has devoted himself throughout hisduction of new education and research projects, inmedal in 1986. We will always remember our Colife to promoting respect for human rights: as aparticular because of the increasing mobility of stu-Greep with all due respect, appreciation and feelingsdiplomat, as a scientist and as a UN reporter.dents, researchers and lecturers. This approach ispart of the ongoing development of both institutes ina Euregional and European perspective. The aim isto increase the international transparency of the twoinstitutes in fields in which they already have a strongof friendship. (Photo: Appie Derks, azM)Honorary doctorate forProf. Dr. Wim GrootNWO grants a VIDI subsidyto UM researchersposition. (photo: Philip Driessen)Prof. Dr. Wim Groot,Alumnus voted EmergingEntrepreneur of the Year 2004UM law alumnus Joost Postmes of the Triticum companywas recently voted Emerging Entrepreneur of theYear 2004. According to the jury, Joost deserves thistitle because of "the way in which he runs the company,using innovative products and thus setting anexcellent example of how to do business with courageand perseverance." The report refers to Joost’s strongideals and business sense as qualities that put himahead above the competition worldwide. Triticum producesmedicines based on honey. It has been proventhat the company's honey ointment and bandages forProfessor of HealthEconomics at the UM,received an honorarydoctorate from the NationalUniversity of Kiev-Mohyla(Ukraine) on 1 September2004. Wim Groot wasawarded this honorarydoctorate for his exceptional scientific achievements forthis university; in the space of three years, he set up themaster course Health Care Management. He laid the basisfor its curriculum and was responsible for the trainingof lecturers. The curriculum is based on the postgraduateMaster of Public Health course, which has existed atThe Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research(NWO) has granted a VIDI subsidy to two UMresearchers. The recipients are Elia Formisano(Faculty of Psychology) and Hans Crombag (Faculty ofMedicine/Faculty of Psychology). The VIDI subsidy ismeant for young, excellent scientists who have carriedout research for a number of years at a post doctoratelevel after their Ph.D. In doing so, these scientists havegenerated new ideas, which they developed independentlyand successfully. The researchers belong to thebest ten to twenty percent in their field. The subsidygives them the opportunity to set up their own newline of research and to appoint one or more researchers.continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 2004wounds produce remarkable results in the treatmentthe Universiteit Maastricht for some time. Wim GrootElia Formisano received the subsidy for research entitled3of wounds. Entrepreneur of the Year is a programmeremains involved with the content of the programme."Sounds and the human brain", while Hans Crombagthat awards highly successful entrepreneurs. The elec-The honorary doctorate was awarded on 1 Septemberreceived his for his work on "Drugs, Environment, Braintion is held annually by Ernst & Young, together withduring the opening session of the academic year of theand Behaviour".Fortis Bank and Tiscali.National University of Kiev-Mohyla. During the meeting,an official agreement was signed that formalises theco-operation between the university and UM.

An interview with rector Gerard MolsText: Jules CoenegrachtPhotography: Philip Driessen"Sometimes you must be smartenough to leave people alone"In January of this year, Gerard Mols took over from Arie Nieuwenhuijzen Kruseman as rector of the Universiteit Maastricht.A rector with refreshing ideas. For example, he does not have a programme. He loves gardening and sees parallels betweenthis pleasant pastime and the activities of the Ministry of Education. A talk.continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 20044Judging by the first names of GerardusPetrus Marcus Franciscus Mols – bornin 1951 in Loenen aan de Vecht – onemight justifiably think of a catholicbackground. And that would be right:his parents were catholic and both werefrom Limburg. He himself did "gymnasiumalfa" at a boarding school inCadier en Keer near Maastricht. "I hada fantastic time there." After that, I wentto study Law in Utrecht. "Law was theonly thing I could do. I really wanted togo to Wageningen, but one had to be ascience student for that, and I had onlydone languages, humanities and arts.I never really wanted to become a lawyer.But things may change in life." Thingsdid change indeed, because after hisstudy in criminal law, he had a careeras a lecturer at the Faculty of Law inMaastricht, as a criminal lawyer, professorof law of criminal procedure and,since January 2004, as rector of theUniversiteit Maastricht.Glamour boysToday, the term 'criminal lawyers' conjuresup visions of glamour boys dressedin sharp suits, making regular televisionappearances. How does Gerard Mols viewthis phenomenon? Who do these lawyersserve: themselves, or their clients? "It isnot all that bad. I was chairman of theDutch Association for Criminal Lawlawyers. We had 180 members; most ofthem had absolutely no need to stand inthe limelight all the time. On the contrary,there are only a few who seek publicityin their fashionable suits. Only theodd one, suffering from a genetic defect,makes regular compulsive TV appearances.But they do set the image and indoing so distort the impression thatpeople have of this profession. One mayask oneself indeed whether they servetheir clients in this way. I myself havenever won a case by seeking publicity."The rector and the landscape architectEnough about criminal lawyers, back tothe rector. A rector who loves gardening,or so our well-informed sources tell us.Around his renovated farm in Neer, avillage near Roermond, there is a gardenof more than two hectares. "It gives mepeace." There is a connection betweengardening and the way in which GerardMols looks upon his rectorship. He is arector without a programme. Did nobodyask him about that when he wasappointed? "They do ask you what youwant to do. I was a dean for eight years.I know where the bottlenecks are, inwhich direction things need to go. If youask me: what do you think about PBL?Then I have an answer. But I was not

Two UM alumni about seizing chancesMaking Opportunities WorkText: Nicole HanssenPhotography: Carin Oudenaarde‘Attention and involvement’, ‘passion for your work’, ‘you can be the difference’, ‘improvement’, and especially ‘Making Opportunities Work’. These werethemes that were focussed on during the 3 rd Quality Conference for Public Administrations in the EU (3QC) mid-September. Also themes that unmistakablyconstitute the foundation of an exceptional joint venture between the two UM alumni who organised the conference on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of theInterior and Kingdom Relations. How a healthy dose of enthusiasm, vigour and discussions can get an international movement going!continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 20046"During the2002 Christmasparty, I heardthat my newcolleague wouldbe there too.A great opportunityto meet,"says BiancaSmeets, alumnafrom the Facultyof Economicsand BusinessAdministration,talking abouther introductionto MarloesPotten, alumnafrom the samefaculty inMaastricht.Both had justbeen appointedto carry out anew projectwithin theMinistryof the Interiorand KingdomRelations.A project thatwould only reach its apex two years later, inSeptember 2004, with a conference organisedin the framework of the Dutch presidency ofthe EU. "We knew each other from ‘hearsay’.We knew that we had both studied in Maastricht,but that was really all. After all, I graduated in1996 and Marloes in 1999." However, 3QCwas the start of a very close working relationship,characterised by the distinct features thatare so typical of studying in Maastricht: discussions,teamwork and small scale.Tangible aimsThat is also where the foundation was laid,in Maastricht. Bianca studied InternationalManagement and Marloes focused on GeneralEconomics. Both were actively involved in studentassociations. The one in ESN, the ErasmusStudent Network for foreign students inMaastricht, the other in EFM, the faculty associationat the Faculty of Economics and BusinessAdministration. "Organising is in my blood andthe international aspect has always appealed tome a great deal. When I look back, those factorsalso formed the leitmotiv that I have followed,"says Bianca. "When I graduated, I startedworking at the faculty's International RelationsOffice. I dealt with the international studentexchanges for the faculty. In between, I alsoworked for the International Co-operation Officefor a while, acting as a local co-ordinator for aninternational congress, so after my study I spenta total of 4.5 years at the UM. After that I feltthat, like many of my age group, I shouldbecome a consultant in a commercial company.I refer to it as my ‘trendy year’," she sayslaughing. "Filled with great expectations, I leftfor the big city. Unfortunately I had to concludeafter one year that I had no commercial genes.Via a career advisor, I turned back to the worldof government, where I quickly found a job.""I skipped the trendy year," Marloes tells us."When I was in the process of graduating,I was already a tutor at the Economics facultyand after completing my thesis, I continued asa non-tenured lecturer. When the time came forme to broaden my horizons, I could suddenlychoose between two positions in the publicsector; one at the Ministry of Internal Affairs andone at the Ministry of Education. I chose InternalAffairs, at the department of Labour Affairs,subject, in the pensions section. Decisionmakingon certain policy issues is slow. Veryexciting, but slow. Hence, one does not see therewards of one's work quickly, so it was not reallymy kind of thing. I am more a person who wantsto see and achieve tangible aims." "The sameapplies to me too," her colleague reacts. "I constantlyneed something to do. Something that inthe end shows a practical result, somethingpeople can use."

DiscussionSo…, action! Both having this attitude, their pathscrossed in December 2002. Despite the fact thatat that moment there was only one position available,they were both appointed and so the projectteam did not consist of three but four people."Preparations for the conference were terrific.From the beginning, we were a very close team.Everything could be discussed. At times, wecould be on the completely opposite sides; therewas no shortage of discussions. There was onething that we all agreed upon. The 3 rd QualityConference had to be a credit to its name; it hadto be an absolute top class product. In the end,our differences of opinion only contributed tothat. Which is something that we knew fromour time in Maastricht."The conferenceThe biennial Quality Conferences has a preestablishedpattern. The country that holds theEU presidency in that year is responsible for itsorganisation. All EU member states select threebest practice cases in their own country in thefield of quality improvement in services andthe underlying business processes. Those bestpractice cases are then presented in workshopsduring the conference. By not only showing thesuccesses, but in particular also the failures andthe long road to success, the organisation hopesto elicit discussion and stimulate an awarenessof improvement. 3QC presented 65 best practicecases (not all of the 25 member states had threecases), but that was not all. The cases weremerely the basis; there is much more involved."Much more," the two women agreed. "In additionto the workshops, you have to come up withsupplementary sessions, arrange speakers (one ofwhom was the former vice president of the US,Al Gore), you have to create a brochure and awebsite, we made a documentary, thought up anassessment system, arranged an original socialdinner, not to mention the work involved in gettingfacilities, such as conference halls, hotels,etc. It is incredible to see the amount of workthat has to be done. And we had set high aims.It had to be different from anything else. We didnot want to use large halls, but rather maintaina small scale set-up to stimulate interactivity.During the larger sessions, for example, the audiencereceived a red card and a green card, whichthey could hold up in order to keep the discussionlively. In addition, there were sessions in anOprah-type setting, in which two leaders wereinterviewed by a third, assisted by questionsfrom the audience."Small chances, great results"With the 3QC theme Making OpportunitiesWork, we wanted to make a statement. ‘Thechances are there. You just need to identify themand then do something with them’. These canbe very small things. We wanted to show peopleinvolved in public management that if you goabout things smartly, you can achieve a lot.Improving the process of operational managementfrom the bottom up, as it were. Many smallsuccesses that together make a big difference.The DVD that we made, supports this idea.The ‘Faces of Quality’ documentary shows three‘ordinary’ people talking in their own environment.Three people who have such an unbelievableintrinsic motivation in their work that it hasan extraordinary positive effect on their resultsand on their colleagues.""By not only showing success stories, but byfocusing in particular on the (often difficult)process that precedes success, the messagelingers. People can see tangible results duringsuch a conference. That is different to readingan article in a journal. Participants can talk toleading figures, expand their network and whenthey are home again work on the small issuesthat can have such a great impact. That is howthe Quality Conferences lead to the developmentof a European quality movement." And this wavereally works. The report of the conference whichwas drawn up by the scientific reporters, willbe discussed in November of this year by theMinister of Administrative Innovation andKingdom Relations Thom De Graaf and some ofhis international colleagues. "So you see that themovement not only travels in a horizontal butalso in a vertical direction. On the great scale ofimprovement, you also start with ‘small’ chances,which will eventually grow into a meaningfulresult!"Going blindly towards your goalA week after the conference, 3QC can rightly becalled a success. In total, there were 1335 registrationsform 32 different countries. Not exactlywhat you would call 'small scale’. There was alsoa lot of praise not just from the participants butalso from Minister De Graaf. "That compensatesfor all the bags under your eyes," Bianca laughs."It was a memorable experience. You can just seethe chemistry working. People caught on to themessage immediately and the atmosphere wasbetter than ever. Then to see on the last eveningduring the social dinner how the dance floor wasovercrowded with civil servants in neat whiteshirts, with their arms and legs in the air;incredible! I would not hesitate a second to do itall again…but not this year!" "It was terribly hardwork," Marloes continues. "You have hardly anytime left for anything else. You eat, drink andbreathe the conference; it haunts you all thetime. The only moment of rest for me was on theWednesday evening, during the rehearsals of theRijnmond brass band, in which I play. Switchingoff just for a few hours, it was wonderful to playmy cornet." "A month before the conference myboyfriend proclaimed a state of emergency," saysBianca. "He took care of everything at home,I was able to immerse myself completely in mywork. Unfortunately, no social life for a while.But you manage, it is a question of going blindlytowards your goal together, seizing chances, anddoing something with them."continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 20047

ear 3, issue 3, october 20048c ontinuUM yCalendarnovember until may 2005www.alumni.unimaas.nlAlumni activities29 NovemberMeeting of the Brussels alumni circleArthur’s, Trierstraat 26 in Brussels9 DecemberBrussels Meeting alumni of the Amsterdam circle alumni circleUvA, Herengracht 180-182 in AmsterdamDrink of the Maastricht alumni circle13 DecemberFirst alumni circle meeting of Germany in Düsseldorf(location to be determined later)13 DecemberDrink of the Maastricht alumni circle(location to be determined later)For the latest news and more information,Meeting please contact: of the Amsterdam alumni Title: "Pricing in circle Networks"ine.kuppen@ssc.unimaas.nl orvisit www.alumni.unimaas.nlGeneralNovember – December11 NovemberNVMO congress in Egmond aan Zee.For more info, see www.azm.nl12 November14 th Maastricht fiscal symposium: "Conflicts with theTreasury?", Crowne Plaza Hotel in Maastricht.17 NovemberCARIM Symposium 2004 in Maastricht.For more info, see www.carim.unimaas.nl27 NovemberUM Open Day for bachelors programmes1-3 DecemberInternational Congress on children’s rights:"Child Abuse and Neglect: The Facts, Meetingthe Experts", in Leuven. For more info, seewww.kindermishandeling.leuven.be/congres3 DecemberGROW Science Day in Vaals. For more info,see www.grow.unimaas.nl10 DecemberUM Open Day for masters programmes20059 AprilUM Open Day for bachelors programmes18-20 May2 nd World Congress on Regenerative Medicine inLeipzig, Germany. For more info, seewww.regmed.orgDoctoral degreesNovember (with reservations)4 November 12.00h.Doctoral degree for Drs. Ilse Janssen/FdGTitle: "Social Cognition and Psychosis"Supervisor: Prof. Dr. J.J. van Os; co-supervisor:Dr. L. Krabbendam10 November 14.00h.Doctoral degree for Drs. Katinka Hastenbergv.Dongen/FoHSTitle: "Translating Pain"Supervisors: Prof. Dr. H. Huijer Abu-Saad, Prof.Dr. M.P.F. Berger; co-supervisor: Dr. J.P.H. Hamers11 November 14.00h.Doctoral degree for Drs. Viviënne van de Walle/FdGTitle: "Longitudinal Auxology Evaluation ofMaastricht Infants"Supervisor: Prof. Dr. C.E. Blanco12 November 12.00h.Doctoral degree for Drs. Anton F. van derKraaij/FdEWBSupervisor: Prof. Dr. Ir. C.P.M. van Hoesel12 November 16.00h.Doctoral degree for Drs. Marjan Drukker/FdGTitle: "The Neighbourhood Matters"Supervisor: Prof. Dr. J.J. van Os; co-supervisor:Prof. Dr. Ch. Kaplan24 November 16.00h.Doctoral degree for Drs. Jan-WillemGoossens/FdEWBTitle: "Models and Algorithms for RailwayLine Planning"Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ir. C.P.M. van Hoesel, Prof. Dr.L. Kroon, EUR26 November 12.00h.Doctoral degree for Drs. Margriet Kruijshoop/FdGTitle: "Cardiovascular Abnormalities inSubjects with Type 2 Diabetes MellitusDetected by Screening"Supervisor: Prof. Dr. T.W.A. de Bruin; co-supervisors:Mrs. Dr. E. Blaak, Mrs. Dr. Ir. E.J.M Feskens26 November 16.00h.Doctoral degree for Drs. Nicole Smeets/FdGTitle: "Refining Indications for MohsMicrographic Surgery in Treatment of FacialBasal Cell Carcinoma"Supervisor: Prof. Dr. H.A.M. Neumann, EUR;co-supervisor: Dr. G.A.M. Krekels, Catharina hospitalEindhovenInauguration19 November 16.30h.Inauguration of Prof. Dr. J.Th.J. van den Berg,professor of The Parliamentary System, LegalStandards and the Balance of Power, FdRAt the time of printing ContinuUM, no doctoraldegree dates were available for the month ofDecember. Check AlumniNet for the latest news!Studium Generale JubileeIn the academic 2004/2005 year, Studium Generalewill celebrate its 25 th anniversary with a variedprogramme! For more information and dates ofactivities, see www.sg.unimaas.nlwww.alumni.unimaas.nl

Brief Faculty NewsFaculty of Arts and CultureFdCW is growing steadilyDe FdCW continues to grow. At the start of theacademic 2004-2005 year, approximately 1100 studentswere registered with the faculty. This is 27% more thanin the same period in 2003!New EPA contractOn 24 June of this year, the faculty signed a newcontract with the European Institute for PublicAdministration, one of the leading advisory bodies ofthe European Commission. The contract concerns thejoint implementation of the regular, accredited mastersprogramme of European Public Administration (EPA).Appointment at Leiden UniversityAs per 1 September 2004, Prof. Dr. Rob Zwijnenbergwas appointed as (0.8 FTE) professor at the Faculty ofArts of Leiden University. The chair concerns therelationship between art and science. Rob Zwijnenbergwill also remain linked to the FdCW as a professoroccupying the endowed chair of ‘Art history in relationto the development of physics and science’.Appointment at ISSProf. Dr. Louk de la Rive Box, Professor ofInternational Co-operation, has been appointedfrom 1 January 2005 as rector of the Institute ofSocial Studies in The Hague. ISS is one of the largestacademic institutes for development studies in theworld. In total, more than 10,000 students from nofewer than 100 countries (mainly developmentcountries and transition countries) have alreadycompleted a study at ISS.Inaugural speech by Maarten DoormanOn Friday 19 November 2004,Professor Dr. Maarten Doorman,will present his inaugural speech‘Kiekertak en Klotterbooke,Gedachten over de canon’ withinthe framework of his scientificdiscipline Journalistic Criticism of Art and Culture,at Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam.Faculty of Economics andBusiness AdministrationNew faculty boardThe Faculty of Economics and BusinessAdministration received a new board on 1 September.The board consists of Prof. Dr. Franz Palm (Dean),Drs. Ingrid Wijk (Secretary), Prof. Dr. Jos Lemmink(Research), Prof. Dr. Wim Gijselaers (Education),Dr. Bertrand Candelon (International Relations andICT), Bart Remmen (student member).LustrumTo celebrate the 20th anniversary of the faculty, a lustrumconference was held in the FdEWB building on7 and 8 October. Many professors and staff of the UMand from other universities across the country presentedviews on their individual fields of specialisationand discussed a wide range of topics. After the conferenceand to celebrate the reopening of the completelyrenovated faculty building, there was a huge party onFriday 8 October. The party was held in the facultybuilding itself and there were various performances bytwo DJs, High Voltage, Erwin (vaan ‘t Merretkoer),Tuna Universitaria de Maastricht, and others. Theparty was open to students, employees, alumni andothers who were invited.Prof. Dr. Antoon Koolen deceasedOn 2 October, at the age of 51, Prof. Dr. Antoon Koolenpassed away. He had been Professor of DecisionTheory at FdEWB since 1987. Prof. Dr. Koolen stoodat the cradle of the Econometrics programme and alsoimplemented it to a great extent. As head of theDecision Theory section, he was more of a colleaguethan a head, giving everyone the freedom to work onthe things they liked in their fields. In his research, heproved to have a special feeling for applying DecisionTheory exactly when the time was right. He had manycreative ideas on decision-supporting systems when thecomputer arrived, on frequency allocation when cellularphone was introduced, and on portfolio buildingin financing. He also worked with great enthusiasm onthe quality of education. He always had time for students,patiently giving explanations on the many subjectsin Decision Theory and computer science. Butabove all, he was an amiable person with his eyes andears open for the problems of others, even when hiswere many times greater. Antoon Koolen will be greatlymissed.RegistrationsOn 23 September 2004, the registration figures for thefirst year of the bachelors programmes were as follows:Economics 401, International Business 402, FiscalEconomics 40, and Econometrics 30, making a totalof 873. For the masters programmes, 75 new studentsregistered. (Source: Admissions Office, StudentServices)Faculty of MedicineVENI SubsidiesVENI subsidies have been awarded at the FdG to Dr. M.Koritzinsky, for the project ‘The Role of Integrated StressResponse in Determining the Tolerance of Tumour Cellsto Cycling Oxygen’; to Dr. G. Gerrits, for the project‘Language Processing of Young Children with LowAccess to Auditory Sensory Information: The PerceptualOrganisation of Language in the First Years followingCochlear Implant or Hearing Aid Use’; and to Dr. J. Plat,for the project ‘Nutritional Elevation of Intestinal DerivedapoA-1; A New Strategy to Lower CHD Risk’.Jubilee of The Network: TUFHThe Network: Towards Unity for Health (The Network:TUFH) celebrates its 25 th anniversary this year. For25 years, this worldwide organisation – consistingof 162 institutional and 108 individual members in68 countries, of which 45 developing countries – hasbeen promoting health in society. For a large part of itsexistence, The Network: TUFH has tried to encouragehealth care studies to focus more on the society aroundthem. Exchanging new ideas and experiences worldwideis the primary way in which The Network: TUFHachieves its aims. It organises annual conferences indifferent locations of the world, sets up workgroupsdealing with important topics for The Network: TUFH,and publishes the journal Education for Health threetimes a year and a newsletter twice a year. There is aninteractive website (www.the-networktufh.org), thereare e-mail discussion lists and every month an ‘e-mailalert’ is sent to approximately 6,500 addresses over thewhole world. The secretarial office of the organisationis in the FdG of the Universiteit Maastricht.AwardProf. Dr. R. Donckerwolcke, head of the department ofpaediatrics at the azM, received the golden medal fromthe Faculty of Medicine at the Catholic UniversityLeuven. He received the award for his great merits inmedicine. Donckerwolcke worked in the children’shospital in Utrecht and the university hospital inCalgary. He has worked at the azM since 1998.continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 20049

Photos of meeting:Alumni meeting Utrecht,27 September 2004Alumni circlesBrussels alumni circle:Netherbelgians in the heart of EuropeThe Brussels committee, from left to right: Caroline Jonker, Peter van der Hijden, Mathijs Peters,Simona Maassen, Irene Janssen, Jeroen Jansen and Rik Servais. Not on the photo: Elke Leenders.One of the first foreign alumni circles was the Brussels alumni circle. Its foundationmeeting took place on 24 November 2003, on top of the very windy roofof a Brussels hotel. This first meeting attracted a large crowd: approximately 120enthusiastic alumni raised their glasses to the new circle. A successful start!But of course there are many more alumni working and/or living in Belgium.For example, there are a few hundred ‘real’ Belgians among the UM alumnipopulation, but the number of native Dutch in Belgium – the so-calledNetherbelgians – must not be underestimated.EuropeA large number of alumni in Belgium are concentrated in and around themultiple capital Brussels. Multiple, because Brussels is not just the capital ofBelgium, but according to many also the unofficial capital of Europe. Brusselshas a great attraction for young academics from almost all European universities.As a result of the political character of the city, hosting the main institutionsof the European Union, the majority of graduates one meets here arefrom the faculties of Law and Economics. A number of them work for theEuropean institutions or deals with them every day. But of course not everybodyis dealing exclusively with the European Union: Belgium is a great countryto live in, and the amiable nature of the average Belgian makes it a popularcountry to work or live. Obviously this demands some ability to adapt on behalfof the Dutch. Too often we think "we speak the same language, so Belgiumis just like the Netherlands". Nothing could be further from the truth. Thelanguage is probably the only common factor that we have with our neighboursin the South…and even then words like "borrelen" (for having a drink) and"bitterbal" are unfamiliar to the Flemish.Having a drink in BrusselsAlthough Brussels is the main place of abode for Maastricht alumni, a largegroup has found a home elsewhere in the land of the Belgians. Graduates,often of Belgian origin, can be found in particular in the boarder regions.Naturally, these alumni are also included in the Brussels alumni circlewhether one's home is Wilsele-Putkapel, Erps Kwerps or Zottegem! Formeetings of the alumni circle, however, Brussels seems to offer the bestpossibilities. In Brussels, with its large number of parties and receptions,networking is second nature for the professional population (Brussels housesapproximately 15,000 professional lobbyists!). And networking with likemindedpeople is certainly useful for alumni looking for a job. A first topicof conversation is easy to find for UM graduates!"Can we talk?"This immediately offers a starting point for the next meeting: it is high time forone, because it is now almost a year since the founding meeting. The AlumniCommittee, strengthened by much fresh blood, recently met to think about thenext steps. It was soon acknowledged that the highlight for most visitors to theactivities was the informal meeting during the drink afterwards. In order notto be too informal, we have decided to organise two meetings per year with aserious theme. With networking opportunities in the form of a drink afterwards,of course.The next meeting will be on Monday evening, 29 November and carries theharmonious title: "Can we talk? Recruitment and Executive Search elucidated".A professional will take the listeners through the booming and exciting worldof headhunting.Lastly, one small point of order: The official name of our circle, on the windyNovember evening, was Brussels/Belgium alumni circle. But because of theabove and to match the names of other circles, we will be known from nowon as "Brussels alumni circle".We are hoping for a great turnout again in November: the members of thealumni committee are enthusiastic!On behalf of the Brussels alumni circle,Mathijs PetersSevenUM: Oldest UM alumni circleapproaching its first lustrumIn January 2000, SevenUM was founded as the first official alumni circle ofthe Universiteit Maastricht. The name chosen symbolises the seven facultiesof the UM and is also a village in this alumni region, which covers the wholeNorth and Central parts of Limburg. Seven UM alumni living in the regionof North and Central Limburg, spontaneously offered themselves to addsome "sparkle" to the SevenUM alumni circle. They regarded it as their dutyto contribute to the promotion of good contacts among alumni. This healthilybeating "heart" of the alumni club is regularly provided with fresh blood. A fewmembers have been involved in this enthusiastic club from the beginning.Now, almost five years later, SevenUM has acquired a permanent place amongits more than 1,000 alumni in this region. Time for an overview of what was,what is and what will come.Twice a year, SevenUM organises interesting activities for UM alumni (andothers) in North and Central Limburg. These activities vary from lectures tovisits to companies or institutes. Some examples:• The impressive visit to the De Rooyse Wissel detention clinic in Oostrummade alumni see with their own eyes what it is like to live and work in suchan institute.continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200413FOR THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION ABOUT ALUMNI CIRCLES, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.ALUMNI.UNIMAAS.NL

continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200414• The interactive lecture by Robert Benningaawakened the alumni and encouraged us to look inthe mirror every day and say with conviction ‘I love you,Tiger!’.• Hans Versnel (from Management Drives) held a lectureon Management Drives, after which Jo Ritzen (our UMpresident) and Jan Schrijen (mayor of the city of Venlo)were subjected to a careful and apt analysis. Both menreally exposed themselves in a funny way.• In two theme meetings on health care in NorthLimburg, with contributions from major careproviders in the region, there were heated discussionsabout current issues in health care. Healthinsurance companies CZ Groep and VGZ,the Vie Curie Hospital in Venlo, the RegionalGeneral Practitioners association NorthLimburg, occupational health and safetyservices Arbo Union and ArboNed, and thenursing home of the ‘Zorggroep Noord- en Midden-Limburg’ (Health Care North and Central Limburg), were closely involved.The above-mentioned examples clearly show that SevenUM provides "somethingfor everyone". Interesting topics from various fields, combined with goodfun. Participants are enthusiastic and the activities generally draw a goodcrowd. In addition to bringing alumni in contact with each other and maintainingthat contact, SevenUM also strives towards co-operation with regionalcompanies and institutes. The main reasons for this are:• Contributing towards the support and development of the region. Local companiesand institutes are glad to gain access to knowledge an experience thatwould otherwise not be available to them.• Supporting present UM students. UM students are often unaware of themany unique possibilities that there are available for traineeships, graduationassignments or other issues that could provide an added value to their study.• SevenUM can and will form a bridging function between the UniversiteitMaastricht and companies and promote co-operation.It is our ambition to improve this co-operation with regional companies andinstitutes. This will be done in consultation with the UM branch in Venlo.There is also an exciting calendar of activities this winter season. Forexample, there was a visit to one of the largest employers in the region,Océ Technologies B.V on 5 November, and on 19 January 2005 (datesubject to change) there will be an exciting debate along the lines of theDutch television programme ‘Lagerhuis’ (House of Parliament).The latter will be an extra festive occasion, because the UM’s branchin Venlo will be celebrating its first lustrum with alumni!In short, the past five years have clearly put SevenUM on the map for thealumni in North and Central Limburg. In the next few years, we are committedto offering our alumni and regional organisations interesting, entertaining andThe SevenUM committee, from left to right: Gerard Dirven, Victor Mostart, Lilo Crasborn, BerndSteinmann, Saskia van Leeuwen, Jos Valks. (photo: Gerard van Leeuwen)well-attended meetings. If you have any suggestions, comments or ideas,please let us know via info@umvenlo.nl or alumni@ssc.unimaas.nl Northand Central Limburg sends its warm greetings to all UM alumni andalumni circles!The SevenUM committeeDebating in Amsterdam!After the success of the previous meetings, the Amsterdam alumni circleopened the alumni season on 23 September with drinks for former UMstudents in Amsterdam. Probably because of the bad weather, it was not asbusy as the last time but the atmosphere was great nonetheless. Networkingto the full while enjoying a nice drink. The Amsterdam alumni committeewill definitely organise another meeting very soon. Attention is also beingpaid to the more serious issues though. In the spring of 2005, we want tostart with a new series of informative meetings, which will have a clearlyinteractive character. The idea for the kick-off meeting was to organise anevening with a Spanish theme, including dance, drinks and food.More information will follow shortly.At the moment, all our efforts are focussed on the organisation of the newautumn meeting on 9 December, the theme being the Dutch presidencyof the EU. Several prominent political speakers have been invited, who willdebate on catchy propositions regarding current EU policy issues.We hope to be able to welcome many of you!On behalf of the Amsterdam alumni circle,Pascal BovensA glimpse of the future!The UM Alumni will be welcomed with open arms in Brussels on29 November, in Amsterdam on 9 December and in North Limburg on19 January 2005 (subject to change). In addition, this season sees the startof another new foreign circle, the German alumni circle, with its foundationmeeting in Düsseldorf, on 13 December! For more information and registration,please visit AlumniNet (www.alumni.unimaas.nl) or contact us viaalumni@ssc.unimaas.nl

E-mail from.... OxfordMargriet Groen is alumna of the Faculty of Psychology.At the moment, she lives and works in Oxford, England.After spending a year as a research assistant in Germany, I started studying for theMaster in Neurology Sciences in Oxford, England, in October 2002. This period notonly offered me the possibility to explore my knowledge of the biological aspects ofbehaviour, but it also gave me the opportunity to take the time to think about a subjectfor my Ph.D. Since then, I have been here for almost a year working on my Ph.D.research on language problems in Down syndrome children. Roughly speaking, theresearch consists of two parts and I am therefore involved in two research groups:OSCCI (Oxford Study of Children’s Communication Impairments) in the Faculty ofPsychology, and Neuropathology in the Faculty of Clinical Neurology. One half of theresearch focuses on identifying the problems of speech observation in children withDown syndrome and how this can be related to their language skills. The otherhalf consists of a post-mortem analysis of brain material from persons with Downsyndrome. In this, I hope to be able to take a close look (through my microscope)at the neuro-anatomy of areas that are regarded as vital for language perception.The first few weeks that I spent in Oxford, I had the feeling that I was walking aroundin a museum. The abundance of beautiful buildings and old traditions was quite overwhelming.What was most strange to me, was that inside these ancient buildingscutting-edge research was being carried out. A weird contrast. I also had to get used toacademic life here. First of all the college system. There are more than thirty colleges inOxford. Every student is connected to one of these colleges and a large part of one’ssocial life takes place within the walls of the college. Many students also live and eat inthe college, and programmes are provided for bachelor students. I myself am registeredwith St. Hilda’s College, the only "women only" college in Oxford. In the beginning,I did not really know what to make of that. I was afraid that there would be agirlie gossipy atmosphere or feministic culture. The opposite is true: there is a veryopen, friendly and supportive atmosphere and I like it very much.Then, of course, there are the ‘unusual’ Oxford traditions. Taking exams, for example,is not done wearing jeans and in a sports hall, but in a gown and in beautiful oldbuildings (the Examination Schools). You also wear this robe to official dinners whereLatin is spoken, by the way. The presentation of diplomas is also done in Latin and ofcourse everybody wears a gown, which reflects his or her position within the university.Oxford is a pleasant city to live in. Large enough to be varied and interesting and smallenough to be able to cycle everywhere. (My Dutch ‘grandmother’ type bicycle attractsa great deal of attention here; most people think that it is from an antique shop!)In no time at all, I can be away from the city on my racing bike and enjoy thepleasant countryside. And when I am bored, London is less than an hour away.As far as English culture is concerned, I must admit that I continued to find to mysurprise that clichés are being confirmed. Queuing for the bus (a thing I appreciatevery much), prudishness, and the occasionally circumspect way in which peoplerelate to each other. But in general I feel quite at home here. I also really like theEnglish pub life, having a pint after work. In addition to the English, there are alsomany foreign students in Oxford. This makes it an interesting meeting place forall kinds of cultures!continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200415Margriet Groen

Made in MaastrichtEsther Versluis Passion and fascination for EuropeText: Milly DebeyePhotography: Franco GoriIn fact, Esther Versluis wanted to study Law in Leiden. An outstanding dean, however, made her end up inMaastricht, where she not only took up a long-standing love for her present husband but also for PBL andcertainly for Europe.continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200416It was open day in Leiden, with hundreds ofaspiring students in a lecture hall. Not really whatEsther Versluis had in mind after having obtainedher grammar school diploma and decided to goto university. The dean at her school in Schagen,in the far north of Holland, presented an alternative:PBL in Maastricht. That was more like it.She visited the open day at the Faculty of Law inMaastricht, received a brochure with all Maastrichtstudies and fell head over heels not for law but forArts and Culture (CWS). "In particular the interdisciplinaryapproach appealed to me: to dare tolook at current issues from the perspectives ofdifferent backgrounds. So not in a one-sided way,purely from an economic, legal or political view,but being open to the different influences thatcontribute to a particular problem."European Studies in England…During the very first year of her study, she had twotrue loves. She met her boyfriend Jeroen, resultingin a real Arts and Culture relationship, one whichwas recently crowned by a wedding ("I am still gettingused to the term ‘my husband’"), and she alsobecame enthralled by the phenomenon of Europe."During that period, Europe was not really on theagenda. I found it fascinating to see how all kindsof decisions were being made with regard to thiscontinent. With far-reaching consequences foreverybody, even though nobody experienced it thatway." The same fascination took her to Hull, inEngland, for a year and a half during the course ofher study. "I took European Studies there; it wasespecially nice to study it in England of all places.The course there was focussed entirely on thepolitics of the European Union; so you only lookedat the political side of things. In that period – themid-nineties – the attitude there was very ‘anti’Europe, much more than now. It gave you thefeeling, at times, that you were studyingsomething that was taking place elsewhere."…in Utrecht…After graduating, Esther took off to Utrecht."It is difficult to find a job in or aroundMaastricht, especially with a major in politicalculture. Jobs in that field are concentrated in thelarger cities in the West." Reason enough forEsther to apply for a job as a research assistantin Utrecht. "Research on the implementation ofEuropean policies, how do different Europeanmember states deal with European policies, howdoes it eventually work at a national level?That subject was right up my street."Esther kept in contact with Arts and Culturelecturers in Maastricht during her research periodin Utrecht. Hindsight tells her that this was a goodmove, because they kept her abreast of developmentsat the Maastricht Faculty of Arts andCulture. This included the plans to set up a newprogramme: European Studies. "My Ph.D.research actually dealt with aspects that have to dowith European Studies. When they started lookingfor staff for the study, I was also asked to apply."She combined the completion of her thesis withworking in Maastricht. Even though it was a verybusy period, working part-time in Utrecht finishingoff her thesis and part-time in Maastrichthelping to set up the European Studies programme,she feels that it was first of all a goodtime. "Setting up a new course, designingblocks, developing education programmes is somuch fun, you can pour all your ideas and energyinto it."…and finally in Maastricht!After obtaining her doctoral degree, Esther wasable to start full time in Maastricht, where she hasnow been appointed as lecturer and researcher tothe Philosophy department. "Recently I was givenfunds to extend my research. I will be studyingwhether the enforcing bodies set up by the EU,a kind of European agency whose task it is toimplement and enforce policies, can actuallysolve the problems involved in doing so."In addition, she also has teaching duties atEuropean Studies. "It is great to be a tutor forsuch an international group of students. Youdiscuss issues within the European Union withDutch, Germans, Polish and other EasternEuropeans, people who all have different ideas.And it is of course very special to have so manyinternational colleagues. It gives my work an extradimension."You need not ask Esther Versluis if she everregretted her decision to come to Maastricht."Not for a second," she says with a radiant lookin her eyes. "As a student, I had a very nice timein Maastricht, and now again. I find the combinationof education and research in this internationalenvironment just terrific!"

International UMPhotos from the old shoeboxAfrican students in Maastricht, 1995(Photography: Nelis Tutkey)Integration of foreign students, 1992(Photography: Nelis Tutkey)Tutorial with American and German students,1998 (Photography: Philip Driessen)Summer Course, staff and participants, 1989(Photography: Hans van Dijk)First official meeting of the Network of Community Oriented EducationalInstitutions for Health Sciences in Bellagio, Italy, 1980(Photography: Bellagio Centre)continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200417Recruitment advertisement byState University of Limburg, 1989Foreign students preparing their meals, 1992(Photography: Nelis Tutkey)

Professor of real estate Piet EichholtzText: Jos CortenraadPhotography: Franco Gori"The UM will also break new ground with funPiet Eichholtz, 41 years of age, is regarded as an international expert inthe field of real estate. A jack-of-all-trades with two professorships, variouscommercial advisory positions and an impressive list of publications.A man who is also willing to go to Cyprus for a month without being paid,in order to contribute to a possible reconciliation between the Greek andTurkish populations there. And a man who values the quality of life.Hence his love for his family and Maastricht.continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200418"In Amsterdam, the poulterer sells chicken on themarket. Chicken with curry spices, marinatedchicken, chicken wings, filets of chicken, grilledchicken and more chicken. On the market inMaastricht, the poulterer sells quail, turkey, pheasant,duck and, yes, also chicken. That is the differencebetween the West of the Netherlands and SouthLimburg. Life here is richer, less Calvinistic. At thesame time, all of us here have built up a universitythat is number one on all fronts. I have worked herefor seventeen years, and as far as I know, I could behere for another seventeen."That much is clear: Piet Eichholtz is happy inMaastricht, where he lives and works half time as aprofessor of real estate financing at the faculty ofEconomics. A position that he combines with aone-day professorship in Amsterdam and a handfulof advisory positions for organisations such as theKLM Pension funds, Aedex, Bouwfonds, RO-groep,Servatius and the real estate division for theBrenninkmeijer family.Having breakfast togetherOriginally from Bloemendaal, he still spends manyhours in and around Amsterdam. "Yes, and thattakes up a lot of time. So much, in fact, that in2000 we moved to Haarlem. But that was so disappointing.My natural habitat is in Maastricht; that ishow it feels. It is so very crowded in the West of thecountry. You lose a lot of time trying to get from Ato B. Valuable time that is taken from your privatelife. Having breakfast together, having the eveningmeal together; all these things are simply impossible.So we came back and now we have breakfasttogether at least three times during the week, and itis about the same for dinner. My wife, an artist byprofession, feels the same way. We have three children,ages varying from four to nine. Our family isworth a lot to us." Piet Eichholtz is one of thoseyoung professors of whom the UM has relativelymany on its payroll. Professors who are open toinnovation and do not get stuck in establishedstructures and positions of power. "A universitymust be a sanctuary for ideas. Science must becritical. If someone claims something, then theremust always be someone else who wonders if thatis true. I miss that sometimes in the older, moreestablished universities. What the grey establishedorder has not thought up itself, cannot be good.That rule applies everywhere, not just in theNetherlands. Harvard, Yale: they all suffer from thenot-invented-here syndrome. Don’t get me wrong,I am not going to attack Amsterdam, Rotterdam orany other place. But the UM is not number one fornothing in all comparative surveys. The bestresults, the best organisation, the best graduates."Team spirit"How is that possible? We are not even a quarter ofa century old and the average age of the employeesis low. That plays a role and of course it also has todo with the outsider role. We on the peripheryagainst the rest in the big city. This creates teamspirit, a willingness to fight. The UM has had toprove itself more than the rest, and this is still thecase. We have been criticised because of theproblem-based learning system, when we started torecruit students with advertisements, and when weintroduced English as the official language at theEconomics faculty. By now we have been imitatedin everything. Students at the Faculty of Economicsmust spend a period of time abroad. This is alsoregarded as a little odd. But look, the UM is themost international university in the Netherlands,

draising!"it attracts students from all over the world. Lastyear, only forty percent of my students was Dutchspeaking(this percentage does not apply to all faculties,ed.). You have to sell yourself as a university.It is after all about attracting students." The figuresspeak for themselves, and yet the UM still has no"royal warrant" to supply expertise for TV programmessuch as NOVA and Buitenhof, or to be inthe serious newspapers and magazines. "Well," saysPiet Eichholtz a little irritated, "the national press isconcentrated in and therefore focussed on the Westof this country. It is much easier to bring in a professorfrom the University of Amsterdam than toget someone from Maastricht. And it takes a fewdecades before you lose the image of insignificance.The UM is still somewhat of an outsider. But thatalso has its advantages: you work harder, achieveeven better results. The time will come when theycan no longer ignore you."CoincidenceEichholtz himself is not someone who is ignored.The real estate sector knows where to find him forcomments and analyses. He writes various columnsand appears in the press with great regularity tocomment on developments on the housing marketand the market for commercial real estate. He nodsmodestly, "and believe it or not, it is all coincidence.I could just as easily have gone in a different direction.I could just as easily have ended up in a differentcity. I do not plan much in my life and if youask me now what my ambitions are, I would not beable to tell you. Yes, to be a better professor and domore research." Piet Eichholtz was born inBloemendaal at the end of 1963 and grew up inHaarlem. He studied economics at the Universityof Amsterdam. "After that, I had to do alternativenational service as a conscientious objector. I got atip to go to Maastricht and talk to a professor whowas looking for an assistant. I only knew Maastrichtfrom a few short visits. I walked along the city wall,drank some coffee on the Onze Lieve Vrouwensquare and I thought to myself: I am going to be allright here. I got on well with the professor and soI moved here. After a while, an American professorcame here to lecture for a year and that gave me theidea of researching for a Ph.D. ‘Real estate’ he said,‘is still uncharted territory’. I knew nothing about it,but it did interest me. One thing led to another andthat is how I became an international expert in realestate. Coincidence, if you ask me."Professional cyclistThings could easily have turned in the direction ofprofessional cycling. Piet Eichholtz was and is a passionatecyclist. "I took part in amateur races," hesays on the Monday that Lance Armstrong madethe front page as winner of the Tour de France forthe sixth time. "Up-hill cycling, great. That is whatI also like about the South of Limburg, being ableto cycle up those hills. I wouldn’t mind them becomingAlps, but that probably won’t happen. No,I had neither the right lungs and legs nor the rightmentality. At parties, I liked to drink a glass of wineand I was never in bed before midnight. Youcannot win races like that." Piet Eichholtz still likesto drink a glass of wine, preferably in one of themany good restaurants in Maastricht. Calling hima bon vivant would not be fair. Both inside and outsidethe UM, he is known as a hard worker; theABP and the National Investment Bank made useof his services, he set up his own company that hesold to Kempen & Co, he lectured in England andthe US. And when the UN phoned him in May forhis collaboration on the valuation of real estate onCyprus, he was on a plane two days later.Short-sightedPiet Eichholtz is also someone who has his ownunvarnished opinions. For example, he calls thegovernment policy that enables the construction ofmore office buildings and the creation of even moreindustrial estates, despite a decrease in the workingpopulation, "short-sighted". He also produces a‘controversial’ proposition with regard to alumni.Namely: actively ask for money from the alumniwho have ‘made’ it in life. "This is the done thing inthe US. Every respectable university has its ownprofessional fundraisers on the payroll who sell theuniversity’s name. What in God’s name is wrongwith a rich businessman connecting his nameto a library or a chair for lots of money?Of course you must keep setting your own courseand not end up in a dependent position. But it isgreat to receive a few million euros to improve yourproduct. There are enough rich people and captainsof industry who would gladly connect their name tothe university. After all, they have everything else.Except for that little bit of status that they receivewhen a chair, or a library or a building carries theirname."Arrogance"I know, here in the Netherlands people call it begging.Or ‘American affairs’. That is so ridiculous,having a go at ‘American affairs’. The universitiesfind themselves in financial difficulty, governmentis withdrawing. We have got to become more commercial,without, by the way, losing sight of our taskof transferring knowledge. We have to tap into theflow of funds in order to keep studying affordableand the quality high. But we feel it is not chic toapproach our alumni. I call that pure arrogance.The best universities in the world do it, so whoare we to dismiss it? Fortunately, this plays lessof a role in Maastricht. Yes, again on the periphery,the South. Mark my words: the UM will be apioneer again, this time in the field of fundraising.I will myself, at any rate, work hard at that."continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200419

Help the UM broaden its horizon!Photography: Carin OudenaardeStudy Grants Fund. You as an alumnus can alsomake an important contribution to the developmentof this fund.what we hope will be many new talented foreignstudents. You can be sure that this is a valuableinvestment!continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200420Most of our graduates look back on their studiesin Maastricht as a fantastic time. The alumniwho studied at the university during its pioneeringphase, but also those who know theuniversity as an international learning environment,all have their own experiences. Manyalumni got the chance, often also financialsupport from the university, during their studiesto gain international experience. Experience thatenriched them with many social, cultural andscientific insights for a lifetime.In the less prosperous regions of this world,there are also talented students who would like todevelop themselves internationally. Maastricht isoften an interesting option for them, but manycannot afford the costs. The UniversiteitMaastricht would like to grant them a place inone of the masters programmes. These studentswould benefit very much from a stay at a universityin Western Europe not just for their careers,but also for the development of their country. Theuniversity in turn also benefits from the influx oftalented student from abroad. They contributeconsiderably to our international reputation, andbecause of their exceptional talents and culturalbackground they constitute an enrichment for theeducation programme. Even though the universitytries to keep the financial barriers as low as possiblefor those who wish to come and study here,funds are often insufficient. The UniversiteitMaastricht and the University Fund Limburgtogether have taken the initiative to set up the UMWhat does the fund do?The UM Study Grants Fund is an initiative thatcontributes towards broadening horizons. Its aimis to enable talented students from abroad to takea one-year masters programme in Maastricht. Thefund focuses on poor students from non-EU countriesand the ten new EU member states. In orderto be able to complete this mission, much supportis needed from others.What can you do?As an alumnus, you can become a donor to theUM Study Grants Fund, to help talented studentsfrom less prosperous environments elsewhere,giving them the chance to broaden their horizons.But you would be doing more than that. Bybecoming a donor you would be contributingtowards the strengthening of the internationalstudy climate at the UM. Something we are allproud of and others are jealous of. It also helps theUM to strengthen its position as an internationaluniversity. In short, the UM Study Grants Fund isa very valuable initiative, which also deserves fullsupport from our alumni!How does it work?The average amount of a study grant for talentedforeign students amounts to 8,000 euros. This isa contribution towards the cost of living, studycosts, residence permit and insurance. A substantialamount, but the aim certainly justifies themeans. As a donor, you are free to determine theamount you wish to donate. For 30 euros per year,for example, you are a sponsor for one day in theUM life of a talented foreign student. The donationis used exclusively to fund study grants.ContinuUM and the website of the UniversityFund provide donors with more information onthe results of the funds and the achievements ofOn behalf of the Board of the University fund,• B.J.M. baron van Voorst totVoorst, ChairmanRoyal Commissioner of theProvince Limburg• Dr. Ir. J.M.M. Ritzen,vice chairmanPresident of the UM ExecutiveBoard• F.W.P.C. Perey LL M, secretaryOn behalf of the UM Alumni• Drs. W.G.J.M. Blind RA,treasurerFrom the social field• Drs. A.H.P. Gratama van AndelFrom the social field• Prof. G.P.M.F. MolsRector of the UM• Dr A.H. FliermanUM Executive Board• Prof. Dr H.A.J. Struyker BoudierOn behalf of the UM academicstaffYou can become a donor to the UM Study GrantsFund by paying your contribution toGIRO 888 50BANK 85 99 11 454In the name of the Universiteitsfonds Limburgand mentioning SBF and your date of birth.For more information about the UM Study GrantsFund, see www.unimaas.nl/universiteitsfonds orcontact Maurice Olivers,tel. 043-388 2754 or 06-21 81 00 99;E-mail: maurice.olivers@ssc.unimaas.nl•Mrs. M. Depondt-OliversFrom the social field• Drs. M.J.A. EurlingsFrom the social field• H.E.M. Haffmans B ScFrom the social field• Mr. C.H.J. DewulfFrom the social field•J.J.B. van den BiggelaarUM alumnus• M. BarnasUM alumnus• Drs. A. NetjesUM alumna• Drs. K.B. de RaadUM alumnus• Drs. J. ValksUM alumnus

Text: Nicole HanssenPhotography: Philip DriessenThe UM depictedUM GuesthouseSummer 2004 in Maastricht. They were everywhere, just like any year. Overanxious parents, with mapsin their hands. Rushing around looking for a suitable room for their soon-to-be first-year son or daughter.After all, you do want to be sure that your child has a proper and safe place to live for the next few years.And as a parent, you know a little bit better than your child what to look out for when selectingaccommodation. Son or daughter walks along without complaining; all help is welcome!Maastricht, students do not get stuck with anunnecessary long tenancy agreement for a roomthat they only need for a short time. In addition,they do not need to go looking for furniture thathas to be sold again at the end of their stay.In short, the Guesthouse provides for exchangestudents' every need and offers them the possibilityof a well-tended, safe place for a goodprice for the duration of their studies abroadwithout unnecessary high costs.This scene does not really apply to foreignstudents. The distance is often too great;you cannot just jump in your car to travel toMaastricht to look at a room. It may pay off for aregular foreign student to search for accommodationin Maastricht for the full duration of thestudy. But for exchange students, who are herefor a maximum of one year, it is often too costlyfor their relatively short stay to find a room andfurnish it. The exchange student clearly has differentneeds. Especially for this group, the UMstarted the UM Guesthouse in 1991: furnishedrooms meant for students who were part ofthe exchange programme and who were inMaastricht for a relatively short period of time.Unique guesthouseThe UM Guesthouse initially consisted of anumber of separate locations. However, whenspace became available in the former Maastrichthospital on the Brouwersweg, it appeared thatthis spot was extremely suitable for setting up acentral Guesthouse campus. With almost 400beds at one location and another 50 at tworemaining locations just outside the centre inHeer and Heugem for students doing HealthSciences and Medicine, the UM Guesthouse ofthis size may be referred to as unique in theNetherlands.The Guesthouse offers various types of rooms,from slightly more expensive to very cheap, froman independent studio with its own kitchen andshower/toilet to a double room with facilities toshare. The rooms are assigned on a first-come,first-served basis, taking into account a student’spreference, background (such as age, man/woman, bachelor/master student), and a representativeproportion for each faculty. Of coursethe Guesthouse has all the necessary facilities.Large communal kitchens, comfortable areasto sit, laundry areas equipped with washingmachines, dryers and ironing boards, Internetfacilities, etc. In the near future, the Guesthousehopes to even open a pub!Tailor-made rentingThe great advantage is that exchange studentsare not left to deal with the free, private market.The rooms may be rented per day with a minimumof seven days. By adapting the tenancyagreement to the length of the study inZero toleranceYou can hardly imagine it, 450 ‘beds’ filled, atcertain peak periods even close to 600; the UMGuesthouse is actually able to rent extra bedsduring peak months. In a ‘hotel’ of that size,strict rules must be enforced, to make it possiblefor every guest to have a pleasant stay. TheGuesthouse must remain liveable both for partyingErasmus students and for the more seriousmaster students who probably have had quite acareer already and are just looking for somepeace and quiet in the evening. Excess noise isstrictly forbidden. If you are caught carryingdrugs, you will experience the zero tolerancepolicy of the Guesthouse: you will be out on thestreets the next day. Strict rules, but with somany students in one place, it is the only alternative.Nevertheless, there is an amiable atmosphere:the foreign chattering on the corridors,the building seeped with wonderful aromas ofthe most exotic dishes. A taste of foreign countrieson the Brouwersweg in Maastricht!For information on the UM Guesthouse, seewww.unimaas.nl/guesthouseumcontinuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200421

My favourite spotBy Ruud Hupperts, Legal Consultant for FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization UN)Alumnus from the Faculty of LawNot a favourite spot in Maastricht this time, but in the frameworkof the EU presidency, a favourite spot in Italy!Vetralla, Italy. A small city, originally Etruscan that is located ina beautiful green region between Rome and Tuscany; in themiddle of three volcanic lakes, not far from the Tyrrhenian Sea.It was in this very spot that we (I am married to Susanna who isoriginally from Finland) ended up accidentally about ten yearsago after a great deal of roaming about.After studying in Groningen for a few years and having spenta short period of time in Trento within the framework of theErasmus programme, I finished my law studies in Maastricht in1989, where I had been born and raised. After my graduation,Susanna and I left for Frankfurt A/M, but we decided shortlyafterwards to try our luck in Rome. I was able to get work as aconsultant in the legal department of the Food and AgriculturalOrganisation of the United Nations (FAO), where I still work.In addition, I also worked at the International Development LawOrganisation (IDLO) for a few years, an inter-governmentalorganisation that deals with the improvement of the legalcapacity of the developing countries. Susanna studied musicand, among other things, works as a soprano singer.Why is Vetralla my favourite spot? As I have already said,Vetralla became the place where we lived quite by accident.The first two years, we lived in a huge farmhouse in the countryside.Now we live in the historical centre, in a house of whichthe oldest parts originate from the twelfth century. The peoplefrom Vetralla are descendants of the Etruscans, or the originalItalians. A people that had a flourishing culture before theRomans, a people that also had a major influence on Romanculture. Much of the lifestyle of the ancient Italians has beenpreserved. The people from Vetralla are very much bound totheir region and view everybody that was not born in Vetralla asa foreigner. We got a very good idea of how things used to beduring a traditional food festival in one of the enormous oldcellars, when an inhabitant of our square came to us andregarded her husband as one of us. The poor man was bornin Tuscany, which is 20 kilometres away; he had "only" livedin Vetralla for forty years! Despite this kind of anecdote, theVetralla people are very friendly and hospitable, they live avery traditional but very pleasant life. And as the photo shows,we are glad to be part of that.Ruud (centre with pipe) and his wife Susanna in the role of bride and groom in the traditional live Christmas crib in Vetralla. (Photo: Eva M. Ohtonen)continuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200422

New initiative at the Universiteit Maastricht:Maastricht Graduate School of GovernanceText: Nicole HanssenPhotography: Carin OudenaardeRecently, it was announced that the UniversiteitMaastricht had founded the Maastricht GraduateSchool of Governance; a unique institute formaster and Ph.D. students who study and analysepolicy issues ‘in the public domain’. Quite amouthful. What does it actually entail in practiceand how did this school come about? A short talkwith Chris de Neubourg, Professor at the Facultyof Economics and Business Administration, alsoasked by the UM Executive Board to take on theposition of academic director at the new Schoolof Governance."The idea for a school like this actually emergedsome years ago, and at various places. Not just atthe UM, but also within all kinds of internationalorganisations, such as the OECD, the World Bank,UN organisations, etc. In this time of progressingglobalisation, there is a growing need for specialistsin policy analysis. In the US, there areapproximately fifty of such schools, all with theirown areas of attention within the field of publicpolicy: environment, safety, health, etc. However,in continental Europe, there are few institutes thattrain people to be ‘policy analysts’. There are ofcourse programmes in the field of managementand policies, but there is not a single programmethat focuses on the analytical aspects of governanceissues in public policy. That is exactly what we inMaastricht want to do. By offering a new mastersprogramme in Public Policy and HumanDevelopment that will train students to be policyanalysts. Of course we will do this in a typicallyMaastricht fashion: our orientation and characterwill be international. Not just with regard to thecontent of the programme and the student populationthat we have in mind, but also in the co-operationwith internationally reputable institutes.All that together makes the school a unique initiative,in the Netherlands but also in continentalEurope."Social and scientific leaders"In Maastricht, we chose to connect the focus ongovernance to five areas in the public sector inwhich the UM is already an important player:Nutrition & Health, Social Policy & Labour,Science & Technology, Sustainable Development,and Globalisation, Trade & Development. We wantto apply the knowledge and capacity with regard tothese specific fields that we already have in orderto train very specific academic policy analysts; thesocial and scientific leaders of tomorrow, who areold hands at considering, implementing andevaluating administrative scenarios."The graduate education of the School ofGovernance will train students to be competent inareas that they will need: learning to make decisionson designing, implementing, monitoringand evaluating policies, but also in obtaininginsight into the economic, political, social, legaland cultural contexts in which such issues play arole. Special attention will be paid to the globalnature of the various policy issues in the publicsector and the interface with the private sector, aswell as the underlying connections between policymakingat local, regional, national and internationallevels.Broad portfolioWith the Maastricht School of Governance, theUM wants to expand the possibilities for furtherstudies not only for Dutch bachelor students, butin particular for talented foreign students. In doingso, the school and therefore the UM is focussingclearly on an international masters territory. Fromthis academic year (2004/2005) the School ofGovernance will offer the following activities: the(existing) masters programme of Social ProtectionFinancing, in co-operation with the InternationalLabour Organization, the existing masters programmeof Public Health, which is being offeredin co-operation with the Faculty of Health Sciences,a new Ph.D. programme in Social Protection, andtwo new summer schools. From the 2005/2006academic year, activities will be expanded, startingwith the masters programme of Public Policy andHuman Development, for which an application fornational accreditation has been submitted. Theschool will also organise short courses and summerschools. Prof. De Neubourg: "We are trying todevelop a broad portfolio of activities in order to putthe school firmly on the map. In the beginning, wewill therefore have to work hard at developing theprofile of the School of Governance."Varied groups of students"The students will consist of those moving on fromthe bachelors programmes, graduates with a fewyears of working experience, and people who havehad considerable careers already. Lawyers, economists,social scientists, doctors, engineers fromall over the whole world; people who wish tospecialise further, but also people who want tomake a switch in their careers. I expect highlyvaried groups, both in age and in nationality. Thatwill make the School of Governance extra special."Graduates from the School of Governance will findjobs in managerial and executive positions ingovernment, private and public institutions andinternational organisations. In addition to providingmasters programmes, the School ofGovernance will also work together with the UMto combine and build on research in the field ofpolicy and the five policy areas. It is expected thatthe Maastricht School of Governance will officiallystart off this autumn. For more information, pleasecontact Celine Duijsens, student affairs officer ofthe Maastricht Graduate School of Governance,tel.: 043-388 3732, E-mail:C.Duijsens@ALGEC.unimaas.nlYou may also visit the website that should beonline by mid-Novemberwww.governance.unimaas.nlcontinuUM year 3, issue 3, october 200423

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