Mayor Heijkoop feels like an ‘ambassador’ for the university
Leiden Mayor Peter Heijkoop visited the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences and the Faculty of Science on 20 January. He met various university administrators and researchers and learned about the significance of our research and teaching.
The mayor was welcomed by Executive Board President Annetje Ottow who accompanied him throughout the visit. ‘It’s a great honour to have you here’, said Ottow. ‘We want to show you the many aspects of our broad university.’ Heijkoop said he felt like an ‘ambassador for the university’, adding, ‘The university is the most important institution in the city. It shapes the city, gives it character, improves the quality of life and enhances the local economy. That’s why I want to gain a deeper understanding of what happens here.’
Addressing teacher shortages
The mayor’s first stop was the Graduate School of Teaching (ICLON), which provides teacher training, conducts educational research and offers professional development programmes. Heijkoop was briefed on collaborations with schools, efforts to bridge the gap between education and industry, and plans for a regional knowledge infrastructure. The topic of teacher shortages also came up frequently. ‘We need to work hard to tackle the teacher shortages, especially secondary-school teachers’, said Scientific Director Fred Janssen.
Partners in Leiden and beyond
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences Dean Sarah de Rijcke then gave a brief introduction and described key research at the faculty. She emphasised the focus on societal relevance and open science and how the faculty actively works with partners in Leiden and beyond. An example of this is the Leiden Healthy Society Center, where the municipality and university work to ensure that knowledge about healthy behaviour finds its way to the public. Another example is the Knowledge Centre for Psychology and Economic Behaviour, which aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, particularly in policymaking.
The mayor was enthusiastic about the expertise and initiatives at the faculty and said he saw opportunities for further collaboration on issues like student mental health, loneliness and financial well-being.
Partnerships with the Leiden Instrument Makers School
A short bike ride through the cold brought the mayor to the Faculty of Science in the Gorleaus building. Dean Jasper Knoester discussed the faculty’s rapid growth over the past decade, its cutting-edge research, partnerships with industry as well as the need for long-term investment in teaching and research.
During a tour, researcher Sebastiaan Haffert demonstrated how he is developing telescope optics that he and his colleagues will use to discover other habitable planets. The mayor was also clearly impressed by the Fine Mechanical Department’s ample workshop. This is where institutes can turn for specialised equipment that is unavailable elsewhere. Staff demonstrated the equipment and explained how the department works with the Leiden Instrument Makers School.
Then it was time for Ottow to thank the mayor for his visit and tell him he was always welcome. Brimming with new information about the university’s research and teaching, Heijkoop headed home.