From coal mines to engineering: “My father’s story is my inspiration”
For Bouwien Janssen, Lifelong Development (LLD) is more than a policy; it is a personal mission inspired by her father’s story. Together with Mark Levels, she is shaping the UM Academy for Lifelong Development, which supports professionals in their continuous growth. They share their vision for LLD and explain why they believe it is essential for the future.
Lifelong Development is much more than a theme for Bouwien Janssen: it is a personal mission rooted in her own background. Her father began working in the Limburg coal mines at a young age, a demanding and dangerous job, but through hard work and perseverance, he retrained as a chemical engineer and went on to build a successful career at DSM. “From an early age, I learned that hard work, learning and achievement were important,” says Bouwien. That belief has become the guiding principle in her life and in her current role as Director of the UM Academy for Lifelong Development.
What is the UM Academy for Lifelong Development?
The UM Academy is an initiative of Maastricht University that promotes continuous professional development throughout one’s career. In a world that is rapidly changing through digitalisation, technological innovation and new societal challenges, professionals need to keep developing their knowledge and skills. The Academy works closely with researchers, employers, government and educational institutions to create flexible, up-to-date and accessible learning opportunities.
The content of the LLD programmes is developed within the university’s various educational institutes. The UM Academy acts as a facilitating network, bringing together knowledge about national LLD developments, encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation between institutes, and strengthening Maastricht University’s visibility as a key player in Lifelong Development.
Bouwien explains: “My ambition is to build a network organisation that connects UM researchers with external labour market partners, government and educational institutions to jointly develop learning opportunities. These programmes should be easy to find, accessible to professionals, and well aligned with the needs of the (inter)national labour market.”
“My ambition is to build a network organisation that connects UM researchers with external labour market partners, government and educational institutions to jointly develop learning opportunities.”
Bouwien JanssenThe science behind Lifelong Development
Mark Levels is co-founder of the UM Academy and University Dean for Lifelong Development. As Professor of Sociology, he focuses on the intersection of education and the labour market, studying how automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping the future of work. “Much of my recent work focuses on the labour market and the future of work. I led the European TECHNEQUALITY consortium, which showed that innovations such as artificial intelligence can profoundly transform the labour market,” he explains.
Together with others, Mark helped design the national LLD Catalyst Programme, which enables universities and universities of applied sciences to prepare for the large-scale reskilling of workers. “I’m very proud that the programme is now being implemented and internationally recognised as a model example.”
Within Maastricht University, Mark takes a strategic approach to the LLD portfolio. Together with the LLD institutes, he identifies themes most relevant to labour market developments and to the knowledge and competences that employees will need in the future. Through a multidisciplinary approach, these efforts address learning needs in a coherent way, aligned with other educational partners in the Southeast Regional Hub.
Personal experience strengthens the belief in LLD
Like Bouwien, Mark also strongly believes in the importance of continuous learning, partly because of his own career. “I started my career as a professional soldier, then worked briefly in the private sector. At 25, I went back to school. As a researcher, you have to keep up in many areas, and I’ve always been fortunate to have the opportunity to keep learning.” His vision for education is that it should serve society and help people and employers prepare for the demands of tomorrow’s labour market. “I advocate for education that serves society and that helps people and employers prepare for the challenges of the future.”
A shared mission: Maastricht as a knowledge and learning hub
Together, Mark and Bouwien are strengthening the range of Lifelong Development opportunities at Maastricht University. Their ambition is not only to highlight existing opportunities for professionals but also to expand options for further training and reskilling.
Mark sees himself as a connector: “I want to support and connect the many experts within our university. And I want to ensure that when people think about reskilling or professional growth, they think of Maastricht first — because we’re doing great things.”
Bouwien’s approach is characterised by decisiveness and balance: “As a leader, I strive for a healthy equilibrium between a people-focused approach and achieving results, following the motto ‘tough on content, soft on relationships’. Continuous learning and personal development are central to my philosophy, and, like my father, I try to lead by example.”
Their message is clear: anyone who wants to keep learning is in the right place in Maastricht.
“As a researcher, you have to keep up in many areas, and I’ve always been fortunate to have the opportunity to keep learning.”
Mark LevelsStay ahead in a changing world
Would you like to stay one step ahead in a changing world? Start your own Lifelong Development journey today. The UM Academy is here to support you: keep growing, innovating and making an impact as a proud UM alumnus, now and in the future.
Also read
-
Learning from and with our alumni
Each year, Maastricht University (UM) invites its alumni to share their experiences and career development. The annual alumni surveys are of great value to us: they show how our graduates fare on the labour market, how they look back on their studies, and where we as a university can continue to...
-
Recap: UM Connect Day 2025
On Saturday 27 September 2025, around 150 Maastricht University alumni returned to Maastricht for the annual UM Connect Day. This year’s edition, held at the School of Business and Economics, centred on the theme technology and innovation. Alumni came together to exchange knowledge, strengthen networks...
-
The sugar cubes behind your ears
UM alumnus Ağali Mert combines his adventurous career and fascination with the inner ear in ' Over de Kop', sharing insights and debunking myths about dizziness.
