'Thank you!' from executive board
Dear UM students and employees,
We had imagined the end of 2019 very differently! You undoubtedly did, too. What should have been a quiet and well-deserved Christmas break became a hectic and uncertain time because of a cyber attack. We have done everything we can to try and minimise the negative effects on our academic community, but the attack has certainly left some scars – also in the sense that the university needs to better protect itself against external threats that have no respect for academic values, while education and research require openness and exchange, a great challenge lies ahead.
We have said it before but want to say it again here: the way in which many dedicated colleagues, despite the holidays, put all their energy and expertise into working on this is heart warming.
It really shows the spirit and solidarity of our university community.
The same can be said about the responses we have received. Despite the many questions that cannot always be answered, despite concerns about education and research, despite the many uncertainties that did and still do exist, the general atmosphere and attitude have been positive. ‘We’re all in this together.’
We are extremely grateful for this. In times of crisis, you learn where you really stand with one another. When it comes to the UM community, that is side-by-side. This gives us complete confidence that things will turn out well in the days, weeks and months ahead!
We wish everyone all the best for 2020. Let’s make it a great year together.
Sincerely,
Martin Paul, Rianne Letschert, Nick Bos
Maastricht University Executive Board
Also read
-
ESAB students receive certificates for their contributions in 2025
In the academic year 2024-2025, 11 UM students joined the EDLAB Student Advisory Board (ESAB) and contributed their ideas to cross-faculty discussions on teaching, learning, and educational innovation.
-
More than another ‘to-do’: how the UTQ helped me rethink my teaching
At Maastricht University, the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) is a professional development programme designed to strengthen teaching and learning. It supports teachers in developing core teaching competencies through a combination of workshops, peer learning, on-the-job experience, and...
-
It’s not easy being green: the challenges and benefits of international research collaboration
As the world seeks cleaner energy solutions, green hydrogen has emerged as a key component in the transition to a sustainable future. Many governments have drawn up policies to support this technology, but competing priorities mean initiatives often fall short. Fabianna Bacil, a PhD candidate at UNU...
