An inspiring and collaborative atmosphere

All four IAB members we spoke to felt inspired by their work on the advisory board.  Mrs. van Zanten shares: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be part of this board. I learn something new every time we meet.” Mrs. Strijland: “It’s nice to feel like I can contribute to a major educational institution. It’s also very inspiring for me to hear the opinions of everyone else on the board, because it’s a diverse group.” As an SBE alumnus, Mr. Kummer adds “For me personally, I feel like this university gave me a lot, so this is a chance for me to give back.”

When asked about the dynamic when meeting with the SBE Board, Mrs. van Zanten explains, “SBE’s Dean Mariëlle Heijltjes has created a collaborative atmosphere in which we feel comfortable sharing our ideas and suggestions.” Mr. Kummer: “It feels more like a brainstorming session in which the SBE Board genuinely wants to hear our thoughts.”

Despite her extensive experience in senior leadership positions, Mrs. van Zanten shares that these meetings remain a humbling experience: “Whenever I want to bring something into the discussion, I first always ask myself if it’s valuable. I believe it’s a good exercise for everyone to continue to challenge themselves throughout their career.”

Prioritising impact, both globally and locally

The IAB members all agree that SBE’s emphasis on creating impact and addressing societal problems stands out to them. Mrs. Strijland explains “I think the focus on wanting to have societal impact and also on defining what that really means is wonderful. We desperately need this as a society. From the outside, people might have the preconceived notion that, as a school of business and economics, SBE’s focus is only on making money. But in fact, it’s much more than that.”

Mrs. van Zanten adds “We’re now asking fundamental questions. Creating new knowledge and putting this back into society is what universities should be doing. This was a big part of our conversation today.”

Mr Kummer goes on to say: “Having an impact is not only about new knowledge. There is also ‘old’ knowledge that has yet to be shared with the broader public in an effective way to have an impact on society. In other words, impact also depends on the effectiveness of knowledge transfer.”

The international DNA of Maastricht University has been the driving force behind its impact at a global level, but also at a national and regional level. For instance, Mrs. Murrer points out how important SBE’s students are for the region. As a manager at APG, she explains “For my company, there is huge interest in the university because it is a talent pool for us.”