One of my mentors once described academic institutions as “revolving doors” where good people come and go, for one reason or another. While I am very happy to see colleagues move on to greener pastures, I’ve always felt a sense of sadness seeing wonderful people leave Maastricht University.
The budget cuts in Dutch higher education have made it even more difficult for universities to retain talented colleagues, as we now have to push good people out our doors. I will have a particularly bittersweet feeling saying goodbye to (some 🤞 of) the tutors that have been absolutely instrumental in shaping our new Conflict Prevention & Resolution course.
They are extremely hard working, highly competent, charismatic individuals (each in their own unique ways), who care deeply about their students and passionate about teaching. They are all brilliant jurists and problem-solvers (and god forbid, they are mostly non-Dutch). I have no doubt whatsoever that they will be positive catalysts in whatever career they pursue and any institution or firm would be fortunate to have dedicated people like Sabine Kneepkens, Sahel Bahman, David Kermode, Lucia Jeremiašová, Shanay Das Guru, and Francisca Nemeth-Trocado in their ranks.
I just wish (perhaps rather selfishly) that we could have been that lucky institution. More generally, I hope that the current policies won't turn the bittersweet revolving doors into one-way turnstiles. Regardless of whether these tutors stay with us or not, they deserve nothing but respect and recognition for the incredible work that they are doing!! So thank you tutors!!
