Jasper's day
Jasper Knoester is the dean of the Faculty of Science. How is he doing, what exactly does he do and what does his day look like? In each newsletter, Jasper gives an insight into his life.
Wednesday 7 May – a ‘quiet’ day that ends in a castle
‘I wake up early and go through the morning routine. Today I prepare breakfast for the kids, but no packed lunches. Jasmijn is studying at home, and Kamiel only has one hour of school and finds it annoying when I wake him up anyway. I get to the office around nine for what promises to be a long and varied day. It’s Wednesday, which usually means it’s quiet in the executive wing, but that doesn’t change the fact that there are nine meetings scheduled until five.
I start with half an hour behind my laptop. In two weeks, the University’s Supervisory Board will visit us. As the Faculty Board, we’ll receive them together with the scientific directors. Yesterday, we discussed ideas for an engaging programme—one that also gives us the opportunity to highlight what a science faculty really needs. I continue working on the discussion notes. Adequate housing (further new buildings), safety, and the major investments required for teaching and research in the natural sciences are high on the agenda. We’ll also ask the scientific directors to present something on our faculty themes. And we’ll visit a teaching lab.
Next, I meet with Maaike Barkema to discuss the implementation of the strategic agenda of our faculty. And with Monique Leemkuil I go over proposed appointments for academic staff, a proposal for the new composition of our Ethics Committee, nominations for the Spinoza and Stevin Prizes, and a recruitment text for leaders of our six faculty themes. With José Kiss, I review the agenda of the Science Council, the meeting I have each month with the scientific directors.
Around lunchtime, I sit down with Elice Schöne (Head of HR) and Anouschka Versleijen (Director of Luris) to review the applicants for the position of Head of Academic Affairs, Pieter Schipper’s successor. Sadly, Pieter is leaving us. We shortlist candidates to meet with the selection committee next week. After an agenda meeting with Carey, I speak with LION's scientific director, Sense Jan van der Molen. Every five weeks I have a one-on-one meeting with each scientific director, though of course we speak more often as needed.
‘Companies are showing interest in our new master’s track in Hi-tech Instrumentation’
I then have a meeting about knowledge security—particularly the transition to the new university-wide policy—and a conversation about company internships we’re setting up for the new master’s track in Hi-tech Instrumentation, developed as part of the national Beethoven programme. We seem to be well on track to attract enough companies. In this tight job market, it’s in their own interest to get involved!
I wrap up the day in the Gorlaeus Building with my final work meeting with Pieter Schipper. He gives me one last deep dive into his vast knowledge of everything happening in research across the faculty and shares a few suggestions for our future strategy. Pieter will be sorely missed, and his successor has big shoes to fill.
After a quick phone call, I rush off to Oud Poelgeest Castle, where we’ll spend time until tomorrow afternoon with the Executive Board and deans for a team development session. I’m still catching my breath from all the meetings when I’m asked to share what I hope to get from this session and what would make me leave feeling satisfied. I say I need a moment to recover, mumble a few obligatory lines, and then get to lean back and listen to what the others expect. Until half past eight we take part in an intense but engaging way of getting to know each other—by telling how we became who we are, based on our youth and a key life event. Time-consuming, but a strong tool for team-building and understanding one another. Only three people get the chance to share before dinner. I’ll go tomorrow, but my story is already in my head.
We have dinner, and I’m the first to head to my room to review a meeting scheduled for early the next morning. Just after midnight, I switch off the light. This was enough for today.’