Tim van Surksum appointed new Science faculty assessor
As of 1 September, Tim van Surksum will take on the role of assessor for our faculty. The 22-year-old second-year Mathematics student is excited about his appointment.
Tim will succeed Berber Verhalle as assessor. The assessor is the student representative on the faculty board and works to promote students’ interests in a range of areas.
‘To be honest, the news came as a surprise,’ Tim says. ‘But I’m really looking forward to getting started next academic year. My focus will be on student wellbeing, AI, and diversity and inclusion.’
It’s okay to ask for help
According to Tim, many students struggle with pressure. ‘I want to help make it more acceptable for students to ask for help and to show that we’re here to support them. When it comes to AI, you can already see that it’s opening up more and more possibilities for both students and lecturers. I’d like to explore this further and work with everyone involved in teaching to make sure we’re prepared for it.’
Before starting his Mathematics degree in Leiden, Tim passed his propaedeutic year in Applied Physics at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and a vocational programme in Software Development in Utrecht. Outside of his studies, he’s a keen sportsman and can be found on the tennis court almost every day.