Hora Hester Bijl! Farewell to a rector who steered the university through turbulent times
The university bid farewell to its Rector Magnificus, Hester Bijl, on 13 January during the ‘Hester’s Highlights’ symposium. The themes of the day were fitting for such a turbulent decade: academic freedom, social unrest and more. How does Bijl reflect on her years at the helm?
Hester Bijl led Leiden University for nearly a decade: as Vice Rector from 2016 and as Rector Magnificus from 2021. A historic milestone: for the first time in 445 years, Leiden had a female rector. On 15 January, she will take up the role of Rector of Delft University of Technology, becoming the first woman do to so as well.
Students, academics and Hester herself looked back on an eventful decade and the major issues that shaped research and teaching. ‘Today, the spotlight is on you and on the issues closes to your heart,’ said compere Renée Merkx, Director of Strategic Communication & Marketing, as she opened the symposium.
Learning in prison
Among the topics were innovative teaching and engagement with society. Criminologist Jennifer Doekhie spoke about taking students into a prison, where they learn alongside people who are incarcerated. This is a valuable experience for both groups: students go out into the world, participants in prison gain knowledge and the two groups get to know each other.
Senior Teaching Qualification (SKO) committee member Adriaan Rademaker asked Doekhie whether she would recommend the SKO to colleagues. ‘Definitely! It’s invigorating to share experiences with peers,’ Doekhie replied.
Stormy seas
The relationship between the university and a divided society was also central to university historian Pieter Slaman’s speech. He discussed the second cornerstone of Bijl’s leadership: academic freedom. ‘Calm in the midst of the stormy seas’ was the motto of the university’s founder, William of Orange. ‘That’s how he viewed the university. Ideas can collide, sometimes fiercely.’ He reminded the audience that the university had weathered many conflicts, from religious disputes to age-old tensions between progressives and conservatives.
Today’s wars reverberate through the university. ‘The university has endured many storms and will weather this one too,’ he said, thanking Bijl for her encouraging leadership. ‘You make people feel that their work counts and that fosters trust.’
Radio Palestine/Israel
The devastating war in Gaza made itself felt in the lecture hall of Middle Eastern Studies scholar Noa Schonmann. ‘After 7 October 2023, half of the students held strong views, while the other half felt paralysed.’ This led her and her students to start the Radio Palestine/Israel podcast. ‘Students interviewed people whose views they disagreed with.’ Schonmann praised Bijl for supporting this project that encourages students to talk.
-
Noah Schohmann and Pieter Slaman -
Julia Cramer -
Koen Caminada -
Student assessors Tim van Surksum and Mick de Kruijff -
Ferd Grapperhaus, Chair of the Board of Governors
Bringing people together
Several speakers emphasised Bijl’s gift for bringing people together, including Julia Cramer, former chair of Young Academy Leiden, and student assessors Tim van Surksum and Mick de Kruijff, who expressed appreciation for her visible presence at demonstrations. Speaking on behalf of the Board of Deans, FGGA Dean Koen Caminada referred to the introduction of a new gown protocol under Bjil’s rectorship: non-professors serving on PhD committees are also permitted to wear a gown now. ‘A university of professors became more of a university of all of us.’
The programme also featured an intermezzo, with Psychologist Marjolien Fokkema and immunologist Koen van der Maaden playing ‘Loosen up That Model’, a song about the wonderful world of algorithms.
President of the Executive Board, Luc Sels, who was in Paris for a meeting with university leaders, sent a video message offering warm words for Bijl. He said he looked forward to working with Delft.
Ferd Grapperhaus, Chair of the Board of Governors, also had a few words to say to the outgoing rector – including her commitment to interdisciplinary research. ‘With your degrees in Maths and English, you’re the embodiment of interdisciplinarity.’
-
Mayor Peter Heijkoop -
Carolien Kroeze -
Sarah de Rijcke (r), the new Leiden Rector.
Ups and downs
During the event, Bijl received two awards. Wageningen Rector and Chair of the Board of Rectors, Carolien Kroeze, presented her with the medal that rectors receive on their departure. ‘We shared our ups and downs on the Board of Rectors. I could always call Hester to discuss difficult issues.’ Kroeze also welcomed the new Rector, Sarah de Rijcke, who was also present. Leiden Mayor, Peter Heijkoop, awarded Bijl the Gouden Speld, ‘for all you’ve done for the city and the university’.
Bijl’s highlights
A visibly moved Bijl thanked the many people she had worked with over the years: the students, staff and partners of the university. She also reflected on the challenges of her tenure: from Covid and lockdowns to polarisation surrounding current conflicts. Emphasising the importance of dialogue, she described academic freedom as ‘a university’s greatest asset’, while warning that external pressures such as geopolitics, political intervention and conditional funding are an increasing threat. Even so, she noted that activism and diverging vies also ‘keep the university alive’.
Looking back, also involves critical reflection. ‘I’ve learned from the things that didn’t go quite right. Sometimes a red light means more consultation is needed.’ Despite the difficult moments, gratitude was her overriding emotion: ‘I felt supported by so many.’
Compere Renée Merkx ended with an academic term, adapted to the event: ‘Hora Hester!’
Looking to the future
Instead of a leaving gift, Bijl has asked people to support for young researchers by donating to the SteunLeiden.nl crowdfunding site.
-
Renée Merkx presents Hester Bijl with the ‘Hora Hester!’ photo album -
Salsa lover Hester Bijl is surprised during the reception and was invited for a dance -
-
Representatives of the 3 October Association