Testimonials

Everything all at once

“I was born and raised in Rotterdam, so the choice for the Erasmus University was an easy one. After studying Psychology for a year, I decided to switch to Law. In high school, I spent a lot of time debating, and my friends used to tell me that I should study Law and become a lawyer or a politician. After starting my bachelor’s in psychology, I realised that this study did not suit me, as it did not offer the challenge I needed. That is why I decided to follow my friends’ advice and gut feeling after all and switch to Law.

In my first year of Law, I wanted to focus on the courses solely. Everyone who knows me a little knows I am not one for sitting still, and I prefer to do a thousand things at once. Accordingly, in the summer of my second year, I started with several side activities; I became a volunteer at the law clinic, became a member of the study association, immediately joined one of the committees, and a job on the side could not hurt either. I am not one of an easing-in period; thus, I went from zero to one hundred in just six weeks. If I set my mind to something, nothing will slow me down and not even an ankle surgery. Three days after my surgery, I went back to my office on the 8th floor. It did get a little complicated as we had a fire drill just one day later, as we were not allowed to use the elevator during this drill. The “caterpillar” for the stairs was not working, so my manager and I had to use the elevator anyway. I also switched from studying full-time to part-time to avoid any study delay. Looking back on this period of my life, I am pretty proud of all the things I did, but at the time, being so busy seemed self-explanatory.”

Looking for kangaroos

“One of the reasons for all these extra activities was my dream to study abroad, specifically at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. There is always a selection process to study there, so I tried optimising my chances by doing many things during my studies. Eventually, I was accepted, and not much later, I hopped on a plane to the other side of the world. My experience abroad was indescribable and exceeded my expectations. For me, the culture and country stand out. It is extraordinary to be able to get on a train that takes you to a field with 30 wild kangaroos in under two hours.

The courses at UNSW were exciting. I will never forget one of the lecturers; he gave a so-called intensive course. When a teacher manages to keep an entire class engaged for eight hours straight on a Sunday, that teacher is genuinely exceptional. An exchange is a true enrichment of your study time and life, but I admit that being so far away from home is not without its challenges. Casually calling home was not possible because of the significant time difference. At UNSW, I lived with four other students, so we always supported each other and knowing you are not the only one who is homesick can be a consolation. Most of the exchange students have to deal with this one way or another, so I believe it should not be a taboo to talk about this.”

A so-called child of the School

“In the summer of my second year studying Law, I started looking for a part-time job. Whilst searching, I came across a job offer at the Erasmus School of Law Alumni Call Campaign. A six-week project with higher pay than my previous job, so I decided to apply. Applying for that job turned out to kickstart the rest of my career. During the fundraising campaign, I stood out to the project leaders because of my large donations, and after the project had finished, they asked me whether I would like to continue working at the School. That is how I became the first student assistant for the MyFuture programme and how my career at Erasmus School of Law took off.

After a year at the MyFuture program, I went on exchange, but afterwards, I continued working at the Development department (now Communication, Marketing & Relations). From that moment, it has been quite a rollercoaster because I’ve had many different positions. Once again, I was a student assistant. Later, I became the project leader of MyFuture, alumni liaison, communications officer, and currently, I am the coordinator of the Department of Communication, Marketing & Relations. Because of this variety of roles and tasks, I am regularly asked for help or give advice about my previous activities, and it is not always easy to say ‘no’ to that. I am a ‘child of the School’, but I can sometimes long for a fresh start and a new first impression.”

Communication is about connecting people

“Proper communication is of great importance in every organisation, certainly within an educational institution. It stimulates effective and efficient cooperation, clarifies responsibilities and goals, and gets everyone on the same page. Communication is about connecting people and providing a sense of involvement. That is what makes the art of communication so beautiful, and it is something I strive for every day. Especially in times like these, when our colleagues and students naturally feel less connected amongst each other. I aim to improve that during my time at Erasmus School of Law.”

Being more in the present

“Ever since I was a child, I have kept my eyes on the future, and I sometimes even forgot to live in the moment. I tend to continuously think about my next move, what is to come and how to deal with that. If I am honest, that can be pretty tiring and sometimes prevents me from truly living in the present. Luckily, I became more aware of that, so I got better at letting things be and living in the moment. In some ways, I wished that I did things differently during my study time to enjoy it all truly; instead, I worked hard to build my resumé. You only are a student once, so that is something I try to convey to the current students: live in the moment because the present does not come back.”

My mother is the strongest person I know

“I am not one to idolise people. Particular events or people in my life contribute to the person I want to be, but I do not think you should hold onto role models too much. Taking advice or looking up to someone’s specific characteristics is fine, but in my opinion, we are all individuals with our own story.

I might not have a role model, but I am very close to my mother. In my opinion, she is the strongest woman on earth. I have a deep respect for her and how she raised three kids and provided them with a warm and safe home, despite the challenges thrown at her. I am grateful for that, and I should tell her that more often. I was the youngest child, so in the end, I was aware of a lot of the challenges, but we faced them together. It might sound strange, but in hindsight, I would not have wanted it any other way. Partly because of this, I am incredibly close with my mother, and it taught me what is truly important in life.”

Studying Law was a deliberate choice

“Since high school, I was determined to study Law. My grandfather, with whom I had a good relationship, was a practising lawyer, and he partly inspired me to pursue the same degree. Although, I cannot say for certain how I came about the idea of studying Law. For some, Law is seen as the degree for those who do not know what else to choose or the ‘easy degree’.  For me, however, going to law school was a very deliberate choice.

As a student, I was not the stereotypical party animal, but I certainly did enjoy student life and the large number of pubs and restaurants that can be found in Brussels and Leuven. I am still in contact with the group of friends I made as a student, and we meet up regularly and occasionally even travel together.”

Student of the world

“I studied for two years at the (former) Catholic University of Brussels and three years at the Catholic University of Leuven. During my time in law school, I also went on an exchange to New York for six months, which was an amazing and fruitful experience. After which, I started my PhD research in Property and Insolvency Law back in Leuven. During my research, I travelled to the Stellenbosch University (South Africa).

Although my research did not include South African Law, it allowed me to meet many inspiring people, and I was able to find the time and calmness to figure out and write down my research outline properly. I highly recommend all PhD candidates to step out of their daily routine and solely focus on their writing. When you can do this in such an inspiring environment like Stellenbosch, surrounded by mountains and vineyards, close to the coast and Cape Town, you are very fortunate.”

Fighting for a place in the world of academia

“I have always wanted to continue in the academic world, but the vacancies in Flanders are scarce because of the limited number of universities. Unfortunately, after completing my PhD, I could not immediately find a job because others already filled the available vacancies within my field of expertise. Sitting around waiting for a job was never an option for me; thus, I decided to go abroad for a year and work as a visiting researcher at Harvard Law School. There I researched covenants and servitudes and worked with Professor Henry Smith, famous within the world of Property Law.

During my time at Harvard, I applied for several positions, including a teaching job in English Property Law at the Queen Mary University in London. I came in second in the selection process. After my year in the United States, I started working as a lawyer in Belgium for a year, hoping that at some point a vacancy in the academic world would come available.”

Golden ticket from my mother

“My mum told me about a vacancy at the Department of Property and Insolvency Law at Erasmus School of Law in Rotterdam. I did not have high expectations because Property and Insolvency Law differs greatly between countries, and I studied Belgian Law. It does show some similarities with Dutch Law, but there are also a lot of differences.

The night before the interview, I returned quite late and tired from a trip to Stockholm. I even contemplated not going to the interview. Eventually, after the encouragement of my fiancé, I did go, but without much preparation or expectations. That same evening, I received a call with the request to start on 1 September 2015. It was unexpected but a very welcome phone call.”

Teaching Law to soldiers

“Simultaneously with my appointment at Erasmus School of Law, I started working at the Royal Belgian Military School, where I taught Contract Law to soldiers looking to enter the higher ranks in the Military. There, I got my first teaching experience, and I enjoyed it. Currently, I focus on my work at Erasmus School of Law because working in Rotterdam en Brussels at the same time turned out to be quite the challenge.”

(Innovative) education

“During the weeks of my courses, I mostly focus on my teaching: preparing lectures, weekly meetings with the tutors, drafting exams, answer questions of students, and, of course, grading the exams afterwards. When I am not teaching a course, I am involved in several projects and faculty entities.

For example, I am the Vice Director of Erasmus Graduate School of Law (EGSL). In the past few years, we have successfully digitalised our training programme within EGSL. This way, so-called external researchers – who are not (able to be) on campus – can participate in a programme of the same quality as our on-campus programme. In addition to that, I have recently worked on developing a whole new elective course (Assurances and Insolvency) with my colleague Erik de Kloe. This course is currently offered to students of the master programmes ‘Private Law’ and ‘Corporate Law’. The remaining time, I spend on research, preferably focused on internationalisation and recent societal evolutions, such as data.”

Who owns data?

“Data plays a continuously growing part in all aspects of our society, but one question usually remains unanswered: “who owns the data?’ That is what I am currently researching. This question, together with the trends of sharing economy and circular economy, is the most urgent challenge in the field of Property Law – and Law in general – for the next few years.

Before thinking about the legal statute of data, one has to understand this complex matter as much as possible. That is why I am trying to set up a cooperation with IT specialists, who can explain to me (amongst other things) what data actually are, what happens when you share a file, copy, delete, save them and so on.”

Rotterdam has become my home

“The decision to move to the Netherlands was not without its challenges, and I am proud of myself for taking that step because now I feel at home in Rotterdam. Ofcourse, my accent usually gives away that I was not born and raised in Rotterdam, and it will probably continue to do so. At the start of my first lecture, students look up and start to chuckle or look surprised because of this every year.

Ever since I was a kid, I have been a fan of the Netherlands, so my parents were not too surprised that I ended up across the border. I think that the Dutch people are usually very positive about us ‘Flemings’, especially at Erasmus School of Law, and more positive than vice versa sometimes.”

Inspiration around me

“I am not someone who looks up to certain people or idols. What inspires me the most is the people around me: my friends, family and fiancé. I am proud of the fact that I have become an Associate Professor at Erasmus School of law in only a couple of years, and I hope to become a full professor in the future, preferably in Rotterdam.”

My name is Sandra Santos and I work as a Chartering Analyst at Braskem Netherlands B.V. in Rotterdam. Braskem is part of the chemical and petrochemical industry, which has a significant share in several supply chains and is essential for economic development. Our purpose is to make people’s lives better by creating sustainable solutions through chemicals and plastics.  

My current work entails monitoring vessels from the CPP desk, making sure operations work as smoothly as possible. The position includes handling the vessels, ship-owners, broker screening (compliance, credit risk etc). Further, to assist with cash flow and freight payment management, and vetting process for every vessel hired. Besides, to support on post fixture issues such as LOIs, change in BLs, quality issues, shortage claims etc. At last, it also demands action on green shipping projects in regards to the decarbonization targets set by the IMO, such as monitoring the speed, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of our time-charter and spot vessels. 

The knowledge I have acquired in the Master's Degree in Maritime and Transport Law is reflected throughout my work every day. As a chartering analyst, I can safely say that the courses on Charter Parties & Bill of Lading, Marine Insurance and the Law of the Ship elective provide a clear map of the shipping field. This offers a solid foundation to the future maritime lawyers by helping us to perform our work successfully and to continue growing in the world of shipping.

A new start in Rotterdam
“I started working at Erasmus School of Law as director of education and student affairs at the beginning of 2021. In this role, I am responsible for educational policy and support, including the scheduling services, examination committee and study advisors. In addition, I advise the vice-deans of bachelor and master education about the faculty’s strategy, and we discuss the most important short and long-term challenges every week. 

A few months ago, I noticed the vacancy for this position on LinkedIn. I have already gained experience with developing strategy in and outside of higher education and improving the success rate of other educational institutions, but I had yet to experience this process at university level. I was also told to be involved with the strategy of Erasmus School of Law, so I did not hesitate to apply.”

Four degrees in eight years
“I have had the possibility to study a lot. In eight years, I completed the studies Dutch and English Language and Literature, as well as Computational Linguistics and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Antwerp. I also studied Corporate Finance and Applied Economics at the Catholic University of Leuven. During my studies I have also been chairman of a fraternity, which gave me an enhanced experience of student life; this position was just as interesting to me as my time in the lecture rooms. The social aspect of studying is just as important to me as obtaining a degree, so I am delighted that I got to experience both. 

That is why I advise all students to enrich their student time with side activities. In addition to gaining work experience, it is essential to also work on your personal development. In my view, personal leadership during your studies is just as important as the grades on your degree.”

Lack of finance in a dream job
“After graduating, I started working as an International Management Trainee at Procter & Gamble (P&G). Half of the supermarket is stocked with P&G products like Gillette, Pringles, Bosch and Head& Shoulders. It is a dream for many economics students to land a position there, but the positions are scarce. P&G only takes on two students every year. I was thrilled that I was able to start my career in such a fun and sought-after position. 

Unfortunately, it turned out that I was not challenged enough at P&G due to my background in finance. That is why I decided to switch to the ING office in Brussels, where I started my job as an International Management Trainee in the financial sector. After working in different departments, I found my place in a management position in a department dealing with investment banking and the development of financial products. I then came into contact with Deloitte Consulting through my work at ING. There I was offered a management position at the Strategy Office, in which I mainly focused on the supervisory guidelines for banks and insurance companies, such as Solvency II and Basel III. I really enjoyed this work, partly because of the international character of this position.”

A big BMW is not everything
“Despite the beautiful BMW I was driving and the generous salary I earned, I still missed something in my job. Little motivated me to go to the office every day. My brothers’ experience could not have been more different. He had been working as a ‘lector’ in higher education for years and enjoyed going to work every single day. At that moment, I decided to switch to working in education, and I have not regretted that decision for a day since. Education intrigues me, and I enjoy working for the future of our younger generations every single day. 

The switch I made to education is by far the most successful career move I could have made. As far as I am concerned, education is the vehicle for social mobility, which is why I particularly enjoy working in the ‘Randstad’ with significant urban challenges. That provides an additional dimension to the position that I already find very intriguing.”

Tripling the study success in The Hague
“After several years as a manager at Fontys Hogescholen, I started working as a director for the Haagse Hogeschool. Here, the study success rate in the first year was only 19 percent, and the students that transferred from ‘mbo’ had virtually no chance of obtaining their degree. We managed to increase the study success rate to 60 percent, in which ‘mbo’ and ‘havo’ students were evenly represented. This is a result that I am very proud of. In the coming years, I also want to make a positive contribution to the study success rates at Erasmus School of Law.

I see improving the study success as one of the most important challenges in my new position. At Erasmus School of Law, the success rate in the first year is currently approximately 50 percent. We want to increase this, so I am working with the education counsellors on a policy strategy to improve our education and study success rates.”

Giving students a voice 
“Our students inspire me every day. You can learn so much from them, and they are the reason we do this work. They can, however, easily be forgotten in the debate, but it is important to listen to them. If we do so, we can improve the services within education and create a climate in which studying is both successful and enjoyable.

I hope to contribute to student satisfaction and study success at Erasmus School of Law in the coming years. In addition, I want to create an atmosphere in which my colleagues enjoy their work. I strive for satisfaction, coupled with results and quality.”

Far away from me

 “I started working as Coordinator Internationalisation at Erasmus School of Law in February 2020. Six weeks in, everyone had to switch to working from home, which made my start difficult. Since then, I have made good progress, and I aim to be the bridge-builder for internationalisation within Erasmus School of Law. For some, internationalisation is obvious. However, I can imagine that internationalisation seems of no great concern to others, especially when your focus lies on Dutch Law or the Dutch job market. But internationalisation offers opportunities to everyone, that is something I would like to show to students and colleagues.

Internationalisation is quite diverse. It is not just about offering education in English or an international experience for students by setting up an exchange programme at a university abroad for a couple of months. It also is about cooperating with universities abroad in research and education, developing competencies, mobility of staff, promoting our faculty internationally, et cetera. In my opinion, it is not about internationalisation as such: it should always contribute to the quality of the core business of Erasmus School of Law. With the board, I am currently working on a strategy to embed internationalisation further into the policy and make better use of the opportunities for research and education, for example, in the context of the new EU-programmes, like Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. An essential part of my job is raising my colleagues’ awareness about the possibilities and opportunities internationalisation can offer and supporting colleagues in developing their initiatives. I am also in close contact with the central services of EUR dealing with internationalisation matters, including as a representative of the faculty in a couple of EUR-wide meetings. A more practical side of my job is preparing cooperation and exchange agreements with universities abroad. That brings along interesting (online) meetings. Being in contact with people from other ‘cultures’ is the icing on the cake in this role. But do not get me wrong, I also enjoy working with my Dutch colleagues!

Meeting in Sanders Building

 “Sometimes I get the feeling that I am desperately behind in getting to know my new colleagues and the organisation of Erasmus School of Law. Dealing with the Corona measures also creates quite a challenge for me. In the six weeks I was able to work in the Sanders Building, I only met a limited number of colleagues in person. Meeting people online feels quite formal and limited to me. I look forward to being at the campus in person and meeting the other colleagues live – which are still quite a lot of people. However, working from home did give me plenty of opportunity to immerse myself in matters. As a result, I feel like I know better what I am talking about right now. Also, working remotely, I can better focus without being interrupted.”

Discovering my international side

 “Internationalisation intrigued me from a young age. After completing my first year of Law in Utrecht, I decided to specialise in European and International Law. This means I did not study Dutch Law; instead, I opted for a field that interested me most. I spent my study years well: I did an internship at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris. I did several student-assistantships, and I was a board member of a study association for International and European Law students. We organised study trips to EU Institutions and other international organisations. I also partied a lot. Long story short: I had an excellent time in Utrecht.

In that period, I learned about the importance of internationalisation, luckily that has never faded. It made me realise that the world is bigger than your own world. The idealist in me hopes to be able to contribute to a mutual understanding, tolerance and cooperation through internationalisation.”

Going beyond your bounds

 “Open-minded people who are prepared to look beyond their borders, literally but also figuratively, inspire me. People like Ruben Terlou and Thomas Erdbrink appeal to me. In their documentaries about China and Iran, they mingle with local people. They show a different side of these cultures, contrasting with what is usually provided about these cultures and regimes.”

International aspect as a common thread

 “Ever since I started working, all my jobs have had an international element. My first job was at the Utrecht University as a lecturer in European Community Law, also to Erasmus+ students. After a year, I made a move to a lobby organisation focused on Europe. I worked two days in Brussels and three days in The Hague. After that, I ended up at the international department of the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment. As a policy officer of European and International Affairs, I took part in meetings of the Council of Europe and the EU. After becoming a mother of two children, I took a break from working, but sitting at home was not really my thing. My first job interview was an instant hit, so I started at the British Embassy in The Hague, where I worked as a Political Military Advisor Benelux for seven years. Within the embassy, the work ethic is a lot more formal than within Dutch ministries. The job really opened my eyes even further. I had to go to Brussels and London frequently. The international environment, the pace and the level of work were very stimulating. Despite the formal atmosphere, I always had a wonderful time.”

Cooking Studio Verkerk

 “After leaving the British Embassy, I considered opening my own cooking studio. That was one of the items on my bucket list. Cooking is my great passion, and it seemed like a nice challenge. I already had started writing a business plan, and I had already given a couple of workshops, but at the last moment, I decided to not go ahead with it. Though it was a wonderful project, the work would be very intense, also at weekends and nights. After that, I started at Erasmus School of Law after working at the Asser Institute. My current position is also quite intense, but in a different – and, to me, a more pleasant – way.”

Internationalisation without saying

 “I tried to raise my kids with an international perspective. As a result, the oldest finished a two-year master in Norway and the youngest works for a game developer in England. I am tremendously proud of them. Since my kids are on their own two feet, I have plenty of time and energy for a new challenge, so I am happy that this job, with an international touch, crossed my path.

I hope to have experienced tremendous development within my job at Erasmus School of Law in ten years’ time. I hope we will no longer talk about internationalisation as something yet to develop, but as something obvious and embedded in policy and organisation.”

Going back to where I once started

“I have been working at Erasmus University since 1996, so I have been around for quite some time now. I started in the L-building IT department (L-building Information provision and Automation, known as LIA). After the university centralised the individual ICT departments, I became a Business Intelligence Developer at the Shared Service Center ICT.

After several years, there was a vacancy at Erasmus School of Law's Education Office. I already knew the people here, particularly the Education Office, due to my previous job at LIA. Thus, I returned to the building where I started.”

The numbers tell the tale

“I work as an information specialist with the task of making our education measurable and more insightful. In principle, I can answer any questions about education from other users if they cannot retrieve the needed information out of the system themselves. A large part of my work consists of retrieving information from various information systems, particularly OSIRIS. There we can find data about the registration and study progress of our students.

My searches vary tremendously. I can calculate the study results of larger groups, but I can also make detailed reports of exams. For example, if some groups score worse than others. Additionally, I make a booklet once a year with educational information, such as the number of students, registrations and awarded diplomas.”

Communication gap

“My biggest challenge is to familiarise people with OSIRIS. I am a trained technician but work with people who are far from a “techy”. That can cause a communication gap. Something might make sense to me but is incomprehensible for people who have more difficulty with the digital world.

I am the 'key user’ of OSIRIS. It means that I am the "primary helpdesk" for the system and help set it up and research various usage options. On occasion, I miss a second "key user". Someone with interest in ICT and processes, but who is not a trained technician and speaks the user's language more easily. That way, we could bridge the communication gap.”

Broad development

“I learned the most from my time at LIA. There, I dealt with more aspects of IT than I could ever have imagined. Naturally, I like to focus on things that I am already good at. However, developing skills that I have more difficulty with is also important. One example is programming, which has proved very valuable in my career. Programming can be very frustrating as you can easily spend hours blindly staring at a problem. However, once you have conquered the problem, it is very satisfying.

At LIA, I was able to develop a wide variety of skills and I always try to first solve problems myself. That way you learn more than by immediately asking for help at the first hurdle.”

Inspiring colleagues

“I had many inspiring colleagues at LIA, including my department head Rob Kampman. He challenged me to learn new things and always focused on talent development. He had an eye for people who could do more than what they already did and allowed them to grow. Off course, we did not always see eye to eye, and he would often say: "if we always agree, we are doing something wrong".

Another colleague worked from home for a few weeks, during which he invented SIN-Online, the system which has been used by the university for twenty years now. I had many colleagues who were very good in their jobs, and I learned a lot from them.”

The lonesome expert

“I am most proud of my in-depth knowledge of OSIRIS. It is a fairly complicated database, and I have been working with it for twenty years. Therefore, I am not only consulted by direct colleagues, but also by colleagues from outside Erasmus School of Law.

It is also a big responsibility to be the system's expert. Rob Kampman always said that there should never be only one person who knows something and that you should always have a backup; "If the expert gets hit by a tram, someone must be able to take over". It is nice to know a lot about something, but it would be good if more people on campus and within Erasmus School of Law have that same knowledge.”

The future curator of a Rolling Stones Museum

I have had many different jobs and tasks since working at Erasmus University. A lot can happen in the next ten years: I could get a similar position, return to the university's main level or perhaps do something completely different.

I do expect to continue to work on campus; I feel at home here. Honestly, I do not think I will do something completely disconnected from information technology. If that is the case, I would like to turn a hobby into a career, such as being the curator of a Rolling Stones museum.

An unexpected connection between Law and Economics

“Being born and raised in Rotterdam, it just made sense to study at the Erasmus University, so that is what I did. I found Economics very interesting, but eventually, I decided to study Law. After graduating in 2002, I worked at the Training Centre for Law & Practice (Dutch: ORP) of Erasmus School of Law as a student assistant. There, I focused on the organisation of postgraduate legal courses. Also, I started working part-time as a course coordinator for the Department of Business Economics (Dutch: Bedrijfseconomie) of Erasmus School of Law. Together with ORP, we organised financial-economic courses for lawyers working in the field of Insolvency Law. We have been organising these courses with great success for over 20 years now.

In the past, the Department of Business Economics consisted mostly of economic scholars; therefore, even though I did not choose to study Economics, it still crossed my path. Whilst working for ORP, the department of Business Economics was developing a master’s in Financial Law. We were the first university in the Netherlands to develop this master. I was asked whether I would be interested in helping with the development of the master’s programme; that is how I became the first programme coordinator within Erasmus School of Law. The position provided a great opportunity and challenge to develop an interdisciplinary and innovative master together with several passionate colleagues. Since then, I have been dividing my time between ORP and the Department of Business Economics to enhance and enrich the master. Several years ago, the department merged with two different departments forming the current Commercial and Corporate Law & Financial Law department.”

Juggling multiple jobs at the same time

“For a considerable part of my career, I have had two -and shortly, even three- part-time jobs at the same time, all within Erasmus School of Law. New opportunities arose frequently, and I have always had very diverse tasks; thus, my job never got boring. For example, I have worked as board secretary and coordinator of the Social Security Research School, I was coordinator of the Erasmus Institute Monitoring & Compliance and I was secretary to the Faculty Council. The vast majority of these positions was focussed on activities or programmes needing a (fresh) start. It was quite challenging as there was no orientation period possible or transfer of work by a predecessor. However, it also gave me much freedom to develop activities and ideas in my own way. A few years ago, I did start to focus more on my work for the Financial Law master, but the diversity of my responsibilities and tasks has only increased since then.”

Jack of all trades

“You could say I am a jack of all trades and that I am interested in almost every subject. I try to stay informed about everything, including, for example, the methodology of teaching. Having worked on the development of our master for a long time, I became the first point of contact for information about the programme. Also, I support my colleagues wherever necessary, solicited, and unsolicited.

My schedule never looks the same, and it changes rapidly due to the number of different projects. It depends on which projects require attention or what is urgent at that time. For example, one week, my focus will be on the organisation of a symposium, and the next week will be filled with the revision of the master or even my task of thesis coordinator. Now, I use most of my time to support our teachers, wherever I can with the challenges and impact of COVID-19.”

Professional organiser

“As a student assistant at the ORP, I realised that I enjoy organising and having a variety of tasks. My organisational skills were put to good use whilst developing the master. Professor Auke de Bos and Han Donker – the founding father of the master’s in Financial Law – of course had a vision and master plan. However, I was responsible for the organisation and to support the teachers wherever necessary. I was given a lot of freedom, the space to grow, and they placed their trust in me, for which I am still very grateful to this day.

I have come across many different departments in- and outside of Erasmus School of Law in my career. I have met many new people along the way, and I was offered several new career opportunities. However, I was never able to step away from the Business Economics department and our ever-growing master’s programme.”

The biggest challenge of all

“I get much fulfilment out of my work due to the great variety of tasks. However, there are also times when there are too many things needing my attention simultaneously. Juggling those proved to be a great challenge, especially as I always strive to complete my tasks properly. A different challenge I encountered at the very beginning of my career. My workplace was dominated by experienced academia, who ‘definitely knew more than me’ being a recent graduate. I was afraid to make mistakes, but I soon realised that they are all humans just like you and me and sometimes even quite clumsy when it comes to organizational matters.

At this time, my biggest challenges are the implementation of the revision of our master and the transition to online education. I try to support the teachers as much as I can, and I am convinced that the changes made for the digitalisation of our courses will remain beneficial once the pandemic is over.

The current students are part of a generation, who have grown up in a digital society and, therefore, learn differently. In that, I see many opportunities I would like to brainstorm about with colleagues. The current digitalisation was born out of a necessity, but online education will remain an added value to on-campus education in the future.”

First-generation student

“My student-life was filled with challenges and unexplored paths. I was a so-called first-generation student as I was the first in my family to attend a university. The journey of being a student was unknown territory, and it was hard for my parents to support me actively during my studies.

I did not have a set plan for my life after graduation. Perhaps that was due to not having any role models in my environment. I quickly realized through office visits that I did not aspire becoming a lawyer. I recommend joining the (career-related) activities of Erasmus School of Law and the study associations. It could help you determine what interest you. In particular, I hope that current first-generation students succeed in figuring out what the world of academia could mean for them and in what field they feel most at home.”

Satisfaction

“The appreciation I receive from colleagues is something that gives me great satisfaction. I feel proud that people appreciate my presence and work. It is encouraging to see that my contribution helps others. That is what makes my job so enjoyable and why I feel at home at Erasmus School of Law. I am not interested in my position or my rightful place in the hierarchy, as long as my work is challenging, and I am satisfied with the things I do.”

Why did I choose Erasmus for my LL.M. in International Trade Law? Well, as a legal practitioner in Latin America I realised it is important to have a holistic perspective of law. Even though I had just finished an LL.M. programme in international tax, customs and trade in Colombia. Nevertheless, when I met with multinational corporations and prospective clients, they recommended me to pursue a more international LL.M. because it would make me a better professional. At that moment I decided to enrol in another LL.M. I was looking for a high ranked university in international trade law with renowned staff members, located in a major city.
Thus, my search began. I found that Erasmus University Rotterdam was elite in international trade law and their staff members were important lawyers and researchers. Also, many of their alumni work in outstanding law firms and international organizations such as the WTO and the WCO. And on top of that, the Erasmus University is in Rotterdam. I was convinced right away.

On my first day, I realised that most of the students just graduated from their bachelor programmes. I thought that I would meet a lot of young, but more experienced lawyers as fellow classmates. Nevertheless, the fact that I was one of the oldest and most experienced in the class was helpful. I was able to exchange my professional experience with my fellow students and I learned many research skills from them that I had not explored before. My thesis tutor was prof. dr. Frank Smeele, a well-known professor in maritime and trade law. He guided me every step of the way, gave me great feedback and supervised me to write a powerful thesis. I thought it would be an intimidating process with him as my tutor, however, it turned out to be one of the best experiences I have ever had with a tutor. In sum, I truly believe that the LL.M. programme International Trade Law helps me become a better, more capable professional.

For future students leaning towards Erasmus University Rotterdam, I totally recommend that you enrol in this programme. It is a perfect combination between maritime law, trade finance, commercial contracts and carriage of goods. At the end, you will have the knowledge to engage any matter in international trade with confidence and enthusiasm. Rotterdam is a great city to live in. You will be surrounded with private ports and vessels everywhere. You will feel the 'international trade vibe' every time you walk around or ride your bike.  Finally, the campus is amazing, and Sanders Law Library will become your sanctuary, being a place where you will exchange knowledge with your fellow students

My name is Friedrich Ernst and I am 27 years old. I grew up in the vibrant city of Berlin, where I also spent all my years in school. At 20, I moved to Heidelberg, a very calm and beautiful, typical University city, to study Law. After 5,5 years of studying in Germany (with an Erasmus exchange to Istanbul after 2 years), I needed to go somewhere else to see how Law is taught and practiced elsewhere.

When I decided that I wanted to participate in an LL.M. programme, I looked around for places that interested me the most, rather than for the best fitting curriculum. Quite some friends told me that Rotterdam is the perfect mix of a metropole that is not too big, so it is possible to feel like home quite soon. When I looked for the programmes offered, I found that Erasmus University Rotterdam has quite a focus on economic (law) courses, which was not what I was looking for. Luckily, there was this International and European Union Law master programme and since I was always interested to dive deeper into the increasingly important EU law, I was ready to give it a try.

When I started the programme, it was quite a new experience for me. First, from my point of view law is being looked at a lot more practical in the Netherlands then in Germany, where the theoretical approach is much more visible. Secondly, the classes focus a lot on discussion which I like a lot, so there is quite some interaction between the students and the professors. Add to this that the classes are rather small compared to Germany and that a lot of classes are taught by two professors rather than one, further enhancing the discussion. Furthermore, the students as well as the professors are quite international which is extremely interesting, because you get insights from very different points of view.

On the other hand, there are some things to consider in the decision as well. For example, it was a little hard to adjust to the fact that there is a deadline for something to hand in basically every (second) week, so there is always something to do. In addition, in the course there is no real semester break in the spring, so the courses go on during the whole year (except for Christmas and some shorter brakes in between). Furthermore, the housing in Rotterdam can become an issue since there is quite a lot of demand and not so many places. Therefore, the city in general is not the cheapest, but in the end, I would say it is worth it! Especially since the University is very helpful when foreigners come to Rotterdam to study and need help with accommodation and other questions. The very efficient and supportive organization could also be seen when the University got shut down during the Corona crisis. The staff made a huge effort to keep the classes running online and keep everyone satisfied as much as possible.

Organization: Greek law firm
Function: Lawyer

"A big part of the legal cases that I work on are of commercial nature or include at least some commercial aspects. The Maritime and Transport law programme not only helped me to acquire more comprehensive knowledge in Commercial Law, but also to be specialized in the very dynamic Maritime and Transport industry. I highly recommend this programme to everyone who wants to gain in-depth knowledge of commercial law and to be specialized in a subject with an international orientation.  The Erasmus University Rotterdam is highly demanding, well organized and offers world class curricula."