Esther takes the LDE traineeship: "I am seen as a full member of my team and given many responsibilities"

The traineeship offers Esther the chance to experience rapid personal growth through challenging assignments. It is a kind of familiarisation process for a job. A combination of working and learning. During the two-year programme, she works at various places within Leiden University, TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam.

For example, Esther now works as communications and valorisation officer for the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for BOLD Cities. "A special place, because I don't work for one university, but for three universities at the same time. What I particularly like? I am seen as a full member of my team and am also given many responsibilities myself."

Something completely different than during her studies

Within her team, Esther is mainly concerned with shaping the Centre's White Paper. This is a series of double interviews between researchers and administrators and other stakeholders active in the field of data, technology, and digitalisation in (urban) society. She also supports scientists to bring out their research in a different way and organises research meetings. "Before this, I was mainly concerned with coming up with a communication strategy for more impact for the Centre. It's something completely different than what I did during my studies, but I've really learned a lot in the past few months."

Working confidently on her assignment

The traineeship also offers many development opportunities. For example, Esther has already had the opportunity to attend two training courses at training institute de Baak: "This has given me a lot of insights into what I am like as a person, what influence this has on my work and how I can also deal better with different (communication) styles at work."

Attending a training course in project management at the beginning of the year allowed her to start her assignment confidently and gained knowledge about project-based work. "I hope to develop that knowledge further in the coming trainings. It is also nice to share and discuss our challenges with fellow trainees during intervisions."

Besides developing yourself professionally, there is also plenty of opportunity to meet other trainees during the traineeship. "I find the traineeship very sociable. I often have lunch with other trainees at the EUR, there are monthly drinks or other opportunities to see each other, or we organise our own activities. My highlight was a boat tour of Rotterdam."