ESHCC Board is Going International

Recently, an international faculty member, Jacob Groshek joined the board, which made the change both necessary and welcome.

Jacob Groshek, a Communication and Media lecturer, signed up for the board knowing that it operates in Dutch. This worried him a little beforehand, but the pressure was off when the board expressed its wishes to become more international. Despite the fact that he has been enrolled in a Dutch course for 9 months now, he doesn't think that he could adequatly communicate about academia in Dutch. Luckily, it will become easier for him, because the board has decided to switch to operate in English. Groshek says that he feels a bit uneasy. “I feel that they are changing it just for me”.

Internationals are everywhere!
Pauwke Berkers, the chairman of the ESHCC board, says that it is not only for Mr. Groshek that they are undergoing this change. He notes that since there is an ever-growing number of international students and staff within the faculty, excluding them from participating in such a crucial part of the faculty life would be unfortunate. “We’ve taken a pragmatic approach to the transition to English, because it can’t happen overnight. Documents need to be translated by experts and one needs to get used to speaking English”.

'Everyone needs to be heard'
Both Berkers and Groshek agree that this change will encourage others to participate in the faculty board. Berkers notes that it will also aid the faculty because sometimes international students and staff have completely different, but not less important, concerns that the Dutch don’t have. In addition, other faculties like the ESE, recently had issues with international students wanting to participate but not being able to do so because of the Dutch language spoken. Many are hopeful that rest of the faculties will follow the initiative of the ESHCC, so enthusiastic international students and staff will get represented on faculty boards. As Berkers puts it, “Everyone’s voice needs to be heard on these councils”. MD

22 September 2011