{"id":112915,"date":"2020-04-22T15:50:39","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T13:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=112915"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:24:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:24:55","slug":"ordinary-eurekaweek-out-of-the-question-in-august-but-what-would-be-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/04\/22\/ordinary-eurekaweek-out-of-the-question-in-august-but-what-would-be-possible\/","title":{"rendered":"Ordinary Eurekaweek out of the question in August \u2014 but what would be possible?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The extension of the ban on events until 1 September has significant consequences for EUR’s Eurekaweek. The introduction week \u2014 which is traditionally held halfway through August \u2014 now cannot go through in the ordinary fashion, but an alternative programme might be possible.<\/p>\n

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2018: The opening of the Eurekaweek opening at Ahoy with 4000 freshmen<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEurekaweek<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

For chair Sander Doude van Troostwijk, Tuesday evening\u2019s press conference by Mark Rutte confirmed what he had already feared. \u201cSome details had already been leaked, and we were expecting such a ban,\u201d he says. \u201cIt leaves us with mixed feelings; the clarity we now have does provide a sense of certainty.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it became clear that the corona crisis would find its way to the Netherlands, the Eurekaweek board started considering alternative scenarios. \u201cA few of those we can now forget about, as large meetings are certainly not allowed,\u201d says Doude van Troostwijk. The chair is assuming that at least some sort of activity will go ahead in August. \u201cWe are now working on the scenarios left to us in greater detail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Greater use of Eurekaweek app<\/h2>

What these scenarios entail, Doude van Troostwijk will only say once they\u2019ve been finalised. \u201cThe digital aspect will have an important part to play. We already had an app for the Eurekaweek, which we will now make even greater use of, amongst other digital initiatives.\u201d He\u2019s also keeping in mind the possibility that the allowances for large gatherings might increase in the coming months. \u201cWe will have to wait and see. It\u2019s clear, however, that it won\u2019t be a party with 5000 students like we had in other years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anticipating alternative scenarios, the board has not made any large financial commitments, says Doude van Troostwijk. \u201cThat was the advice we got straight away: \u2018postpone whatever you can\u2019, which is what we did. The pre-registration for participants is already open, but that will only give them a notification if the actual registration process starts.\u201d No registration fees have been paid yet, so the Eurekaweek board won\u2019t have to refund anything. Recruitment of guides and crewmembers will continue in the meantime.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of April, Executive Board Chair Hans Smits told Erasmus TV that the Eurekaweek would \u2018definitely go ahead\u2019<\/a>. \u201cA lot needs to happen before we cancel that, unless the government prohibits it outright.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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