{"id":92962,"date":"2018-12-18T10:37:19","date_gmt":"2018-12-18T09:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=92962"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:10","slug":"it-is-vital-to-have-an-idea-of-what-matters-to-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/12\/18\/it-is-vital-to-have-an-idea-of-what-matters-to-people\/","title":{"rendered":"‘It is vital to have an idea of what matters to people’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What do non-academic employees at Erasmus University do? This is not always visible for students, lecturers and researchers. In this series they tell about their work. Part 2: senior communications officer Kirsten van der Worp, who was involved in the Christmas hampers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLevien Willemse<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\t

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Name: Kirsten van der Worp<\/p>\n

Age: 47<\/p>\n

Job description: Senior communications officer at the Event & Project Communications department (4 days a week)<\/p>\n

Has been in her current position since: September 2016<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

What does your work entail?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cActually, I only work on particular projects. The main project I\u2019m involved in is Campus under Construction, which is expected to run until 2020. Among other things, I write the construction newsletter to keep staff and students updated on all sorts of permanent and temporary changes, ranging from the renovation of the Tinbergen Building to the relocation of bike racks and the filling-up of the pond. In short, all sorts of things related to construction and renovation work that might inconvenience staff and students.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother project I\u2019m involved in is the distribution of Christmas hampers. I\u2019ve succeeded Diana Hoek, who did this for the longest time, in that position. We start working on our hampers as early as June, when we ask suppliers to submit proposals, albeit with some input from us. These proposals are then assessed by a ten-person team. I then ask each of the university\u2019s departments how many hampers we will be needing. This year we needed some four thousand hampers, which have to be distributed by staff in the Theil Building on 18 December.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, I\u2019m involved in the HeartBeat Festival, held annually in September. There\u2019s three of us who determine the line-up, and I particularly try to get members of staff to attend the festival.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you spend a lot of time at your desk?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAbout half of my work hours, I think. During the other hours I\u2019m out and about on the campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

But you do actually like your workspace?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think flexible workspaces are quite all right. One of the great advantages is that I\u2019ll sit next to one colleague one day, and next to another the next day. As a result, I\u2019ll stay up to date on all the various things people are focusing on. I really believe that creates added value.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLevien Willemse<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Do you like working here?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely. What I like best is the fact that I get to talk to a lot to people working in different places. That\u2019s kind of vital if you wish to have some idea of what matters to people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Does your job have any aspects you\u2019re less crazy about?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had to pick one thing, I\u2019d say it\u2019s the fact that I hardly ever get to talk to professors and students. In my position, I mainly deal with support staff. Sometimes I think that\u2019s a pity.\u201d<\/p>\n

What did you do before joining EUR?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore joining EUR I worked at the Sint Franciscus Gasthuis Hospital for thirteen years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is there anything that would turn into a complete mess if you were suddenly unable to do your work for a week?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, nothing, really. I have written out everything I do in great detail, and there are procedures for everything, so my colleagues wouldn\u2019t have any difficulty jumping in and doing my work for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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