How long have you been a professor at Radboud University? What is your department?
I have been working as a Professor of Comparative Management in the Strategic Management Subject Group of the Business Administration Department at Radboud University since January 2018. I was an Associate Professor of Strategic Management at the same institution for four years prior to that.
At the office
What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?
I enjoy the collegiality of the Faculty and the curiosity of our students to broaden their horizons. There is a lot of focus on interaction with students in the classroom setting. This is accomplished in the informal Dutch culture more easily.
How can international students prepare for their time in the Netherlands and at Radboud University?
Radboud’s Buddy Programme—A Start-Up Buddy and an Active Buddy—eases transition for new incoming students into the life in Nijmegen by serving as a social point of reference. In addition, we have an International Student Orientation day at the start of our academic year that informs international students of the ins and outs of studying in the Netherlands in general, and specifically at Radboud University. The full-day session covers aspects of the Dutch culture and language, low power distance between students and lecturers, importance of self-initiated study, and the best ways to manage coursework. Our partner universities in close to 160 countries also offer information on Radboud University and its programmes at Nijmegen School of Management on a regular basis.
Visiting a partner university in the US
Who is the most successful type of R.U. student? What kind of qualities do they display?
I can speak for my Faculty, i.e. Nijmegen School of Management. This is typically a student who has the ambition to enrich his/her CV with an active role in student association activities geared to bridging research-orientated university study with the world of practice, an internship opportunity for half a year, a study abroad experience, and an ambition to get a distinction with marks of 8 and above (out of 10) on courses.
How do you deal with unhappy students?
Unhappy students would be advised to speak to their Study Advisor first. The Study Advisor, who is in liaison with relevant experts, can refer students to the Student Counsellor or the Student Psychologist depending on the nature of the student’s extenuating circumstance. We also have a Confidential Advisor, who offers advice to students on ways of dealing with undesirable behaviour that may affect their study progress adversely, as well as a Student Pastor, who is available for personal conversations regardless of one’s religious denomination.
What can students expect to learn from your classes?
I teach International Management and Innovation in Emerging Markets to undergraduate and postgraduate students, respectively. Not many international business courses offer contemporary, critical debates and tools regarding developmental issues and the role of multinational enterprises in relation to social development. My emphasis, in line with the identity of Nijmegen School of Management, tends to be on organisational strategising and structuring for economic and social value generation. The intention is to impart students with a balanced outlook on profit generation and social impact with sensitivity to organisations’ interactions with market and nonmarket stakeholders.
Reception of Nijmegen School of Management
How have you seen students benefit from their time in your classes and at Radboud?
I think the best way to illustrate this is to offer the view of an International Economics and Business (IE&B) student who took my International Management course in Spring 2018.
“I’m fully aware that I may not be the best student, but I am trying to change that ever since I decided to do a Master’s. Your class definitely helped me to step out of my comfort zone and I’m grateful for that. Furthermore, I found it to be one of the most relevant classes I have taken in all of my years of studying due to the fact that we actually dealt with real world problems and a real company, which is why I decided to ask you for the recommendation letter (2018 IE&B student).”
Why should future students be excited to attend Radboud University?
Radboud University is a well-ranked university that offers a cosy environment in which students are prepared to be the next generation of managers, consultants, or research analysts with a healthy outlook on economic and social implications of business activities. They are equipped to make changes in organisations and societies as responsible citizens. The opportunities on offer are in abundance and perceived as valuable as long as the students feel the passion and drive for what it means to work at or manage a responsible organisation.
