Welcome to our new tutors at the BA International Studies! Mid-August 14 new faces joined our team! We are happy to welcome them to the International Studies community and want to introduce them to our students. We asked them where they come from, what they expect of teaching at International Studies and whether they want to share something that not everybody knows about them. Here are their answers:

I always heard that the Netherlands is famous for its unpredictable and unfavorable weather, and this summer proved that to be true. Nonetheless, the moment it started to get better, the summer vacation ended, and the new academic year started. Other students and I who spent their vacation in the Netherlands, were upset about this fact.

Since the beginning of this academic year, Sophia Healy and Jess Whatmore, have assumed their new position as Student Members of the International Studies Programme Board, which is responsible for the day to day running of International Studies. They will represent the opinion and needs of the student body in discussions on the design of the programme, the implementation of changes, and much more. Who are they and how can you get in touch?

There’s a lot of talk these days about artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is going to reshape our life-worlds in the coming decade and beyond. And justifiably so too – so much of what we do already in our social activity, ‘choices’ of entertainment, and business interactions are already shaped by algorithms.

What’s new, BAIS alumni? This summer, the BAIS Alumni Association hosted the yearly alumni reunion, organized in virtual format for the second time after the previous reunion also took place online in 2020. Feeling the need to compensate for the lack of in-person interaction, the Alumni Association prepared different activities to mark the occasion in an original way.

Organised in three separate sessions throughout the day, and broadcast live online to guests and families who could not join, over 200 students received their Bachelor’s Diploma of International Studies on 3 September 2021 at the graduation ceremony in the historic Pieterskerk in Leiden.

Academic and personal challenges were met, new insights were gained, valuable skills were acquired and friendships were formed: this year’s edition of PRINS was an experience that everybody involved will remember for a long time. All of this and more came up during the closing ceremony of the International Studies PRINS consultancy course for third-year students.

International Studies' third-year consultancy course PRINS is a challenge for every new group of graduating students and this year the course was taught entirely remote. But, as in previous years, the rewards were substantial, with students acquiring valuable skills, while also having a very good time. Students, research coaches and participating organisations reflect on this year’s PRINS edition.

It’s with relief but also confidence and some pride that we can close off the 2020-2021 academic year. Relief that we made it, confidence that we can handle just about anything, and pride in the enormous commitment from everybody – students and staff – to keep the International Studies show on the road.

As an alumnus of International Studies, you continue to be a vital part of our programme, even if you don’t always realise it!