“A 'city' like TU/e needs to be governed, and that's what our board does”

Take a virtual walk with our Executive Board in the Boardwalk

September 12, 2024

[VIDEO] In the new series 'Boardwalks', we get to know the Executive Board better. In the first episode, Rector Magnificus Silvia Lenaerts tells us how important she thinks wellbeing is.

An image from the first episode of Boardwalk shot at the Eindhoven Student Sports Center (SSCE). This first episode is about wellbeing, that we discuss with Silvia Lenaerts. Image: TU/e

The best conversations often arise during a walk. Therefore, our Executive Board would love to walk around our campus with everyone working or studying at the TU/e. Unfortunately, that is not feasible with so many colleagues and students. That's why the Boardwalks were created. Every quarter, we visit a special location on campus with a board member and talk to them about one of their themes. We share that conversation with the entire TU/e community.

Our university is big, too big to get to know everyone personally. Sometimes, it seems like a city with neighborhoods, nice, unique places, and interesting people. But you can't know all the places and people, the city is too big for that. And let's face it, even in a town, not everyone meets the mayor for a coffee and a chat.

The TU/e Boardwalks feature all members of the Executive Board and the secretary of the university discussing their themes. Image: TU/e

The Executive Board (EB) consists of three members and a university secretary, who each have their own role and portfolio. In every episode, we highlight one of their themes with them.

Robert-Jan Smits is president of the board and will discuss cooperation with the industry. Rector Silvia Lenaerts is committed wellbeing, which we discuss in this episode. Patrick Groothuis is the vice president of the Executive Board and Eric van der Geer-Rutten-Rijswijk supports the board as secretary of the university. The content of these last two episodes is not yet determined.

“Running helps clear the head,” Lenaerts says. Image: private collection

Conversing while walking

The best conversations often arise during a walk. That is why our board members take us to a special location on the TU/e campus. On the way there they'll explain why they find a certain theme so important. And how that location and that theme inspire them, both as a board member and as a person.

In this first episode, we meet with Silvia Lenaerts on the topic of wellbeing as we visit the recently opened Eindhoven Student Sports Center (SSCE) with her. She explains how excersizing helps her to keep her balance, and why she wishes that for everyone at TU/e. She also explains why wellbeing is such an important theme at the university and how the Executive Board is committed to it.

Every quarter

For now, we will meet a different board member every quarter. In this way, the Boardwalks will alternate nicely with Stay TU/end, which features staff and students of the TU/e. Both programs will be shared on our intranet and found on the TU/e YouTube channel.

The next episode of Boardwalks will be released in November. In this second episode, we’ll visit The Gate with Robert-Jan Smits and discuss cooperation with industry.

Cindy de Koning

(Communication Advisor)

+ 31 (0)6 41 447 679 c.m.d.koning@tue.nl