VUB is one of Belgium's most international universities. More than a third of our students come from abroad. But who are they, what drives them, and how do they experience life in Brussels? In this new series, we introduce you to our international students. Today: Kimberley from Oegstgeest (near Leiden) in the Netherlands, a Master's student in Educational Sciences.
“I have a Dutch father and a British/South African mother. I studied international teacher training in the Netherlands and did internships in Norway, Greece, Spain, Namibia, South Africa and the Netherlands.” Kimberley is a true globetrotter, and today her base is VUB in Brussels.
Focused on Europe
Before starting her Master's degree in Educational Sciences, Kimberly had already been teaching at a Dutch primary school for two years. “Even then, I enjoyed preparing lessons more than teaching them,” she laughs. “That's why I decided to specialise further in this field, and I found the perfect programme at VUB. After completing a bridging programme, I started my Master's degree.”
One of the first things she noticed when she came to live in Brussels was how strongly our capital city is focused on the European Union. “I even noticed it on the billboards in the streets. You don't see that at all in the Netherlands. There, the news is either focused on the world or on the Netherlands itself. I'm exaggerating a little, but you definitely don't have that sense of European solidarity there.”
A new neighbourhood every Sunday
For two years, Kimberley shared a flat with two Belgian ladies who were already working. "I already had a degree and some initial work experience under my belt, so I didn't feel the need to rediscover first-year student life. (laughs) Today, I live back in the Netherlands, in Zoetermeer, because I work part-time at a publishing house. I did an internship there last school year as part of my studies and was given the opportunity to stay on. I jumped at the chance. Currently, I mainly follow my classes online."
That doesn't mean she wouldn't love to return to Brussels if the opportunity arose. “I really enjoyed living there and one of my favourite things to do was to explore a new neighbourhood on Sundays. I was particularly impressed by the different architectural styles you find in one and the same city. When I had Dutch or foreign friends visiting, we would also go exploring outside the city centre, but usually on scooters.”
The study programme and AI
She not only takes away the theory from the programme, but also the input from her fellow students. "I find it very interesting to delve into learning processes and teaching methods, but I have also learned a lot from the way my fellow students apply them in their own specific way. This master's programme is taught in English and therefore attracts very different nationalities and cultures, which is an added bonus. I also consider the broader picture, VUB and Brussels, to be one of the most international locations where I have studied or worked. In Brussels, I feel that anything is possible for anyone."
"What I also find very interesting is the AI regulations that have been added to our studies. How can artificial intelligence be used, and what is not allowed? And where do students themselves draw the line? Do they use ChatPGT exclusively, or only as a tool? I think this is a very relevant and forward-looking topic."
Children's books & co
What after graduation? "I would like to work in a museum. Or in a library, or in a publishing house. Maybe I'll start working as a developer in education? I really love children's books and reading education, and I see opportunities to do things differently than in the standard language curriculum. I haven't decided exactly where I want to work yet. Because I've travelled a lot, I'm lucky to be able to adapt quickly. I'll see what comes my way."