When her parents dropped her off at her student room in 1989, Telidja Klai had no idea how life-changing that moment would be. The VUB became her world: she studied psychology, earned her PhD, served as student president, met her husband, and taught there for years. Today, her two sons study at the university, while Klai works as content manager and developmental psychologist at Ketnet. “The VUB has been my life.”
What exactly does your job involve?
Telidja Klai: “It’s the best job in the world.” (laughs) “I’m responsible for all international programmes on Ketnet – from acquisition to adaptation. I also curate the channel’s schedule, both for TV and VRT MAX. On top of that, I prepare strategic files – not only about our vision and mission, but also on topics like developmental psychology, diversity, inclusion, integrity... My colleagues and the creators come to me when it comes to tackling tougher subjects in fiction or non-fiction series. How do you make life’s bumps discussable, with respect and in a way that suits the target audience?
Finally, I give guest lectures and talks at home and abroad on topics such as how to use television programmes to achieve developmental goals, or how to create a world where children can safely lose themselves for a moment. Behind all our content – especially for the youngest viewers – lies a developmental matrix. We use it to check whether a programme stimulates the right developmental goals. The idea is that, as a broadcaster, we guide children in their development.”
“At the VUB, everyone breathes the spirit of free thinking”
How did you end up in this job? Did you have a clear idea of what you wanted to do after graduation?
“After studying psychology and gerontology, I went on to do a PhD. I loved academic life, but I missed something creative – I’d studied art sciences in secondary school. Since I had already done some consultancy work for Ketnet, I called them up one day and said, ‘If you need me, I’m available.’ And that’s how it started. For me, this job is the perfect mix. I can express my creativity while staying true to my academic background and my passion for children and young people. Ninety percent of the time, I go to work with a big smile on my face.”
What did you take from your time at the VUB into your job?
“When you study at the VUB, it shapes your view of the world. My boss – Ketnet’s network manager – recently joked: ‘What is it with you VUB people? When you meet each other, it’s like watching a family reunion!’ And he’s right. At the VUB, everyone breathes an atmosphere of free thinking – from professors and assistants to the staff at the secretariat or in the campus restaurant. I see that same spirit in Luka and Renno, my sons, who both study at the VUB. It’s wonderful to see that the values I’ve tried to pass on – solidarity, tolerance, engagement – are finding fertile ground there.”
You can compare times well through your sons. Are things different for students now than in your day?
“Oh, completely. I’m glad the core of the VUB is still the same, but you really can’t compare. And that’s a good thing – it would be worrying if nothing had changed. Society has evolved enormously. Back then, I’d call home halfway through the week with a prepaid phone card, just to say I’d arrived safely. Now, technology is everywhere, even in hybrid teaching. And the university is no longer the small-scale place it once was. I graduated with thirteen psychology students; today there are hundreds. The VUB has outgrown its walls – in the best possible way.”
These are turbulent times. Where do you see the challenges and opportunities for newly graduated psychologists?
“In my work, I see how much pressure children and young people are under. We live in a performance-driven society. That creates a lot of stress – even in their free time. Many young people struggle with mental health, and youth care can’t meet the demand. So if you want to work with children and young people as a psychologist, I’m afraid there’s no shortage of work – quite the opposite.”
“I try every day to let wonder in, to look for the light in the darkness — and to be that light for others”
Do you have any advice for today’s graduates?
“Absolutely! Never lose the Peter Pan in yourself. Keep searching for your own heights. Don’t let rationality and pragmatism take over – stay close to your emotions and true to who you are. Open your heart to the world, and towards the world. Every day, I try to let wonder in – and to be a light in the dark for others. Without, of course, sweeping life’s bumps under the rug.”
What are your professional dreams for the future?
“I hope to keep doing what I love for as long as possible – and right now, that’s this. I’m more of a ‘content lady’ than a manager. I love working with content and with our audience – children and young people. It allows me to live out the principles and values I find important, and to help move things forward with my team. Most of the time, those are small steps. But every now and then, thanks to many people working together, one small step turns into a big leap. Take the STIP IT anti-bullying campaign, for instance. When you see how many children and adults now take part, you can truly say we’ve made a major social impact.”
Finally, what’s one VUB moment you’ll never forget?
“Oh, I could talk for hours about my time at the VUB. But the moment that will always stay with me is the very first one: 30 September 1989, 7 p.m. That evening, my parents dropped me off here. It was emotional – in a way, it felt like saying goodbye to my childhood. At the same time, as I stepped into my student room, I thought: this is where the next chapter begins. And that chapter became much bigger than I could have ever imagined. I worked full-time at the VUB until 2005, and later taught there for several years.
There are so many unforgettable moments: graduating, my younger sister – six years behind me – starting her studies there, becoming president of my student association… I even met my first love there, and later Sven, the love of my life. My children went to the VUB daycare. The VUB has been my life. I always say: I didn’t just earn a degree at the VUB – I grew up there.”