We learn how knowledge can be applied in practice

By Melinde Bussemaker

Hiwot opted for Bestuurskunde (Public Governance) at Tilburg because it falls under Tilburg Law School and because it looks at public governance from different angles. “That fits my interest in politics and history. And having been born and bred in Tilburg, I like the human dimension of the program; we all know each other by name. What also appeals to me is that the program does not merely offer a theoretical academic education; we also learn how knowledge can be applied in practice.”

A lot of freedom

The Consultancy & Policy Advice Studio is a third-year course. “We use the knowledge we’ve acquired to give advice to a real client,” Hiwot explains. “Our group of four students selected the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW), an interest group. For several months we worked to come up with advice commissioned by VNO-NCW. And we were given a great deal of freedom. We had a supervisor from the university, but it was up to us to decide how to do things, how to develop advice, and how detailed it would be. So we had to rely on each other.

“Working together, contributing from our respective roles, planning and organizing – it all mattered.”

We weren’t used to that because the parameters are usually set by the program. We had the good fortune, though, of being able to frequently talk to our contacts at VNW-NCW and brainstorm ideas. Our collaboration was smooth. To me it was interesting to see how an entrepreneurs’ association can influence local government.”

Moment of reflection

What did she learn from this course? “A lot,” she laughs. “How to properly explain a choice and subsequently give advice? And how to work together as professionals? At the end of the course, we each wrote a reflection paper, describing our individual roles, how we’d handled things, what went well, and what could be improved. I liked that. It was a bit like taking time to muse and reflect instead of rushing to the next course and maybe making the same mistakes all over again. Our group decided to discuss our impressions. I also liked the feedback that generated.”

A time of great learning

An internship of at least twenty working days is a compulsory component of the Bestuurskunde (Public Governance) Bachelor’s program. Hiwot opted for an internship at the Ministry of Justice and Security that lasted six months, as a result of which her academic progress suffered a delay. “I wanted to get the most out of it. Before I started, I rather innocently wondered if an internship would have value, but now I look back on it as a time of great learning.”

“An internship instills skills that cannot be learned from books.”

“And I now understand better why the first-year Writing Skills course is so essential. Students learn how to write clearly and to the point.”

Making a difference

“Bestuurskunde (Public Governance) is a broad program and my internship helped me develop my own picture of the future, confirming that my choice to study Bestuurskunde (Public Governance) was a good one,” she continues. “I feared that working for central government I would not have much of an impact on society. That it would be easier to make a difference in local government and that it would be barely possible in national government. My fear was unfounded. As an intern I was involved in setting up a campaign about human trafficking, and it was wonderful to see that something I worked on could be seen on billboards in the city. And my internship yielded more.”

“My network has grown and it’s interesting to work together with people from different backgrounds.”

“I would advise other students to do an internship while still doing their Bachelor’s program. Not to say anything against doing one after graduating, but it might help to find a good fit early on. There are so many options. That’s nice, but it makes choosing harder.”

Following passions

Hiwot developed a great many skills. What about character? “I find that hard to say. We all build character differently. In the Studio course we were free to contribute, and outside the classroom everyone’s free to follow their passions, to do volunteer work, to travel, or to learn a new language. The program can be a point of reference though. In my first year, I tutored school kids who needed some extra support to do their schoolwork because the Covid-19 pandemic made it harder for them to keep up. I also became politically involved. That’s quite common for Public Governance students; fellow students of mine are currently on the city council. And even though I don’t do so myself, students can also take part in activities organized by Juribes, the study society for Public Governance students.”

Bilbao awaits

Hiwot has ambitious plans for the new academic year. “COVID-19 put a stop to many things for quite some time, so now I’m seizing opportunities. At the end of August I’ll be leaving for Bilbao for six months. I’ll be taking law courses and some social courses like sociology and political science. As well as some extra Spanish classes; I’ve already started here at the university’s Language Center. I also hope to do my Master’s in Spain; it’s a country I’ve always felt connected to. And when I’ve graduated, I would like to work for the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science or for an NGO.”