The year 2021 in pictures
Student Max Warmerdam earns the title of Grandmaster
January 7, 2021
Thanks to a top sports scholarship from Have a Seat donors, Max was able to participate in a chess tournament in Bassano del Grappa.
“Since chess tournaments can be quite lengthy and regularly take place abroad, they are often quite expensive. The Have a Seat initiative makes it much easier for me to pay for them. As I have now reached the highest level of mastery in chess, I need to think about other ambitions. One ambition I certainly have is of becoming a Dutch champion." The scholarship enables Max to focus on his studies in combination with top-flight sport and he has no need to take a job on the side to develop his talent.
Max Warmerdam (22), Netherlands – Bachelor of Economics
Friends of Cobbenhagen online New Year party
January 14, 2021
Coronavirus restrictions unfortunately ruled out a physical meeting, but 50 Friends were able to meet online at this special New Year party.
Toast on the West Coast
January 26, 2021
During the coronavirus crisis, Dutch universities joined forces to hold online networking sessions for alumni living on the West Coast of America. This highly successful joint endeavor featured an introduction by the ambassadors Dirk Janssen and Onno Faber, among others.
Webinar: A new lost generation? Youth Employment in Corona Times
February 9, 2021
What effect is the coronavirus crisis having on the labor market? Are young people having a particularly difficult time or does the crisis also create opportunities? Dr. Sonja Bekker, Prof. Ton Wilthagen and alumna Nina Meeuwes shared their vision and experiences with alumni and students in this webinar, which was organized in collaboration with Studium Generale.
Collaboration between Zero Hunger Lab and Dutch Food Banks
March 2021
The Dutch food banks organization asked the Zero Hunger Lab to develop technical solutions to identify people eligible for food bank support.
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Friends of Cobbenhagen Virtual Boardroom meeting
March 3, 2021
On Wednesday, March 3, 2021 more than 30 Friends of Cobbenhagen met online for a Boardroom meeting complete with a delicious packed lunch. The Boardroom meeting was kindly arranged by alumnus and Friend Hans Minnaar, the founder and director of Florijnz Corporate Finance.
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Toast on the East Coast
March 4, 2021
During the coronavirus crisis, the Dutch universities joined forces to hold online networking sessions for alumni living on the East Coast of America. The ambassador André Haspels opened this highly successful joint session and Robbert Dijkgraaf gave an inspiring lecture.
500th donation agreement
April 2021
The University Fund concluded its 500th donation agreement with a donor this month.
International online alumni event for Hong Kong
April 8, 2021
During the coronavirus crisis, Dutch universities joined forces to hold online networking sessions for alumni in Hong Kong. Correspondent Sjoerd den Daas was on hand to provide an inspiring lecture.
Zero Hunger Lab wins prestigious Franz Edelman award
April 14, 2021
The United Nations World Food Programme won the international Franz Edelman Award with input from Tilburg University's Zero Hunger Lab. This is the world’s most prestigious award for the use of analytics, looking not only at innovation but especially at its impact.
Read moreInternational online party for southern Africa
June 17, 2021
During the coronavirus crisis, the Dutch universities joined forces to hold online networking sessions for alumni in southern Africa. The event was opened by Ambassador Sebastiaan Messerschmidt jointly with Huba Boshoff of Nuffic.
Zero Hunger Lab serious game for alumni
April 20, 2021
The Tilburg University Fund Foundation organized a serious game jointly with the Zero Hunger Lab. The Zero Hunger Lab developed an algorithm for the World Food Programme to help it reach as many people in need as possible. In the serious game “Roads to End Hunger”, the participants were able to experience the organization of food aid logistics at first hand.
Inaugural Lecture by Evelien Brouwers
May 28, 2021
On May 28, Prof. Evelien Brouwers delivered her inaugural lecture entitled “Psychische gezondheid en duurzame inzetbaarheid in arbeid: je gaat het pas zien als je het door hebt” (Mental health and sustainable employability: you don’t see it until you understand it”) at Tilburg University. In the lecture Evelien argues that there is enormous potential for improvement in this area, but that to unlock that potential we need to take a different view of health, sickness, and sustainable employability. With the support of the Tilburg University Fund Foundation, Evelien has already been able to conduct research into openness in work on mental problems.
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Alumnus and donor Franc Beekmans was proclaimed ‘Alumni volunteer of the year’
June 2021
Alumnus and donor Franc Beekmans last year developed a close association with the scholarship student George from Liberia by acting as a mentor.
Making contact in unusual times: the podcast
July 2021
During the online event “Impossibility or unlimited possibilities?” on June 8, 2021, Prof. Marjolijn Antheunis talked to alumnus Tim Kamphorst about the impact of the pandemic on our social contacts and the way we communicate. The event was held jointly with the Friends of Cobbenhagen.
Listen to this podcast
Opening of the Academic Year
August 30, 2021
The academic ceremony in the auditorium included the presentation of the impact award. The winner was Spacebuzz by Prof. Max Louwerse, in which children learn about the vulnerability of the earth through a virtual reality experience in an almost real-life space shuttle. Some of our donors were also able to share this experience in 2019.
View the Opening of the Academic Year
Coach café
September 16, 2021
68 people took part in this edition. The Coach Café is all about meeting, inspiring, and sharing knowledge. At the Coach Café alumni who are further advanced in their careers share their experiences from a variety of perspectives with younger alumni. It was wonderful to be able to meet each other “live” again.
Read how you can contribute to coach café
Lunch for scholarship students
October 12, 2021
In October, the University Fund invited the current scholarship students to a lunch on campus. This was an opportunity for them to get to know each other and the University Fund.
Get to know our scholarship students
Signing ceremony for the Women of Bethany Fund
October 20, 2021
The Congregation of the Women of Bethany and Tilburg University jointly established the Women & Theology Fund with an endowed chair. A donation of €1,050,000 was made to the Tilburg University Fund Foundation, the largest received by the University Fund to date. On October 20, the formal start of work under this Women of Bethany Fund was marked with a festive signing ceremony at the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology in Utrecht. The event was attended by a delegation of the Women of Bethany and the Bishop of Haarlem-Amsterdam Mgr. Dr. J.W.M. Hendriks, among others.
About the Women & Religion Fund
Psychology café
November 4, 2021
The impact of the psychology profession in society. This theme was central to this special edition of Coach café to mark the 50th anniversary of the Psychology degree program. The 136 participants, comprising students and alumni, were guided through the history and future of the Psychology course. An evening full of introductions, meetings, and reunions with, as a bonus, tips and advice from the alumni volunteers who shared their experience as coaches.
Entrepreneurship café
November 9, 2021
During Entrepreneurship Café, 20 students and recent graduates owning a startup or working as freelancers were able to get in touch with experienced alumni entrepreneurs (mentors). The networking event offered these young talents an opportunity to gain practical knowledge through sounding board sessions and to kickstart their network.
Announcement of the winner of the Klokhuis Science Prize 2021
November 10, 2021
Our nominee Dr. Elisabeth Huis in 't Veld (TSHD) narrowly missed out on the prize, as her research into needle phobia came second. She was able to develop her app with a grant from the University Fund.
More about research on fear of needles
International Career café online
November 25, 2021
A networking event for international students and recent graduates planning to settle in the Netherlands or continue their career in the Netherlands after their studies at Tilburg University. The 68 participants were able to meet and get tips from alumni who shared their experiences.
Christmas fundraiser
December 2021
The Tilburg University Fund Foundation raised donations from November to Christmas with a special Christmas fundraiser. On behalf of all donors, the University Fund hung ribbons with dreams for the future in the Christmas tree on campus. Alumni, employees, and students were also able to ‘donate’ a ribbon. Over €800 was raised. The donations helped fulfill the dream of the Zero Hunger Lab: a world without hunger.
