Hi Roos, nice to meet you. Can you tell us who you are?
I am Roos ter Elst, and I am the Coordinator of the BA Urban Studies and also the BA International Studies which are both Humanities Bachelor’s in The Hague.

What is your history and how did you end up working in Leiden?
I did a Bachelor in Child- and Educational Studies (“Orthopedogogiek”) and after I did a Master in Social and Organisational Psychology. Thematically, that is very different than Urban Studies but for my job as a coordinator of studies it’s useful to “understand human behavior (in groups)”. Before I was a Coordinator of Studies, I did the LDE (Leiden Delft Erasmus) traineeship and I worked at TU Delft as a Strategic Policy Officer. For a long time, I wasn’t sure what the right working environment would be, but the traineeship really gave me the insight that this is a great next step for me.

What do you personally find interesting about the Urban Studies programme?
I haven’t been coordinator for too long at Urban Studies, but what I really like is the international classroom and that the students we are talking to are very diverse, with oftentimes a creative mind.

You mentioned you are also a Coordinator for International Studies. How does it compare to Urban Studies – does it involve similar tasks for you?
The Urban Studies program is much smaller, so it feels a little bit more personal. Next to that, Urban Studies has teachers of different faculties of Leiden which comes with its own challenges. However, I really like to be placed in The Hague, which is something that both programmes have in common. The international context of both studies is very refreshing to me. And all in all, the tasks of a Coordinator of Studies are pretty similar.

Do you think a certain character train is important when you are in the Urban Studies field?
In general, I think it helps if one has a critical open-mind. It helps if you are someone who wonders why things are the way they are (‘Why is my surrounding built the way it is’). To be fair, this critical open-mind is not just important for Urban Studies students, but anyone who starts an academic career.

What is something you’d like to share that not many people know about you?
Maybe that I really enjoy very nice French patisserie. If someone has a good tip in The Hague, then I am looking forward to hearing that.

Is there is something else you’d like to add?
My colleague, Annelies de Koning, and I very much stimulate you to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your programme, whether they be of a practical or academic nature (on study delay, planning, examination regulations, area choice, problems with thesis, etc.). We are here to advise you about your programme, arrange all kinds of practical things and provide help and advice with your studies when hindered by personal circumstances. Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Thank you for your time Roos, I’m sure many students are looking forward to get to know you through our newsflash.