"I joined VU Amsterdam as a junior lecturer in 2014 and received my PhD in 2020 (Epidemiology in Pediatrics). During my research, I focused on maternal obesity: how does a pregnant woman's obesity affect her child's brain development? After my PhD, I was able to start working at VU Amsterdam as an assistant professor and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. I continued teaching and got the opportunity to continue working on my research. I noticed that as you move up in academia, you automatically get more management tasks and responsibilities, both within research and teaching, even though you’re not trained for it. Think of tasks such as managing and motivating teams. I have always had broad interests and am very eager to learn. Along the way, I discovered that these new tasks gave me a lot of satisfaction. I didn't know how to make this concrete, so I discussed it with my head of department.
After that conversation, I was made aware that I could apply for an MBA scholarship at VU Amsterdam. I find it progressive that my department saw added value in an academic with an MBA. Now that I have that degree, I can act as a link between my academic field and the corporate world. I have a broader network and can bring in the outside world. I also have insight into, for instance, how to better position a study programme and distinguish it even more. I use this valuable knowledge within my department. I do so by addressing these issues and developing them further. I see that as an important leadership skill.
Now that I have completed my MBA, I also experience that this offers openings for conversations about horizontal (career) development. Colleagues see that I do not follow the traditional (research) path and come to me more often with personal questions or just to talk about their careers. This has made the theme of recognition and rewards more alive in my department. I now realise even more that inspiring role models (who have not followed the traditional path) can add great value."
Aletta Kraneveld, Dean Faculty of Science (VU Amsterdam)
"I find it extremely important that people within my faculty and the rest of VU Amsterdam will soon have even more room to accentuate their own careers where possible and that this can lead to vertical or horizontal growth. This development not only offers the flexibility to focus more on teaching as an academic but also to move from an academic position to a policy position, for example, with the recognition and rewards that goes with it. It is imperative that these opportunities are embedded in our policy.
Jelske is a very good example of an academic whose MBA education has given her a toolbox to make an impact. It is great to see that she now uses that knowledge to enrich her teaching and research."
Join the conversation with your team
If you’re looking for more information as input for conversations about academic careers or recognition and rewards in general, visit the webpage or check out VU's academic career paths.