“I’m eager to move beyond listening – and tackle problems head-on”

At 21, Hugo van der Wilt is stepping into the role of faculty student assessor, taking over from Jelke de Haan. What is the first action item on the list?

“At the start of their studies, students are mostly focused on passing courses and just surviving. Getting your degree and figuring out what to do with it still feels far away. But suddenly, the moment arrives and you’re holding your diploma. Do you go on to a master’s or jump straight into the job market? Which direction can you take as a master’s student? I’d love to explore how we can help students think about their careers earlier. How can we get them to reflect on what they want to do and the skills they’ll need? Within the faculty and beyond, I’m already seeing some exciting developments on this front — from career events to mandatory ‘points’ that students must earn.”

So you’ve had a board role before — what makes this one different?

“I’m now directly seated at the table with the faculty board members who make decisions that affect students. It was different at the student association, where we mainly spotted problems and passed them on to the departments. It’s a different, though equally important, kind of responsibility. Now I’m right at the controls. I’m eager to move beyond listening – and tackle problems head-on. From passing them on to taking action.”

In our six-person mini Executive Board, if you had an idea, you had to make it happen — a crash course in planning, teamwork, and networking.

Boardroom skills, student style

Hugo received a board scholarship for his work at the student association — but what did that actually involve? “Each of us had their own responsibilities. Similar to the Executive Board but without staff to take tasks off our hands. If you had an idea, you had to see it through yourself. You learn a lot this way, especially about planning, time management, networking, and teamwork — all skills that come in handy later in your career. It’s hard work, though. I was in charge of administration and educational communication.”

Getting a grip on AI

Alongside career orientation, Hugo also wants to focus on AI. “Students and lecturers alike are asking: how should we use it? What’s allowed and what’s not? Personally, I see it as a useful tool, but one that always requires human input. Policy and governance play an important role in keeping control over how we can and may use AI. That’s why together with other student assessors, we’re organising a student event to have an open conversation about AI — Let’s Talk AI. An initiative which was already started by Jelke.”

When did you think, 'Yes, I want to do this'?

“Everyone involved in student representation knows Jelke — she’s brilliant at networking. We were having coffee, and I asked what the role actually involved. At first, I hesitated because I’m also busy with graduating this year. But in the end, it was such an interesting opportunity that I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve always been curious about how the university works behind the scenes — it’s quite complex. As a student, you just see the lecturer giving their course, but there’s a whole world going on behind it.”

Juggling your studies and a board role, how do you do it?

“Planning. Planning. Planning. That might sound boring or cliché, but it’s true. I’ve learned this especially through my double bachelor and my year on the student association board. If you know what to expect and when during your studies, you can handle sudden changes and the choices you need to make much better. At least then, you have something clear to rely on — the things that are mandatory and can be planned.”