Dies Natalis 2012: Europe is the future
Against the background of a turbulent period for the EU, the Dies celebration presented a positive image of the benefits of Europe. President of the Executive Board Paul van der Heijden mentioned in particular the benefits of Europe to education. Both the address given by Dies lecturer Professor Alex Geert Castermans and the Honorary Doctorate awarded to Walter Van Gerven are motivated by European law. And it can hardly be a coincidence that the winner of the LSr Teaching Prize, Isabelle van de Calseyde, is a lecturer in French.
Erasmus programme
In proposing that ‘Europe is the future’, Van der Heijden quoted Polish student Maria Tandeck, elected as Young European of Year 2010. He honed in on the Erasmus Exchange programme, to be subsidised by the EU in the period from 2007 to 2013 to the tune of 3 billion euro. This programme will result in a move from one country to another, albeit temporary, by a quarter of a million students in the coming academic year.
Rector Magnificus and Chairman of the Executive Board Paul van der Heijden opens the celebrations.
More Dutch students opt for Europe
The Netherlands received some 8,600 (Leiden: 243) Erasmus students in 2009/2010, out of a total of 30,000 European students. Under the auspices of the Erasmus programme, some 7,600 Dutch students spent a study period elsewhere in Europe (Leiden: 185). According to Van der Heijden, more Dutch students opt to remain in Europe. 'Possibly because the education systems are more in line, since the introduction of the bachelor-master system, although financial considerations may well also play a role.'
| Also view the photo gallery and the video recording |
Academic work as a source of inspiration
Honorary Doctor Walter Van Gerven played a significant role in the development of European Law. Honorary Supervisor Christa Tobler could not resist the temptation to refer to him as the Grand Old Man of European Law, in doing so, recalling the famous statement by Oscar Wilde: 'I can resist everything but temptation.'
Honorary Doctor Walter van Gerven
Literally across the border
When introducing Van Gerven, Tobler spoke in terms of the blurring of borders and the crossing of borders. She mentioned particularly the border between public and private law. ‘Van Gerven has often crossed this border, and in ways that I believe to be unique.' Van Gerven has also broken down barriers between theory. Although he himself says that his academic work has been his main source of inspiration, nonetheless he has always had one foot in the practical environment. He has also literally crossed borders: he collaborated intensively with other legal specialists in Europe, and spent time in the United States, examining how legal and federal interests are combined there.'
‘Europe’ is not going too far
Professor of Civil Law Alex Geert Castermans also spoke in his address of the the fact that European borders are becoming less stringent. He expressed the view that European judges, who have in the past tended to strictly apply the doctrine of European law, increasingly often take account of national law in their judgments. In doing so they are recognising the differences in norms and practices that exist between the different countries, and that themselves give rise to differences in how the law is regarded in specific cases. The principle expressed by Castermans in his address is that Euro sceptics who claim that 'Europe is going too far', are increasingly being shown to be mistaken.
Professor of Civil Law Alex Geert Castermans delivers the Dies lecture.
Surprise
The Teaching Prize awarded by the Leiden Student Council (LSr) is traditionally presented on the Foundation Day of the University. The winner this year is Isabelle van de Calseyde, lecturer in Economic and Legal French. It came as a complete surprise to her to be nominated, and to be the winner of the award even more so. Chairperson of LSr Christel de Lange explained why the FDL study association nominated Van de Calseyde: 'She involves all her students in her lectures, gives them the opportunity to work independently and encourages and inspires them. She employs diverse teaching methods, including excursions to France, to see that her students are well prepared for the practical world in which they will find themselves once they have graduated.'
LSR chairperson Christel de Lange presents the nominees for the LSr Teaching Prize. Isabelle van de Calseyde (below left on the screen) is the winner.
Yearbook
A further tradition on 8 February each year is the presentation of the Leiden University Yearbook. The theme of this new Yearbook is Impact. The impact of Leiden research, impact in teaching, impact in the media. Copies of the Yearbook are distributed free of charge at the end of the Dies celebration and can also be ordered afterwards.
Links
(8 February 2012)