RSM’s exceptional performances will be celebrated at opening of academic year

In addition, for the first time, this year’s ceremony will be moderated by a student: RSM’s BSc IBA student Mayeul de Kerros, who sees himself as a ‘culturally aware citizen’, has been chosen to announce the ceremony. 

Student in the spotlight

For the second year, an EUR student has been chosen to step into the spotlight to present an initiative which has been judged to have exceptional social impact. Teodor Cataniciu, a student of RSM’s BSc International Business Administration will present his crowdsourced school initiative, Restart Network. Teodor was named by the Dutch Financial Times as one of the Netherlands' Best Entrepreneurs Under 35; featured in Forbes Magazine as one of Romania's 30 Under 30; spoke about technology and entrepreneurship at EUR’s TEDx event as well as at the three biggest Dutch Universities and other tech events with audiences up to 1,000 people.

Outstanding research

Gizem Yalçin, a research master student at RSM, researching marketing, will be presented with the Professor Bruins Prize for excellent academic achievement and demonstrating outstanding research qualities.

Master excellence

RSM Alumna Fleur Osté will receive the Professor H.W. Lambers Prize for excellence in master studies. Fleur graduated from two of EUR’s master programmes in 2015; business law with an LL.M at Erasmus School of Law and RSM’s MSc Marketing Management, and is now Company Ambassador for Stichting Nederland Cares, which aims to increase the social engagement of young professionals by offering them flexible volunteering activities, and a brand manager for Unilever in London.

Top sustainable development

The Individual Top Support Award will be presented to Eva Rood, Co-director of the Centre for Eco-transformation at RSM and Business Development Manager for RSM’s sustainability projects. She recently spoke at the Global Forum for Responsible Management Education in New York about introducing the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for RSM course materials. The school’s focus on sustainable development underpins its mission to be a force for positive change in the world.

Other prizes will be presented to academics, staff and students from across EUR. They are as follows:

Education Prize nominations:

Dr Payal Arora, associate professor, Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication

Dr Etienne Augé, senior lecturer, Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication

Professor Maarten Frens, Dean of Erasmus University College

Research Prize: Dr Sanne Opree, associate professor, Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication

Brian Yuk Shouw Chung, a master student at Erasmus School of Economics

Rotterdam Thesis Prize presented to the student that wrote the most valuable thesis for the city of Rotterdam: Dee Dee Smeets, a master student of Public Administration, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, for her master thesis ‘Single mothers & obligations’

ENVH Athena Prize for employees who make exceptional efforts to support female talent: Professor Werner Brouwer, Dean of the Institute of Health Policy & Management

Top Support Award (Team): the education project team for digital learning and working environment (DLWO).

Cities and citizens

This year’s guest speaker at the ceremony will be Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, who will speak on the theme of Building Vital Cities, Empowering Vital Citizens. Kristel Baele, President of the Executive Board, and Professor Huibert Pols, Rector Magnificus will also speak.