Jaap Mennes has been involved with the Hanze East Africa Hub since it started in 2021 and has been a loyal ambassador of our projects and activities ever since.
Jaap actually joined our team quite naturally, in his own words: “Within SBMF, we have been working with a partner university in East Africa, Uganda Christian University (UCU), for several years. UCU teachers visit our School every year for International Week and we also try to visit them every year. This collaboration was first only between universities, but when the HEAH started in 2021, we got a complete triangle. Now we collaborate with universities and local companies in Africa.”
Naturally, besides the East African clients, there are other companies within SBMF and the rest of the Hanze that offer assignments to the students. Jaap indicates that the HEAH’s assignments do stand out from other assignments within the school:
“Projects within the School’s IWP are often in the region and HEAH’s projects are of course in East Africa. Even though the students cannot go there, it is made tangible, thanks in part to the guidance of the HEAH team. The social contribution of the assignments is unique and especially the geographical and international aspect appeals to many students. The students who have less with that can simply join the IWP projects in the region.”
HEAH projects are known to contribute a lot to the theme of sustainability. Jaap indicates that this is something the HEAH should always keep central:
“Above all, the link with sustainability must remain central. That is the language we are currently speaking within Hanze and within the School. The theme of sustainability that comes back in the assignments at the HEAH is something that has been important at SBMF for a long time and is therefore already part of the curriculum.”
Besides being an ambassador for our hub, Jaap is also often the supervisor of the HEAH projects within SBMF. On guiding the projects, Jaap says the following:
“I have been to Africa several times and generally do have an international orientation. Even though the collaboration is online, I like the fact that you bring the students into contact with the culture and countries. I also like that we can later show students that we here in the West don’t always know better. There is still often the idea in our society that we have to help Africa get ahead. These projects give students insight into such situations. Fortunately, I can also bring my own experiences into this, to make it more tangible for the students.”
The HEAH was established to give students within the Hanze University the opportunity to gain international experience without travelling abroad. Jaap also believes that participating in the HEAH projects is a good way to gain such experience.
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