WHERE

Utrecht, The Netherlands / New York, USA

WHAT

"Sister Republics" Honours Course 

WHEN

Nov 2015 - April 2016 

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 In November 2015 the University College Utrecht Honours course "Sister Republics" was initiated together with the SAS (School of Arts and Sciences) Honours Program of Rutgers University (New Jersey) in occasion of the university’s 250th anniversary. The course explored connections between the two universities within the history of strong connections between the Dutch and Americans that were forged in the 17th and 18th centuries and still shape American culture today.   

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For this highly selective program twelve Honours students were recruited, among which myself, who were responsible for developing the entire course outline. We designed a program of guest lectures, gave lectures ourselves, selected literature for discussion and proposed assessment components. A fully facilitated visit to New York City and Rutgers University and vice versa was a key component within the course.

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Main activities:

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• Designing the course-outline for a new Honours seminar format within the university;

• Organising weekly guest lectures; among which I specifically arranged the "Delta's in time of Climate Change: New York City vs. Rotterdam" guest lecture from industry expert dr. Roelof Stuurman (Deltares). Here, we compared the two delta cities in terms of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

• Arranging a full program for visiting American students and professors to Utrecht;

• Establishing first relations between the Honours Program of Utrecht University and Rutgers University

• Organising a final event in the theme of 'Right-wing populism' hosting renowned historian and Americanist prof. dr. Maarten van Rossem in the Utrecht University's Academiegebouw, attracting more than 100 visitors. 

 

Main discussion topics during the project:

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• Dutch emigration

• American perceptions of the Netherlands

• Tolerance and religion

• Slavery

• Right-wing populism and the role of media ​