Last summer, 132 students came to attend eighteen Summer School courses – a varying range of courses in the months of July and August. These include Introduction to Data Science, Modern Monetary Theory, and also a journalist writing course by Observant.
In 2015, there were more than three hundred participants and 31 programmes. “Although attendance in the first Covid year was still reasonable because everything was online and people thought it was fun to still be able to do something in the summer, enthusiasm in the second year was very low,” says Raimond Coumans, head of Maastricht Summer School. “Everyone was tired of sitting at their computers.” The result in 2021 was 94 people for eight courses.
The MSS dozed off a little during Covid. Coumans: “So, what was going to happen? Either we quit or we give it the attention it deserves.” Recently, someone was hired to recruit new students and come up with new courses. To some extent, those programmes can be found at the university itself, says Coumans. “There are various faculties, Fasos and SBE for example, that offer something in the summer. The new colleague must convince them to do that via the Summer School. Why is that such a good idea? “We have, for example, accounts on online forums and platforms where students worldwide look for summer programs. In addition, lecturers don’t have to arrange anything with enrolments, payments, et cetera.”
So far, we have 26 courses in place for the coming year, says education officer Bruna Calado. Part of that is on campus and part is online. “But not hybrid,” she emphasises. New this coming year will be three courses in Venlo. “One of them is about the health of the planet. The new programme in Brussels is about the economic aspects of digitalisation.” Furthermore, participants will receive a certificate instead of credits as of next year in courses which are targeted at professionals. In doing so, they also hope to attract non-students.
MSS also wants to put more time and energy into a general social programme next year, says Coumans. “Of course, it is important that participants learn something, but a summer course in a different city or even country should also be a fun experience.” What should one think of? “Everybody having a picnic together in the park, for example.” What will be added to that is also part of the job for our new colleague, he says.