“The goal of the Summer University is to bring people together through shared interests, help them discover new things, meet new people, and hopefully build lasting friendships,” says Lara Hofstra, student wellbeing officer.

After the Winter University, which offered a rich program for students staying in Eindhoven, Hofstra is now also coordinating the Summer University. “I’m giving up my summer vacation for this, but I’m more than happy to spend the summer months with the students and share some fun experiences together,” she says with a broad smile. “I think it’s important that students who stay here have a fun and social summer.”

Boombox and ice cream

“In summer, many buildings are closed. That’s why we asked ourselves: how can we still keep the campus as lively as possible?” Hofstra explains. The Sports Center (SSCE) plays an important role in the summer program, remaining open throughout the season and offering a wide range of group classes, open gym and swimming hours, as well as an extensive lunch menu at the SSCE café.

In addition, evenings with beach volleyball and beach soccer are being organised. During these events, students are coached by volunteers. Those who do not yet feel confident enough to play can join a game of pétanque on the nearby field. 

All Summer University activities are easy to join and also free of charge for participants. “I bring my boombox to create some atmosphere and serve ice cream,” says Hofstra. “Even with limited resources, we hope to make a considerable contribution to a connected community.”

The Summer University will officially start on July 4 with an opening event on campus. “We will be hosting an outdoor popsicle and pizza party — it’s going to be a really fun way to kick things off,” says Roozbahani Pari. This will give participants the chance to meet each other and get to know the program.

Expanding program

But that’s not all. The program also includes many more activities, ranging from cooking workshops in the Luna building and Dutch language courses to board game nights, a walk in the Genneper Parken, or a visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Nuenen. All activities are announced via the new website.

According to Hofstra, the website should remain dynamic and continuously updated with new initiatives. There is also room for students’ own ideas. They can propose activities that may be added to the program. In this way, the offer is not fixed and can continue to grow throughout the summer.

In addition, a WhatsApp community will be launched with different subgroups focused on activities such as cooking, board games, and volleyball. Participants can join specific groups to stay informed about activities and updates.

“It’s really an experiment and we have to see how it works,” says Hofstra. “Our dream is to build on this community platform and develop it into a year-round service that connects our students and staff through shared interests.”

Need for connection

The Summer University builds on an initiative that was first developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, many international students were unable to travel home and remained in Eindhoven out of necessity. “We wanted to make sure they could meet each other and still do something enjoyable,” says Hofstra.

The need for connection is once again significant. Due to the unstable situation in the Middle East and other parts of the world, many students and staff are currently unable to travel to their home countries. “We have about sixty students from Iran and two hundred staff members, mainly PhD candidates, who would normally travel to Iran but are now staying in the Netherlands,” she says.

Ghazal Roozbahani Pari, who is originally from Iran, recognises this situation. She had also hoped to visit her family this summer but had to postpone those plans.

“We miss our families terribly, and I was really looking forward to going home, even if only for a week,” she says. “But my family told me to stay where I am. They don’t know what will happen in an hour, let alone a month from now. It’s simply not safe enough. If you go, you can’t even be sure you’ll be able to come back.”

The whole community

For students and staff who cannot be with their family and friends, the Summer University can provide a sense of support and distraction. “It really helps me feel less alone, because there are so many things to do together with others, like practising my Dutch or playing games,” says Roozbahani Pari.

“This Summer University is not only for people affected by the conflict in the Middle East, but for the whole community,” Hofstra emphasises. “Dutch and international TU/e members, students and staff: everyone is welcome. If you are in Eindhoven this summer and looking for something fun to do, we have plenty of activities on and off the TU/e campus.”

The Summer University runs from 4 July to 8 August. Please check the website for the full program. 

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor