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Standing firm with new assertiveness course

Learning how to say ‘no’ more clearly, appearing more self-confident, standing firm; from next month onwards, students and employees can learn how to master these skills in the TU/e’s new assertiveness course. There will be separate courses for both target groups.

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image Pantelis Katsis

For some time, and partly motivated by her own experience, Lara Hofstra has provided self-defence courses for women. "Initially, I thought it would be primarily about physical safety, about how to react when, for example, you are harassed in the street. However, I soon discovered that nine out of ten times, participants did not come for their physical safety, but for their mental resilience. How do I learn to make clear where my boundaries are, how to assertively say ‘no’, both vocally and physically?"

Moreover, Hofstra concluded that it is not only women who struggle with their resilience. Whether in situations at home, asking for a pay rise with your employer, or saying ‘no’ to that one colleague who keeps asking for help (and thus burdens you with extra work): "I hear from plenty of men that they, too, find it hard to come across as self-confident, and would like to be more assertive."

Sometimes cultural factors also play a role: "Some internationals, for example, find it hard to get used to the directness of many Dutch people. Whilst, others find it hard to deal with the pressure put on them by their parents abroad."

For the new training, Hofstra joins forces with the sports centre’s intern, Jasmijn Dagevos, who studies Applied Psychology at Fontys. Together, they provide the course for the students, whereas during the employee sessions, Hofstra takes a more prominent role.

Intimate connection

Getting to know one another, sharing stories, practising situations together; according to Hofstra, the course is slowly built up. "Ultimately, in such a setting, you get quite an intimate connection with one another and everything discussed within the group, stays within the group." She emphasises that the course is not the right place to solve structural problems or specific issues people may have with their colleagues, bosses, or the university itself. Rather, "we are there for your personal development, giving you the tools to initiate a conversation yourself when something is not running smoothly."

As course leader, Hofstra draws partly on courses she followed herself on the subject, and partly on personal experiences and her extensive experience working at the sports centre. "Many people know me and come to me with their stories - yes, sometimes I do feel a little like a social worker. Whilst I do really want to help people, at the same time, I want to try to separate work from my private life a little more. I hope this training will help with that."

Caring campus

A ‘caring campus’ - that is the primary aim of those who initiated the training, in collaboration, for example, with (student) psychologists and the life coaches of TINT. A campus with a little more social control and attention for one another, free of taboos: "Just having a talk, walking together for a while, being able to speak your mind." Obviously, not everything necessarily demands an intensive trajectory with a psychologist, for which the waiting times are often much longer, Hofstra asserts. "Of course, also within the TU/e, there are people with more severe problems, but ultimately, real 'red flags' constitute a very small percentage."


The group training for students starts on the 12th of February (on Wednesdays from 18:30 until 20:00), whereas the series for employees commences on the 2nd of March (on Mondays from 17:30 until 19:00). At the moment, the workshops are conducted in English only, and take place at the Auditorium. Every series consists of four sessions, potentially supplemented with a follow-up day.

Each series can accommodate a maximum of ten people. Participation costs ten euros for sports centre card holders; otherwise, the cost is twenty euros. You can apply via the website of the student sports centre (those without a card for the sports centre can also apply by clicking on the option 'log in sports card owner'). 

In addition to the assertiveness course, the sports centre also offers walking coaching (‘Walk&Talk’), for those who, for example, have motivation problems, are feeling down, or stressed. There are also individual assertiveness training sessions available on Tuesdays. Both are provided by Jasmijn Dagevos. For questions concerning the various training and coaching options, please send an email to Lara Hofstra.

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