Pedelstaf. Foto | Bart van Overbeeke
  • Corona , The University

Corona spoils inaugural and valedictory lectures

Due to the restrictions related to the corona pandemic, inaugural and valedictory lectures from professors can take place ‘online and in part physically with a limited audience’ only. Until September, no more than thirty guests will be allowed to attend – reason for all incoming and outgoing professors to postpone their lectures until further notice. The valedictory lecture of professor Cees Oomens has even been cancelled altogether.

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photo Bart van Overbeeke

Valerie Mackenbach of the Office of Doctoral Presentations and Academic Ceremonies says that the restrictive measures were a reason for all professors to postpone the inaugural or valedictory lectures they were scheduled to deliver this year. “Normally, these are festive occasions where many family members, friends and colleagues are invited to attend, with a procession of professors. Some of the guests are often from abroad. Under the current circumstances, the number of guests would be limited to thirty people, and even when it’s allowed again for a hundred people to get together there’s still only room for fifty people in the Blauwe Zaal due to the one-and-a-half-meter rule.”

For the time being, the lectures have been postponed until the new year, but setting new dates will depend on how the coronavirus develops. Mackenbach says that inaugural lectures preferably take place within two years of an appointment, which would lead to problems for some professors. An extension is possible, considering the circumstances, she says. “As one professor told me: it has to be a memorable moment, or I won’t do it.”

Cees Oomens. Foto gemaakt voor zijn afscheidsrede door Bart van Overbeeke
Cees Oomens. Photo made by Bart van Overbeeke for his valedictory lecture
Worthy conclusion

Biomechanist Cees Oomens, an expert in the field of pressure ulcers, says he decided to cancel his valedictory lecture for this reason. “My original idea was to deliver a valedictory lecture on 26 June with a reception and a party in the evening for family, friends and colleagues. That would have been a well-defined and worthy conclusion to my career. A valedictory lecture is also a good occasion to talk again to former PhD candidates, students and people you’ve worked with over the years and to look back on all the things you’ve done.”

Back in March already, it became apparent that 26 June would be impossible, the professor Biomechanics of Soft Tissues says. “I thought that a postponement to 30 October was reasonable, although delivering a lecture four months after my last working day would have been rather late. It has now become clear that a traditional lecture isn’t an option and a reception and party won’t be possible at all. That completely misses the point why I wanted to do it. Postponing for even longer isn’t an option to me, which is why I decided to cancel it.”

Oomens regrets that it turned out this way, but there are worse things, he believes. “When I think of people who die from corona, or who are on the difficult road to recovery, and people who lose their job or see their business go up in flames I shouldn’t complain. I’ll still receive my retirement pay; I’m healthy and I’m about to start a new life with new challenges.”

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