Can you introduce yourself?
I am Beatrice van der Heijden and work at Radboud University since 2010. I have a background in Work and Organizational Psychology, also from Radboud University, and got my PhD at Twente University. I am also affiliated with the Open Universiteit in the Netherlands, with Ghent University, Belgium, with Hubei University, Wuhan, China and with Kingston University, London, UK. In 2019, I have been appointed as a member of the Academy of Europe, and in 2022 as a member of the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities. I am a Knight in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands since 2021.
Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
Being a child of an entrepreneur I have always been fascinated by the questions what drives people at work, and how to protect their career sustainability (happiness, health, and productivity).
What do you like best about being a lecturer?
I really like to help future professionals shape a strong domain-specific expertise base and help them increase their employability, management, and communication skills.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
My main research areas are: sustainable careers, employability, and ageing at work.
What advice do you have for students making their study choice?
Find out what your passion is! The highest chance to become an expert in your work is by finding out what you really like. After all, it is much easier to invest a lot of time and efforts to grow when you like what you are doing.
What does your work in practice bring to your academic work, and vice versa?
By studying the topic of sustainable careers, and also being engaged in the field of sustainable careers in academia, I actually try to practice what I preach.
What is the best part of being a lecturer?
The interaction with students with very different personalities, backgrounds, competencies, and interests, and to help them find their passion.
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