Aline Vander Borght and Benjamin Ledran have recently joined the Doctoral School in Science and Engineering (DSSE). Aline replaces Oliver Glassl as doctoral school facilitator while Benjamin will complement the team of doctoral school administrators. Oliver Glassl takes a new challenge at the Dean’s Office to work on the development of the FSTM curricula. We wish them a lot of success in their new positions.
Oliver: from DSSE to Dean’s office
Oliver Glassl shares his previous experience and new challenges.
How was your experience as doctoral school facilitator?
Oliver: « Working as the DSSE doctoral school facilitator was inspiring on many levels, as the tasks came from a variety of different operational and strategic management areas. Hence, the required approaches were multifaceted: technical and legal knowledge as well as competences in the fields of economics and logistics were equally important as were social and cultural competences. Having had the chance to gain a lot of experience in all of the aforementioned fields was very rewarding. The position also required a lot of creativity and flexibility, as the University is a quickly evolving institution and doctoral education bridges research and education. With the new University Law coming into force not even two years after the founding of the DSSE, numerous new challenges were added. However, developing the DSSE in this context together with a very reliable, experienced and efficient team of programme administrators as well as in close collaboration with the Doctoral School Heads and Programme Coordinators turned this journey into a very motivating experience. »
What attracted you to your new position?
Oliver: « Modern societies are facing more and more global challenges. In this context, academic education becomes one of the most important societal assets, as it provides the means to develop appropriate coping strategies. Curriculum design and development is right in the centre of academic activity: it is based on the existing body of knowledge but it also determines the profile of future researchers and therefore also impacts the development of human knowledge. And of course, any educational curriculum has to be aligned with the given societal and cultural context – which currently is probably more dynamic and diverse than it ever was. Doesn’t working in this field sound incredibly interesting? »
What will be your main challenges?
Oliver: « Similarly to my work at the DSSE, my portfolio will have strategic and operational aspects. On the strategic side, I will support the FSTM in aligning our curricula with the strategy of faculty as well as with the needs of the job market. I will furthermore advise the faculty with regards to the educational market of the Greater Region and the placement of our programmes herein. On the operational side, I will be concerned with the development of processes for the monitoring and functioning of the existing FSTM course offer as well as with the identification of possibilities to optimise teaching resources. I will work in close collaboration with the FSTM quality and process officer, as well as with the course directors and the Dean’s office – I am looking very much forward to all of this. »
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Aline & Benjamin: from FDEF to FSTM
Aline Vander Borght and Benjamin Ledran introduce themselves, share their formal experience and future missions.
Could you present yourself?
Aline: “I am the mother of 3 teenagers and when I am not working or taking care of the family, I like to sport, read and spend time with friends. Part of my time is also dedicated to volunteering.”
Benjamin: “I’m 48, I spend half of my life with my wife, the other half with my son and both halves with my cat. I love movies, books, comics, music, animals, and I have a soft spot for science. I’m an ultimate Gary Larson fan.”
Why did you join the University of Luxembourg?
Aline: “With an economic background, I joined the university in 2012 (with a break, for various reasons, from late 2016 to early 2019) as a Doctoral School of Law administrator. The doctoral schools had just been created and everything had to be set up. Doctoral studies are constantly evolving within the university and I am delighted to be able to continue to participate in this development in a quality work environment and surrounded by very skilled colleagues.”
Benjamin: “Back in 2008, a friend urged me by total fluke to apply to an opening of what had traditionally been an all-female cast, and I’ve been here almost 13 years now. I served for the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance in different services and I finally recently joined the FSTM with the utmost motivation, and more specifically the DSSE.”
What will be your main missions?
Aline: “As Doctoral School Facilitator, I will ensure the coordination, management and development of the Doctoral School of Science and Engineering, contribute to an effective, efficient and qualitative organisation of the doctoral school and doctoral education by assisting direct colleagues but also those from other departments.”
Benjamin: “As a programme administrator, I’m in charge of supporting our PhD students in their quest to make the world a better place, mainly by helping them with their studies, recording their ECTS, organising their trips and answering their questions. I’m currently in charge of the Doctoral Programme in Physics and Materials Science and will soon also take over the Doctoral Programme in Computational Sciences.”