Executive Board Vice President Timo Kos ‘Now’s the time to step up’
Timo Kos has been Vice President of Leiden University’s Executive Board since 1 March. Who is he and how have his first weeks been? ‘Higher education is under threat; we’re under fire.’
Kos (52) has hit the ground running. Just ten days into the new role, he had the honour of launching the strike against the higher education cuts, delivering an opening speech at City Hall The Hague (because of Campus The Hague) at a teach-out by Otto Spijkers.
The strike against the planned cuts started at Leiden University, with other universities taking up the baton in the coming weeks. After the teach-out Kos joined a public rally at Garenmarkt in Leiden, with several politicians among the speakers. Teach-outs were also given at dozens of schools and public institutions in the region.
Threats and erosion
This buzz is right up Kos’s street. He is committed to science, academic freedom and higher education, and is deeply concerned about the threats and erosion they face. Although as Vice President of the Executive Board he is mainly responsible for ‘internal’ portfolios, he wants to join Annetje Ottow and Hester Bijl in advocating externally for the greater good in the broadest sense of the term. ‘Given what is happening in the Netherlands, Europe and above all the US.
‘As Vice President, my responsibilities include finances, real estate, ICT and research infrastructure, HRM, and safety and security at the university – and Campus The Hague is also in my portfolio. But as the Board we are jointly responsible for the day-to-day operations at the whole university. That’s something I can definitely contribute to with my work and experience, and I think it is important.’
Under fire
‘I was perfectly happy in Deventer’, he explains. ‘But higher education is under threat; we’re under fire. That hasn’t come out of the blue. In recent years, I myself have seen the government become increasingly out of touch with the population. In the east of the country, farmers flew flags upside down in protest. And in Zutphen, for instance, the obstetrics department and out-of-hours urgent treatment centre at the regional hospital are threatened with closure. People think ‘The Hague’ doesn’t see the rest of the Netherlands. To be honest I understand them.’
Making an impact
‘Now’s the time to step up. What decided it for me was the question of how I could make the most impact. By continuing to drive social and economic vitality in the eastern Netherlands or by fighting to protect academia and education, our democratic values and academic freedom? Then the latter is that bit more important to me, and you can’t get much better than Leiden University – the country’s first university and a bastion of freedom.’
Historic city centre
As Vice President of the Executive Board of Saxion University of Applied Sciences (with around 27,000 students and 3,000 staff), Kos was responsible for teaching, teaching support and ICT. He was very happy living in the centre of Deventer, in a house from 1632, close to the IJsselvallei and Veluwe nature reserves as well as the cultural landscapes of the Twente and Achterhoek regions. A lovely place, particularly after the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, where he lived for 30 years. And with its pretty historical city centre and similar proportions, Deventer is a bit like Leiden.
‘I had just been reappointed for a second term to the Saxion Board when this job in Leiden came up. What appealed to me was that the Board of Governors was looking for someone who could deepen the connection between the supporting services and teaching, and strengthen the research, and who had experience with digitalisation and interdisciplinary teaching. Those are exactly the topics I have been dealing with in recent years. I also knew Leiden University from my time at Delft University of Technology and LDE Universities. And there was a great click with Annetje and Hester.’
Flat in Leiden
Things moved fast and Kos has since moved to ‘a wonderful flat’ on a canal in the centre of Leiden. ‘Or at least, we’re here during the week, my wife and I, and at the weekend we’ll be in Deventer for the time being because of the care for one of my parents-in-law who lives nearby. The cat travels back and forth with us.’ Kos’s two children have left home and are at university. ‘We were lucky to find a flat so quickly in Leiden. I think it is important as an administrator to connect with the city and region where you are based.’
It has not disappointed him. ‘Leiden is really beautiful – academia started here and you realise that as you walk through the old city centre, not to mention all those museums. The vibrancy students bring also appeals to me. We’ve already been to the Saturday market and have been lucky to have lots of sun.’
Reading and outdoor sports
In his free time Kos enjoys reading and is particularly interested in the history of science, the subject of his thesis. And he won’t say no to numerous outdoor sports like windsurfing, surfing and climbing. ‘The beach is just around the corner, which is lovely – that’ll be my regular haunt.’
Timo is going to begin by getting to know the university staff. ‘I’m mainly going to look and listen – to see what is going well and what could be done better. Those who do not have much to do with his portfolios yet want to get to know him better can follow his vlogs on LinkedIn: #TimoAanDeSlag’.
Timo Kos’s CV
Timo Kos (1973) has experience in various board and executive roles focusing on teaching, student and teacher support, and innovation at Delft University of Technology, LDE Universities, SURF and Npuls, where research and teaching organisations work together on ICT innovations.
Kos began his career at Capgemini Consulting, in positions including manager of the Teaching and Labour Market advisory group, and has worked as an adviser at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, DUO, the education inspectorate and various educational institutions including Leiden University. Kos studied history at the University of Amsterdam.