UM Connect Day 2024
Are you ready to learn, grow, and (re)connect with fellow UM alumni? Join us for UM Connect Day on Saturday, 28 September 2024, at the beautiful Tapijnkazerne in Maastricht! It’s the perfect place to meet other alumni and engaging speakers while exploring various topics in breakout sessions, such as intercultural competence, data flows in mobile apps, positive eco-psychology, purpose-powered growth and the secrets behind successful TED talks. And of course, UM Connect Day wouldn't be complete without a festive barbecue to close the day.
Do you want to join us? Every UM alumnus is welcome! This is your chance to revisit Maastricht, catch up with old classmates and delve into fascinating subjects along the way. Register now for this inspiring day, but don’t wait too long—capacity is limited!
Practical info
When: Saturday 28 September 2024
Where: Tapijnkazerne 11, 6211 ME Maastricht
Time: 14:00 until approx. 22:00
Language: All sessions will be in English
Entrance fee: 10,-*. Tickets will be available soon.
*All proceeds are donated to the new Equity and Inclusion Programme of the University Fund Limburg. The programme facilitates scholarships for underprivileged youth from the region, and supports projects focused on equality at UM.
Programme
Stay tuned for the full programme announcement.
Lifelong Development
The world is changing fast. We face many transitions, creating both challenges as well as opportunities, which inevitably reflects on the equally transforming labour market. What will our working situation look like in, let’s say, 10 to 15 years? What impact will AI and automation have on our jobs? And how about the climate discussion, the ever-increasing globalization, the energy transition, and the challenges we face in healthcare? Just to name a few.
In this complex landscape, professionals are expected to act fast, proactive and be flexible. Acquiring new knowledge and skills is essential in this, in order to keep up and at the same time create meaningful impact. By offering good, labour market-oriented education and training, UM can contribute to a better labour market position for its students, employees, alumni, and people in the region, regardless of their age, experience, and educational background. The UM would like to contribute to solving societal challenges arising from the various transitions and reduce the gap between supply and demand of knowledge and skills in the region.
Learn more about the sessions
![Konrad Kollnig LAW.next](/sites/default/files/styles/120x120/public/2024-07/Law%20and%20tech%20lab%20photo%20-%20UM%20Connect%20Day.png?itok=Q73eZodc)
Want some cookies? Exploring data flows in mobile apps
- Dr. Konrad Kollnig
“I want to accept all cookies" might be your most uttered lie on the internet, but what does it actually mean? And, does your “choice” actually change how companies use your data? In this session, we will explore these and other common questions concerning mobile apps. We also show you how you can independently analyse how your apps treat your data, by using state-of-the-art research methods. The session will touch on technical and legal topics but requires no prior knowledge of either, only a bit of curiosity.
![Nicole Geschwind en Marjolein Hanssen](/sites/default/files/styles/120x120/public/2024-07/FPN%20photo%20-%20UM%20Connect%20Day.png?itok=opvI7FYe)
Positive Eco-Psychology: How positive psychology can facilitate coping with climate change.
- Nicole Geschwind & Marjolein Hanssen
We will present our project Positive Eco-Psychology. This projects connects our expertise in positive psychology with the need to make the transition towards a sustainable future. We will use validated positive psychology exercises to help people deal with climate worry in an adaptive and pro-active manner. The goal is to enhance people’s well-being and, simultaneously, help them explore how they can contribute towards a sustainable, worthwhile, and desirable future – a future in which we together managed to avert the worst of the climate crisis by acting now.
![UM Career Services logo](/sites/default/files/styles/120x120/public/2024-07/UMCS%20-%20UM%20Connect%20Day.png?itok=i3nDvCGS)
Design Your Dream Career: From Aspiration to Action
- Romy Beuken & Maureen van Brandenburg
Join us for an interactive session focused on exploring your career aspirations and taking practical steps towards achieving them. Engage in interactive activities to reflect on your current work life, envision your ideal job, and identify key elements that matter most to you. Collaborate with others to uncover resources and support, and determine actionable steps to move forward. This session is designed to inspire and empower you to take charge of your career path, starting today with valuable networking opportunities.
![Jan Scheele Talk Like TED](/sites/default/files/styles/120x120/public/2024-07/Talk%20like%20TED%20photo%20-%20UM%20Connect%20Day.png?itok=S4Qfo1yp)
Learning the ingredients of the secret sauce of TED talks, based on coaching 200+ TED speakers
- Jan Scheele
Jan Scheele organized 50 TEDx events worldwide, from Eindhoven and Amsterdam to New York and Baghdad, for organizations such as CERN, United Nations, Police and Defense. He coached more than 200 TED speakers and based on that, he set up ‘Talk like TED’, for professionals who want to work on their speaking skills in a unique way. In recent years he has been able to guide more than 100 organizations and 3500 professionals in this, from Google, Shell and Deloitte to the Police, Houthoff a well-known DJ, State Secretary, politicians and top entrepreneurs. This starts with the story itself, but also goes into more detail about the correct narrative form, posture, avoiding speaking fear and more. In his training he discusses the ingredients that make the TED talks so successful and which you can also apply in your next presentation.
![Edward Huizinga en Liv Meinck](/sites/default/files/styles/120x120/public/2024-07/Benthurst%20%26%20Co%20photo%20-%20UM%20Connect%20Day.png?itok=Ri1PvxjM)
Purpose-powered growth – Elevate your career and business
- Edward Huizinga & Liv Meinck
Struggling to balance making a meaningful social impact with achieving business success? Join our masterclass, "Purpose-powered growth – Elevate your career and business”. We will be discussing how becoming purpose led, unlocks business and personal growth in your fast paced work fields.
Inspired by award-winning programs from consulting to social enterprises, you will learn to leverage behavioural science to unlock the power of real purpose at work. Get a deeper understanding of the most essential approaches for aligning your Ikigai with work and gain personal fulfilment while driving business. Learn practical ways to bridge the gap between social impact and financial performance and find out how doing good can indeed lead to doing well. This masterclass will provide the insights you need to succeed in a purpose-powered career. Let's unlock it together.
![Language Centre Maastricht University](/sites/default/files/styles/120x120/public/2024-07/Language%20Centre%20-%20UM%20Connect%20Day.png?itok=56EG9J-g)
What is intercultural competence?
- Katie Lindley
How do you handle intercultural situations? What makes an interculturally competent person? In this short discussion-based workshop, there will be room for us to discuss what culture is, the role it plays in our lives, and how to improve our intercultural competence.