From student to colleague: Ilse stayed connected to Summa and now works there

What can you gain from staying in touch with Summa after graduation? A great deal, says former student Ilse van den Ham. Eight years after earning her marketing degree, she returned to Summa, this time as a content creator. This was thanks in part to the warm connection with Judith Smits, her former teaching assistant. "Staying in touch can take you further than you think."

Ilse looks back fondly on her student days at Summa. "I had a great class and wonderful teachers. And I found my direction. I started with a healthcare program, but that wasn't a good fit for me. Marketing was. That felt right right away." After graduating, she continued her studies at a university of applied sciences and started working for a large technical service provider. Throughout the years, she stayed in touch with Summa, especially with Judith. "Judith was the 'mom' of the program. You could always turn to her. For a chat, but also if you had something on your mind."

Judith recognizes this. “I enjoy helping students. I often chat and compliment them when I see them wearing new clothes or having a haircut. That contact doesn't stop after graduation. I follow many alumni on LinkedIn and regularly respond to what they're doing.” Sometimes she invites alumni to give guest lectures. Ilse did, for example, and she gave a guest lecture on the transition from vocational education (MBO) to higher professional education (HBO). “It was great to be back in the building and meet my former teachers. It really felt like coming home.”

Two years ago, Judith tipped Ilse off about a vacancy in Marketing & Communications at Summa. "My mother happened to point it out to me," Ilse says with a laugh. "During my studies, I'd never realized that Summa also had a marketing department. But the vacancy and Summa as an employer immediately appealed to me." There were fifty candidates for two positions. Ilse just missed out. "That was a bummer. But shortly after, I got a call: another position had opened up. Now I really enjoy working here. I'm truly in my element."

Judith is no longer a teaching assistant, but now works in PR and outreach for Summa Economics & Business. "It's especially rewarding that I work with Ilse in this role. We're building a LinkedIn community for our alumni, among other things. That way, we stay connected. Alumni can give guest lectures, gain knowledge, or share their experiences. They can also participate in free events or a reunion. We'll also ask them what they're looking for." Ilse encourages alumni to join. "You meet peers and expand your network. Sometimes that puts you right where you want to be. For me, it brought me back to Summa, to work I really enjoy."

Do you also want to stay connected to Summa? Sign up for the newsletter of your education. Did you graduate in marketing and communication? Register with the LinkedIn group.