'Keeping up with new things keeps you sharp'
Our enthusiastic project manager Jolanda van den Bersselaar (59 years old) shines at Summa, Taalkracht and The eight hundred With her impressive resume and passion for education, development, and society, she has become a key player within Summa in recent years. "I'm idealistic and want to bring about (small) changes in society through my work."
After graduating as a nurse, Jolanda went to work at the Maxima Medical Center. "I worked there for a few years, but after a while, I wanted something different. I've always been quite restless and tried many different things, including studying law, for example. I found that too boring, so I enrolled in teacher training, after which I started as a practice supervisor at the hospital. So, I was already working on a lifelong development program (LLO). After a few years, I wanted to see something other than the hospital. I then had three jobs: at Fontys, where I supervised and supported the care coordination program, and at the predecessor of Summa and I did contract teaching in the neighborhoods.”
After a while, Jolanda decided to dedicate herself entirely to Summa. “I've been a teacher, developed educational programs, been a training coordinator, and much more. Every few years, I had a different role at Summa until I started missing healthcare. I briefly branched out into home care, but after a year, I returned to Summa. I've been working as a project manager for five years now, and it's the most rewarding thing I've ever done. I enjoy connecting the business world and education and exploring how to create suitable programs.”
Staying stimulated is good for you as a person
I find it important to stay motivated. Perhaps that's the restlessness I mentioned earlier. I love doing new things and connecting people. I work with great energy for Summa, Taalkracht, and De achthonderd, and I find these target groups incredibly valuable. Contributing to society and being meaningful is important to me. That's why I also do a lot of volunteer work; I've served on the boards of welfare organizations, am involved in the dementia-friendly neighborhood, have been a language buddy, and go out with elderly and disabled people who have no one.
As the busy bee that she is, Jolanda also takes courses and training in her free time. “Continuing to do new things keeps you sharp, and it's important to enrich yourself. That doesn't even have to be work-related; it's simply good for you as a person. I've often wondered if I shouldn't do something else again, and a few years ago I even had a career coach. That's when I realized that at Summa, I'd found the perfect match for the things I enjoy doing, especially in my role as a project manager. I'm quite idealistic and want to make a (small) difference in society with my work. I want to see attention paid to the target groups I serve and for certain regulations in the Netherlands to change.”
Not everyone fits into the perfect picture
“I think we should all be more aware that education simply needs to be different these days, for young people and adults. I no longer believe in fixed, long-term programs. I think many people would benefit from modular or short routes, focused on their profession or skills. As an educational institution, you have to keep pace with this, and that's what we're doing at Summa. These are great steps, and I'm happy to be able to contribute. Besides, not everyone fits the perfect mold, and every person is unique. We have to take that into account together. I'm truly proud of what we can do with De achthonderd for the low-educated and low-literate. When you see how proud and happy they are when they earn a certificate, that's what drives me."