Farewell interview with Pim Dopheide: ‘Keep spreading kindness’

Do you remember your first day at BUas?
I’ve actually always been a bit of an odd one out, because I’ve been in permanent employment for 12.5 years, but before that I was a freelancer and worked on lots of projects at NHTV/BUas. I still remember my very first day clearly: I was given a first-year class to supervise, which I found quite exciting. I immediately thought: how special it is to be able to work with young people. It was a really lovely, new experience for me.

Do you remember which courses you taught back then?
That was Leisure Management, more from the project management side. Students were given a fictional event that they had to organise from start to finish, complete with scripts and so on.

Before we talk about BUas, I believe you had quite a rich career before joining us. Could you tell us a bit about what you did previously?
After my studies at NWIT, I became a management assistant at the ANVR, the Dutch Association of Travel Agencies. I then became director of the VVV (tourist information office) in Den Helder and later of the VVV Noord- en Midden-Limburg. After that, I set up on my own with my own consultancy and project management firm. Among other things, I had the opportunity to introduce the Netherlands’ cycling node network, from planning and grant applications right through to implementation and maintenance – truly from A to Z. I also held a number of interim management roles at VVVs and carried out a great deal of work for local authorities, partnership organisations and the business sector, always as a freelancer and always within the leisure sector.

And then you went to NHTV/BUas?
Guido Aerts and Arend Hardorff asked me at the time to carry out some work for the Kenniscentrum Multifunctionele Leisure Locaties (Knowledge Centre for Multifunctional Leisure Venues). That was about 12.5 years ago.

Have things changed a great deal in recent years?
Certainly. Fortunately, a lot of good things, but also some not-so-good ones. What has changed significantly, I think, is that we used to pass on more knowledge to students, whereas now education is more demand-driven. That also requires different knowledge and skills from lecturers. Furthermore, you can of course see that technology, automation and now also AI bring with them a completely different way of working and providing guidance. We also went through the coronavirus pandemic, which meant we started working from home much more, and you can still see the effects of that today. I do find that a shame, because you miss out on contact with fellow lecturers, and it’s precisely that contact you need to be able to make a meaningful difference to your students.

Have you also noticed that students have changed over the years?
If you compare students from 12 years ago with those of today, there’s a huge difference. This is partly down to the massive growth of social media and changes to the student finance system. In the past, students tended to see their studies as their main priority; now it’s often their second, third or fourth priority and they have other things they’re focusing on. You can clearly see that. Of course, you have to generalise a bit, because there were always students who were doing well and those who weren’t, even back then. I’ve decided for myself that it’s better to focus on students who are keen to achieve something – and whom you’re therefore keen to offer a little extra support and guidance – rather than focusing on students who are content with a mere pass mark. You get a lot more energy out of that yourself.

What is the project or moment you look back on with greatest pride?
Entrepreneurship is something I really enjoy: students who want to start their own business alongside their studies, or already have one – I did BUas-wide coaching work for them. That gives me a lot of energy. The Transformative Leadership programme (Vernieuwend Leiderschap), set up by Diane Nijs, is also high on my list. I’m proud that we were able to get that off the ground together. I’d like to go into a bit more detail here. Transformative Leadership represents a shift from problem-solving ‘fixing’ to ‘shaping’: creating the conditions in which organisations, as living systems, renew themselves. It’s based on the science of complexity and on imagineering. Through reframing, co-creating and breaking through, it focuses on complex challenges – moving from complaints to strengths, and working with people rather than for them. We do this with healthcare institutions, local authorities and regions. I was also closely involved in two minors, and in doing so we have always collaborated extensively with the business community. Those were very rewarding moments.

Is there a colleague who has influenced your life or work in the past few years?
There are a few, but Diane Nijs really stands out. I’ve worked with her a great deal and learned a lot from her – and I’d like to think she’s learned from me too – so it was truly a win-win situation. Transformative Leadership isn’t easy to get off the ground; it requires a fundamentally different way of thinking. I’ve also learned a great deal from, and thoroughly enjoyed working with, colleagues from Leisure & Events Management, such as Nikki Hendriks, Roeland Bottema, Dorothé Gerritsen, Ronald van Olderen and several others. These were people who gave me energy, whom I spent a lot of time with, and whom I could turn to for advice on both business and personal matters. They mean a great deal to me.

What advice would you give to new colleagues joining BUas in the future?
Really focus on students who are keen to learn. You can’t please everyone – that’s simply impossible. Listen carefully to your colleagues, ask them lots of questions and stay true to yourself. Prepare your work thoroughly and be consistent with your students. These are basic things, but if you do them, you’re already one step ahead. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes either – that’s absolutely fine. I’m also not afraid to simply say to students or colleagues: ‘I don’t know the answer to that right now; I’ll look it up or let you know later.’ Just go ahead and co-create with students – you don’t have to know everything. And have fun, keep smiling – that’s really important.

What has the job brought you, apart from the content of your role?
First and foremost, lovely colleagues – friends even – and that’s really important. It’s also enabled me to look at myself in a different and fresh way. I deliberately say ‘fresh’: I used to be quite judgemental; I wanted to do right by the students and was quick to tell them what was best to do. But you have to let the students take the lead more, and I’ve had to learn not to be judgemental. And I’ve made more use, of late, of the fact that you can learn a great deal from students, colleagues and the professional field.

Now that you’re retiring, you’ll have more time for yourself. What are you going to do?
I used to hear people say to me quite often: ‘You’ve got a lovely voice, why don’t you sing?’ I’d always reply: ‘Sing? No, I’ve never done that before.’ At one point, I thought, ‘I’ll give singing lessons a go.’ So I did, and my singing teacher said, ‘I know a really lovely choir for you.’ Now I’m a member of a choir and I go every Tuesday evening. I really enjoy it and it gives me loads of energy. I’ve also become a budget coach. I do voluntary work for people who are struggling financially or have lost track of their finances; I help them out. Besides that, Italy is my second home; I want to go there more often and I want to do more with my Italian as well. On top of that, I do quite a bit of sport – currently twice a week – and I combine this with walking and cycling.

What do you miss already, and what will you definitely not miss?
I already miss the one-to-one conversations with students; I always get a lot of energy from them. I’ll also miss my colleagues, as I enjoy having a chat or a discussion about our field. I’ll also miss the campus, with its many industry contacts. Cycling here every day – I live right in the city centre – I sometimes find myself thinking: what a fantastic setting this really is. I’m going to miss that. What I won’t miss, though, is the bureaucracy that has developed here. I do find that a shame, although I also realise it’s necessary as you grow and centralise more. But needing so much permission and so many signatures for everything, that administrative side – that's something I certainly won't miss.

Is there anything else you’d like to add in closing?
BUas has gold in its hands. What other university of applied sciences brings together all aspects of leisure under one roof? With lecturers brimming with knowledge, national and international students, a rich history and a beautiful campus that fosters synergy almost naturally. A place that the industry, both nationally and internationally, makes grateful use of. That's what sets us apart from all other universities of applied sciences. I also want to say that I'm proud to have been able to work here, and that I'm very grateful to my employer for the opportunity I was given. I'd also like to thank my colleagues and, of course, all the students for the wonderful conversations we've had, as well as the many people from the professional field. Something else I find special: I've never experienced stress here. I leave here feeling proud and grateful, and I wish everyone lots of happiness, love and success for the future. I look back on my time at BUas with great fondness and I’ll certainly miss it. Keep spreading kindness.