As a professional, there was always a natural liking for universities. It was on the wish list to someday be part of the Higher Education clan. From experience I can now say: it is a work environment like no other. The academic year cycle forms a particular atmosphere. Being surrounded by young students, in their phase in life, working their way to be educated lot. After today I am no longer a university staff member. It was always going to be a temporary role. But still. Time to look back with fond memories. This place. This community. This village. On a beautiful campus. Just outside of Edinburgh. 

Catering 

For my physical health it is definitely better that I leave. It was getting harder to resist the lovely Krispy Kremes doughnuts in the student union shop. Especially the seasonal ones, colourful and delicious, making it extra challenging to walk on by. To buy them for the team, but actually eating most of it yourself. That kind of thing. The first couple of months I was able to restrain myself from the frequent walk to the Starbucks coffee shop right outside our office, but in the end that proved to be difficult. I wasn’t a particular Starbucks fan before, but I fear that that now has changed.  

The Empire biscuits, available in another part of campus, will too be missed. It is a sweet biscuit popular in the United Kingdom, particularly Scotland. Just after my arrival to Edinburgh last summer, I learned about them. They are my ultimate favourite sweets here. I’m not allowed to buy them very often. Especially not the ones on campus, because they are three times the normal size. I am not joking. 

Brilliant content 

Several years ago, I was a student in Scotland myself. The study programme and the social practice have made it an extraordinary and unforgettable adventure. Wonderful international friendships were founded at the time and are still lively today. It has been pretty cool working here and seeing other people create the same life changing friendships. Great, inspiring content for international marketing campaigns, as you can imagine. Some job!  

The hashtag 

The hashtags in higher education are an often-used instrument to give university brands linguistic colour on social media. What a lovely concept for someone loving hashtags. I can ask people about their hashtag, what they consider their hashtag to be. It’s a known fact that I often use the # in both written as well as verbal communication: to define a social moment; to break the tension or add to a joyous occasion. I think the hashtag is a clever way of communicating and cuts to the chase of things. Lovely part of my job to spread the brand hashtags. 

Dutch approach 

Yes, I do think that my Dutch bluntness often caused for a few humorous scenes here and there. Amusing encounters with colleagues. Especially during projects close the ‘professional heart’ so to say. When I am passionate about something, there is no running away from it. Not hard to imagine what my straightforward communication style can do in a group with locals here.  

Appreciation 

This job allowed me to hit the ground running when I moved out here. Changing jobs can be nerve wrecking, especially in another country. I rather see the start of this job as a super smooth transition from old to new life. The perfect way to take the plunge I’d say. The parking ticket saga and the opening of a bank account were definitely more stressful.  

I enjoyed being part of the soft, yet commercial business of knowledge and education and I discovered the appeal of the temporary position. A valuable experience for the rest of my career. But, most importantly, this job has shown me the value of my work, what I bring as a person. You could say that I slightly lost that perspective. For regaining that, I am grateful.  

Team spirit 

Standing in a long queue between chatty backpack and laptop carrying students, waiting to order a fresh cup of coffee, it suddenly hit me. I am leaving uni end of the week… The team spirit was there from the start and delivered a main stage performance throughout. The ‘Tea at 3’ moments in the office, with home baked sweets made by colleagues, the thoughtful – highly unnecessary – gifts from exotic places; the Christmas cards; the sincere gratitude for project initiated… In the end, the little things count in life. Colleagues can turn into friends and that has definitely happened here. Better to bring tissues on my last day, because it is likely that I’m going to need them.

#Happy 

But, let’s not shed tears for too long, as a new exciting role awaits. We can absolutely end on a happy note. There is a start-up business not too far from here, in a sector that I have yet to discover: sustainable agriculture. Let’s see how we can stir up the marketing and communication activities there 😊