External Reviewer for Sandberg Institute
In July 2019 I was invited by Jurgen Bey, director of the Sandberg Institute and Annelys de Vet, head of the Masters of Design department to participate in the accreditation process of the Sandberg Institute’s Master of Design Program. I was part of a diverse panel of international experts in art and design who participated in the re-accreditation process that takes place every six years.
More about the Institute:
Gerrit Rietveld Academie (GRA) is an ‘University of Applied Sciences’ (UAS) with about 850 students, of which 700 are enrolled in bachelor courses at ‘Rietveld Academie’, and 150 in master courses at ‘Sandberg Instituut’. Both parts of the academy have specific traditions, educational practices and identities, to which students, tutors and staff feel strongly committed.
Still, it is acknowledged there are similarities and interdependencies – and especially shared interests, that need a representation ‘as one institute’. This is necessary to continue operating as an independent, critically innovative academy in the challenging and ever more demanding context of the arts, art education, the city and society.
In recent years many extra impulses were given to the formation of this single community, ‘in which people can totally disagree with each other’. Culmination of this process is the making of a new Institution Document (2019-2032) under the guidance of an external project leader/writer, which re-articulates the profiles of both parts, but also the values, vision, ambition, and mission of what is the common institute. ‘Sounding board groups’ consisting of heads of bachelors and masters courses, have been working on this together with an editorial team. The starting point for the document is the result of discussions with various panels and individuals, study days, and a ‘catalogue of ambitions’ – a result of a digital survey and discussions with the ‘Academy Assembly’.
The broad consultation and bottom up process is already leading to overarching results that all can and want to represent outside, while it is also articulated where differences in profiles, opinions and practices can and must exist. The process is leading to a shared language and a new, sustainable structure for internal conversation involving the entire community respectfully.
