The text on this page was automatically translated and hence may differ from the original. No rights can be derived from this translation.
I am a research master's student in the Organization Studies and Human Resource Studies program at Tilburg University. As part of my studies, I am currently a research trainee involved in various projects related to my field. Since January, I have been working with Dialogic on a project focusing on interorganizational cooperation within the Dutch education sector. By analysing network data from secondary and higher education institutions alongside individual student characteristics, I aim to explore the impact that cooperation and greater coherence within the education system have on the career choices of school graduates.
During my time at Tilburg University, I have received comprehensive training in various methodological aspects of organization studies and have developed a keen interest in network analysis and related theories. I am now excited to apply this knowledge in a field connected to social policy, which aligns with my academic background in sociology with a specific focus on education, social policy, and labour relations.
A few years ago, there was a governmental initiative in the Netherlands to increase student enrolment in natural and engineering science university programmes by promoting collaboration among educational institutions. Dialogic evaluated this programme and found a positive impact on students' career decisions. However, there has been no further exploration into how collaboration actually enhances student enrolment in specific subjects. Therefore, my goal is to provide a theoretically grounded explanation of how cooperation within education systems influences individuals' decision-making processes. These insights could potentially offer practical implications by demonstrating how networking can be used as a policy tool instead of traditional school-based approaches.
I am confident that this project will not only enhance my research skills but also allow me to delve into a thematic area that will be valuable for my future professional endeavours. Collaborating with Dialogic on this project gives me the opportunity to conduct research in a more practically relevant field compared to my university projects. To balance my academic work, I enjoy staying active through sports such as running and tennis, as well as exploring different countries whenever possible.