Ankie Hoefnagels inaugurated as professor on September 17

In her inaugural address, Ankie and the researchers of Global Minds @ Work underline the importance of 'global competence' for professionals. "You must have been living under a rock if you don't know the challenges we face worldwide."

On the 17th of September Ankie Hoefnagels has been inaugurated as professor Global Minds @ Work. Her full inaugural adress, 'The astronaut and the empathy wall: it takes a school to raise a global mind' is now available to the public. Click here to read the inaugural adress.

Ankie Hoefnagels Lector Global Mind @ Work — Ankie Hoefnagels

In her inaugural address, Ankie and the researchers of Global Minds @ Work underline the importance of 'global competence' for professionals. "You must have been living under a rock if you don't know the challenges we face worldwide. Challenges that cannot be solved within national borders. The recent flooding in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, for example, shows what serious local consequences global climate change can have," says Ankie. But there are many more issues at stake on the world stage that call for skilled young professionals in the field of international and intercultural communication. Ankie: "They will soon be able to make an important contribution to a better, inclusive and sustainable world, both as citizens and as professionals."

'It takes a school to raise a global mind'

In order to anchor the global mindset in our thinking, education is needed. That's why the title of Ankie's inaugural address is: 'The astronaut and the empathy wall: it takes a school to raise a global mind'. The thread running through Ankie's story is the astronaut who has a good view of the earth from space. On a clear day, he can even see the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China and the melting ice caps.

Reading between the cultural lines

Ankie studied English and Literature at Utrecht University and received her PhD in Management Science. Since 1991 she has been affiliated with Zuyd. Within the lectureship International Relationship Management she has built a track record with research on (the development of) international competences. Since 2015 she does this within the research program Global Minds. As lector she will deepen and broaden this research. Home base of Global Minds @ Work is Hotel Management School Maastricht. "Ever since I did an internship in hotels in London and New York in the early 1990s, and then started supervising interns myself, I noticed how important it is that as a professional you can read between the - cultural - rules," Ankie says. "I saw how good our hotel management graduates usually are at this. They treat all guests, regardless of origin and position, in a respectful and hospitable manner. I wanted to 'capture' those insights and incorporate them into our education, but also translate them into other professions. Corona has only added to the urgency of this."

Through research, evidence-based education and teacher professionalization, Global Minds @ Work aims to contribute to the development of the international competencies of young professionals. This research takes place among students in higher education, but also in various sectors of business and healthcare.