Dean Ad Smits Hotel School Maastricht retires

"Ad always had ‘The Next Step in Hospitality’ in mind, and now after 14 years it is time to close the gates and take The Next Step himself."

Mr. Ad Smits, dean of Hotel Management School Maastricht - an academy of Zuyd Hogeschool - will retire in April. Ad Smits was dean of the hotel school since September 2008. It is not yet known who will succeed him.

Ad Smits staat voor de poort van de Hotelschool Maastricht — Drs. Ad Smits

Vision and goals

Ad Smits began his career at Zuyd Hogeschool as dean of the Facility Management academy. In September 2008, he transferred to the Hotel Management School Maastricht. Since September 2011, he has been dean of both academies.

For Ad, students and staff were the main focus. Education was his priority and his passion. He was deeply involved in the curriculum and its development. For instance, in 2013, the programme received the special feature for ‘Small-Scale and Intensive Education’ from NVAO and in 2018, the programme was internationally accredited by THE-ICE.

In addition, Ad has always made a case for strengthening the positioning of the study programme. He had a clear vision on matters such as the Teaching Hotel, the new Student Residence on campus and the research centres. He was focused on quality and his goal was to put the Hotel Management School Maastricht on the map not only nationally, but also internationally.

At Zuyd Hogeschool

Ad was dean of both the hotel school and the Facility Management academy and he was active in many areas within Zuyd. He represented Zuyd nationally in the Sectoral Advisory Board for Higher Economic Education (SAC HEO) of the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, where he was also a member of the executive board. He was also an ambassador for the internship platform OnStage, which is now used throughout Zuyd.

Legacy

Despite the fact Ad is leaving, we will see his legacy in many ways: the renovated campus, the Foundation HMSM, the expansion of the international student stream. Ad always had ‘The Next Step in Hospitality’ in mind, and now after 14 years it is time to close the gates and take The Next Step himself.