Pre-University College celebrates 20-year anniversary: ‘Still unique in the Netherlands’
Leiden University's Pre-University College is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The programme introduced hundreds of secondary school pupils to science and the university. We asked those involved how PRE became so popular: ‘The students are the reason it still exists today.’
On a Summer morning, Jan Kijne, Marieke Brugman and Janna van Helden meet at the Old Observatory for an interview. They have not seen each other for a long time and the reunion is warm and cheerful. ‘I had Googled you again,’ Marieke laughs. ‘Like: how would it be with Jan now?’
Who is who?
Jan Kijne (right) was in the 1990s educational director of biology and later vice-dean at the Faculty of Science. In these roles, he became involved in informational activities for pupils in secondary school (vwo). When the Pre-University College was founded, Jan became scientific director. He remained involved until recently.
Marieke Brugman (middle) studied classical languages and worked at ICLON for LappTop, the current Pre-University Classes. When the PRE-College was set up in 2004, she ‘rolled right into it’. After seven years as educational coordinator, she joined UNESCO.
Janna van Helden (left) participated in PRE-College as a student when Marieke Brugman was still educational coordinator. After studying philosophy and psychology, Janna worked for various honours programmes at Leiden University. In 2020, she became educational coordinator at PRE-College Leiden.
Back to the beginning
While Marieke Brugman was completing her classical language studies and Janna van Helden was still in secondary school, Jan Kijne was already closely involved in university life. He describes the creation of the PRE-College as the convergence of two related developments.
‘Schools were at a loss because children didn't have enough to do’
On the one hand, recruitment got in the picture around 1996. 'The idea prevailed that people would automatically come to Leiden. Adriaan in ’t Groen did his best to change that idea and organised a large series of effective recruitment activities.’
On the other hand, there was a need for a better connection between secondary school and university. ‘Jacqueline Hoornweg was recruited to give shape to that,’ Jan continues. ‘She came up with all kinds of ideas: can we do this, can we do that?’ From this dynamic emerged LappTop: lecture series for curious vwo students.
‘No elitism’
The Pre-University College also emerged from this dynamic. But Jan Kijne was not too keen on the recruitment aspect. 'When I got the call whether I wanted to design the PRE-College, I did sleep on it for a night. What I didn't like was the elitist nature of ‘attracting top students’. If PRE was to be anything, it was a fair activity for high school students who could handle it and were enthusiastic about it.'
‘Well, the rector let me have that opinion,’ Jan smiles. 'Then Jacqueline became the organisational backbone, PRE started rolling and Marieke Brugman joined. Within a year, we set up a programme with the schools.' By and large, that programme still exists today: five educational blocks, spread over two years, in which PRE students learn about science, dive into various disciplines and set up their own research.
PRE-College or PRE-Classes?
The Honours Academy of Leiden University organises various programmes for secondary school pupils (at PRE: students) who lack a challenge and want to delve deeper into science.
- In the PRE-Classes (formerly LappTop), students attend a number of meetings on a specific subject, such as astronomy, French or security studies.
- The PRE-College Leiden is a two-year programme in which students touch upon several areas of science and set up their own research.
- Established in 2019, PRE Den Haag is a one-year programme at the Campus Den Haag. Besides their introduction to socially relevant research, students get to work on a local problem and follow a personal development trajectory.
Together with the schools
‘A very important point,’ stresses Jan: ‘Both LappTop and PRE-College were initiatives together with the schools.’ At ICLON, which maintained contact with 75 schools, they picked up clear signals. Marieke: ‘Schools were sometimes at a loss because children did not have enough to do.’
Schools have always remained involved in the implementation of PRE, says current coordinator Janna. 'It is very important to hear how PRE fits within a student's further development. Sometimes there are things that don't do well among students, but of which schools tell us: this is very important.' An example is the motivation letter, which costs all parties a lot of time. ‘Schools tell us: don't scratch it, for students this is an exercise for a lifetime.’
Success formula
An exercise for life: that also seems to apply to PRE-College itself. Because what people set up 20 years ago is still standing.
Jan: ‘Students themselves have made it possible that it still exists, because teachers really enjoy working with them. They excite each other and the teachers with their enthusiasm. If that spreads, you also get cooperation from the faculties.'
'When you ask them about PRE 20 years later, a smile still appears on their face'
For participants themselves, PRE is a warm place where they meet like-minded people and follow their curiosity. Participants get excited about different disciplines, from linguistics and law to archaeology. Jan: ‘We once rejected someone who had a 9.0 as GPA, but only wanted to immerse himself in STEM subjects. We said: this programme is not for you.'
The versatility of the programme is actually a plus for most PRE students, Marieke thinks. ‘I remember a girl who was considering doing a physics profielwerkstuk (final assignment, red.) at school and thought: this is my chance to learn about this subject.’ Marieke looks back on PRE emotionally. 'I could see those children start beaming. And - this is so special - when you ask them about PRE 20 years later, a smile still appears on their face.'
New generations
‘I like that it still exists,’ Marieke continues. ‘Maybe one of my children will apply for PRE too.’ Is there anything PRE can, or should, change for the new generations?
It would be good if a broader group of students participated, Marieke thinks. Not everyone for whom the programme is intended finds their way to PRE, for instance because their surroundings are not familiar with the university. For that group in particular, Pre-University is a great opportunity to get introduced to science.
‘That is certainly a good aim,’ Janna agrees. ‘PRE Den Haag already has a much more diverse population and at PRE Leiden we are also working on this with the schools.’
Janna would also like to have more freedom for students to choose their courses: ‘So that we connect more with the skills PRE students themselves want to develop.’ And Jan Kijne? He keeps things short. 'The programme has existed for 20 years now and is still unique in the Netherlands. It has proved to be a good, viable club of people. I like to leave it up to them how they are will shape the future.'
Text: Michiel Knoester
Photos: Eelkje Colmjon