Featuring the opening of the Erasmus Data Collaboratory

The valedictory address of Prof. Peter Vervest will be held on Friday 24 September in the Aula of Erasmus University. The address will be preceded by a debate at 13:00 in the Erasmus University on the theme of his speech Fast-Forward Digital: A new kind of university.

In our digital, networked world, with rapid advances in data analytics and artificial intelligence, what should students expect from a modern university?

Immediately following the debate, the Erasmus Centre for Data Analytics (ECDA) will formally open its Erasmus Data Collaboratory, an experimental environment for students and researchers to study and work on concrete, societal challenges using advanced data-analysis and visualisation techniques.

Peter came to Rotterdam School of Management as a student in 1976. On completing his studies in law and management science, he joined Philips Telecommunications in the early days of connecting computers to telecommunication networks (1979). Peter specialised in open information systems (“Open Systems Interconnection”) and graduated summa cum laude (1986) at Technical University Delft. He was elected professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam in 1992. He combines academic and business life, was divisional director of Philips Electronics, UK (1987), co-founded a high-tech software and project firm (London, 1991) and became partner of D-Age, a group of high-tech counsellors and investment managers (2000).

Since 2004 he has directed his research to “smart business networks” with several key publications (e.g., Smart Business Networks, 2004, The Network Experience, 2008). As chair of the complexity study programs of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (2011-2018), he developed an ambition to understand and explore new ways to get grip on complex business and societal challenges that result from our deeply connected world. He believes a digital transformation of education, universities specifically, is mandatory and unavoidable to empower our young generation to deal with the networked future.

Programme:

13.00 – 14.30 Debate Welcome – Introduction: Eric van Heck, Professor of Information Management & Markets at RSM.
Debate: The theme: Fast-forward digital: A new kind of university

14.30 – 15.00 Opening of the Erasmus Data Collaboratory, Erasmus Centre for Data Analytics – Gerrit Schipper, executive director

15.00 – 15.30 Break and Coffee

15.30 – 16.00 Walk and Procession: Walk into Aula and valedictory procession

16.00 – 17.00 Valedictory speech by Prof. Peter Vervest: “Fast-Forward Digital: A new kind of university” in the Aula of Erasmus University, Rotterdam

Due to Covid regulations, the number of seats for the Debate and for the Valedictory address will be limited. Registration will be required. You can choose to attend only the valedictory speech or both events. We will provide a livestream for anyone who cannot attend on campus. A formal invitation letter will be sent mid-August with a registration link and details for the livestream access.

For more information, please email valedictory4all@rsm.nl with specific questions.

For the official website of the event, please visit https://www.rsm.nl/valedictory-vervest