Episode 19: The Uni of Peace and Quiet and Learning to Love a Mid-life Crisis at Transition U

Time for a further landmark in the My Imaginary University podcast series. It is another live recording but our first at an international conference. This recording was made at the 2024 HUMANE annual conference at the University of Amsterdam and features not one but two imaginary higher education institutions. Our creative presenters are Leon Van de Zande, Secretary General at the University of Amsterdam, and Marianna Bom, Chief Financial Officer at Aalto University in Finland. 

Leon's imagined university is the home of Peace and Quiet, a very non-hierarchical institution where there is genuine parity of esteem between teaching and research. The university is city-based with strong civic engagement, an international outlook and a very laid back Vice-Chancellor. No-one there cares about rankings but they do have a nice social environment, just quieter and more peaceful than most and therapy dogs to support students in all parts of the campus.

Marianna presents Transition U, an institution designed for those 50 and above who have messed up their first career and have time to learn to have another go as well as having plenty of disposable income. It’s not just a university for failures though as students at this start up also go on to great careers (indeed some even offer careers advice to students at the University of Peace and Quiet). The university's symbol is a phoenix rising from the ashes, a very apt image for those seeking to move on from their mid-life crises.

The contrast in the anthems for our two universities could not be more striking with upbeat hits facing off against something a lot more peaceful.

Both imaginary vice-chancellors do a great job of handling questions from the floor, making this a really entertaining episode.