NAHSS Summer School

• You are fluent in English in speaking and writing. A Dutch nationality is not a requirement.
• You have an affinity with Southeast Asia and China.
• You are ambitious, social, open-minded, and entrepreneurial.
• You are an excellent student (the student meets at least one of the following criteria):
  • Honours student;
  • Performed relevant extracurricular activities;
  • Above average grades (≥7.5 out of 10).

* Higher-year levels bachelor students with valid reasons for study delay may also apply for the NAHSS (e.g. board year and/or internship).

You can apply from December 1st, 2023 till January 10th, 2024. Information on how to apply can be found on the NAHSS website.

Selection for the NAHSS consists of two rounds. The first round of selection is conducted by the UU Honours College. The selected students are nominated by a national selection committee for the second round of selection. This selection is conducted by a team of delegates from NAHSS partners. This second selection round results in the final group of students who will participate in NAHSS.

In 2022, I participated in the Netherlands-Asia Honours Summer School (NAHSS). With NAHSS's comprehensive programme, I and around 70 other students learned about Asia in general and China in particular; with a focus on academia, business and culture. The variety of students, nine of whom came from UU last year and the rest from other universities in the Netherlands, is immediately a big plus. There was a wide variety of students and studies, from technical studies at TUs to agronomy and political science. A commonality between everyone was an interest in the NAHSS theme (this year's Reinventing Growth and Globalisation) and, of course, an interest in Asia and China. All these different backgrounds brought different perspectives and a whole lot of critical questions for the speakers during the lectures.

Even though NAHSS is a summer school in name, it is one that is a lot more comprehensive than just one summer. In March, you get to know everyone during the kick-off. Then the group is divided into groups of about 6 or 7 students, who all do a consultancy project (between March and about July) for one of the NAHSS partners on a lot of different topics. I myself did a consultancy with PricewaterhouseCoopers last year, on the opportunities and risks for Dutch business in the Chinese hydrogen market.

How much time does it take?

Usually, I had meetings with my small group for about one to one-and-a-half hours a week and worked on the project myself for another three to four hours a week. This also took into account everyone's exams and other deadlines. I even wrote my thesis during NAHSS. This was easy to combine, precisely by working in such a project-oriented way!

What was the highlight for you?

For me, the highlight of NAHSS was really the summer programme. First a week of summer school in Leiden and The Hague with mainly an academic focus, and then two weeks in Singapore! Although we couldn't go to China because of COVID, it was actually interesting to see how China influences everything in Singapore, from companies to the culture. Company visits, going to the residence of the Dutch ambassador in Singapore, a beach volleyball tournament with Dutch expats and a programme at the National University of Singapore were very cool experiences. I myself, like several other participants, took the opportunity after NAHSS to travel on to Thailand and Vietnam. Also highly recommended!

What has NAHSS brought you?

In the end, NAHSS gave me the opportunity to learn more about a subject I find super interesting, as well as to discover that I really do aspire to a job in (sustainability) politics and international relations later on. Thus, NAHSS has brought me a bit further in finding my ideal field of work. On a personal level too, when it comes to presenting and networking, for example, NAHSS has taught me a lot. In addition, you come into contact with a very nice and ambitious group of people, with a genuine interest in the subject of Asia and/or the theme of NAHSS, from which friendships are bound to develop.

I can only say: if you are interested in Asia, China, international relations and globalisation, take this opportunity and definitely apply for next year!