Vision on education: critical and committed

In her new role as College of Law director, Nanda focuses on the quality and coherence of Bachelor education. 'Our faculty has a clear vision of where students should be after 3 years. Our students should not only have sound knowledge of applicable law but also develop strong legal skills. We also want them to learn to think for themselves so that they can critically and independently reflect on the role of law in society and the position of the lawyer as gatekeeper of the rule of law.' 

To achieve this, Nanda stresses the importance of a broad approach to law, focusing on legal history, philosophy of law, social sciences and ethics. In addition, the the ease of studying the curriculum for students and the workload for lecturers plays an important role in her approach. 

Ambitions and expectations 

Nanda wants to foster an educational climate in which teachers and students feel jointly responsible for the quality of education. 'Lecturers must be given room to be creative and sometimes a little eccentric. I want to challenge students to get the best out of themselves and become aware of their responsibility as future lawyers for society, the rule of law and democracy.'

Her message to students is clear: ‘Don't compare yourself to others, but focus on your own development. And very important: don't be tempted by easy summaries or exam training. Go to lectures, attend working groups, prepare well and read, read, read. Take a serious approach. Make mistakes and learn from them. Realise what a privilege it is to study.' 

Challenges and future plans

The coming period will be one of educational renewal. The revised curriculum is now in its second year, and the third year is still in development. This means that teaching is constantly being monitored and improved. At the same time, Nanda recognises that this is not an easy time for the academic community: 'Worldwide, and also in the Netherlands, we are witnessing a growing anti-intellectual climate in which science is under pressure, while at the same time, we are faced with budget cuts. Especially now, the social responsibility of the Amsterdam Law School is more urgent than ever.' 

For Nanda, bringing students, teachers, and the board together is essential. 'Good decision-making requires engagement and an understanding of what is going on. I take the voices of students, academics, lecturers, educators, and support staff very seriously and I look forward to working together and investing in relationships with the Faculty Student Council, programme committee, and Works Council. You can hold me to that.' 

Free time

‘I clear my head on the tennis court, with a novel or, in summer, in the vegetable garden where we grow old tomato varieties.’ 

Besides all this, Nanda is a mother of two. 'Soon I will be going to a big fireworks festival in Valencia with my 18-year-old son. And on weekends, I often support my 14-year-old on basketball games.' She is also committed to a safe sports environment within the local basketball association.

Nanda is also socially involved in Tilburg, where she is chairman of the board of Feniks, an expertise centre for emancipation.