TU/e helps international staff and students feel at home with Homewards
Attracting new colleagues is one thing. Ensuring that they really do feel at home here is a completely different challenge. This is particularly true in the Brainport region, where more and more international students and staff are settling. The TU/e recognises that social connection is just as important as finding a job or a suitable degree programme. That is why the university encourages and funds participation in Homewards: a programme in which international and local people explore the region together.
For many international staff, their time in Eindhoven begins full of energy. A new job or course in an innovative region brimming with opportunities. But once the first few weeks are over and they’ve settled in, another question often arises: how do you actually build a life here? Mitchell Uzeel, onboarding policy adviser at TU/e, sees this as an important responsibility for employers and knowledge institutions. That is why the TU/e’s HR department actively sent out invitations to Homewards to new international staff, and the university covered the cost of participation. ‘We know that social integration is one of the greatest needs of international staff. But the TU/e is open from nine to five. How do you ensure that someone settles into the region outside those hours? It’s important, because those who feel at home will stay.’
A soft landing in Brainport
Homewards helps with this and is an initiative of Eindhoven365, Holland Expat Center South and Brainport Development. Over three months, participants explore the city together, get to know locals and other internationals, and gain a better understanding of the region’s culture and history.
For Alejandro Castillo-Trujillo and Jose Andre Herrera, Homewards made an immediate impact. Alejandro is from Colombia and is studying for a master’s degree at TU/e, whilst Jose Andre moved here from Guatemala to pursue his PhD. During the programme, they cycled through Strijp together, visited the Philips Museum and discovered just how closely technology is intertwined with Eindhoven’s history. ‘To be honest, I didn’t know anything about the city at first,’ says Jose Andre with a laugh. ‘Not even where the name Eindhoven comes from. It means something like “the end of the landscapes”. During Homewards, you learn that sort of thing in a very natural way.’
‘Whether you’re from above or below the rivers makes a difference here’
It wasn’t just about history. It was the cultural stories in particular that really stuck with me. ‘For example, I learnt that in the Netherlands it really does make a difference whether you’re from above or below the rivers. Conversations like that help you to understand people and the culture better.’ Alejandro also discovered a different side to the region during the programme. ‘You learn about Philips and how this region has grown to become one of the most innovative in the world. That made me feel part of the whole much more quickly.’
From new contacts to genuine friendships
Because, as well as getting to know the city, it was particularly rewarding on a personal level. Jose Andre: ‘I’ve made friends whom I still see. We plan dinners together and speak regularly. That’s what I was looking for.’ Alejandro: ‘It made me happier, because it gave me the feeling that I belong.’
According to Mitchell, that is precisely where the value for employers lies. ‘Jose Andre and Alejandro’s experiences show what that connection does.’ Because successful onboarding isn’t just about accommodation or paperwork. ‘International staff often don’t leave because their job isn’t what they expected, but because they don’t feel at home socially. As an employer, you might not have complete control over that, but you can help to establish that connection more quickly.’
He emphasises that this is particularly important in this region. ‘Here, we desperately need international talent. So you also have to invest in people’s wellbeing outside the workplace. The investment is small compared to the cost of someone seeking opportunities elsewhere.’ Mitchell also has a strong personal belief in the initiative. ‘I truly believe in this programme and in what it offers people. As far as I’m concerned, this is something we should continue with in the future.’
Two new intakes
Later this year, two new intakes of Homewards will begin: from August to October and from November to January. Employers and higher education institutions wishing to register staff or facilitate participation can contact the Homewards programme manager via n.verwiel@brainportdevelopment.nl.
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