Carien is a Continuous Improvement Coach: ‘Wherever I am at Saxion, I feel at home’
If anyone knows Saxion inside out, it’s Carien van Horne. She’s worked all over the university: including as a lecturer, project leader and adviser. In recent years, she’s worked as a Continuous Improvement coach. “Saxion has always been a really good employer,” said Carien. “When you’re given the space and the trust, you can’t help but grow.”
In her role as coach for the Continuous Improvement programme, you can bump into her all over the university, she says. Carien and her six fellow coaches help departments, teams, supervisors and individual employees improve the quality of their work bit by bit, day by day. “One of the ways we do that is by assisting supervisors with their yearly plans. But also by collaborating to make department consultations more productive, supporting projects and project leaders or coaching a colleague in the clarification of a work-related problem,” she says. “I stay for a particular period with a department or school – depending on which internal clients need our help.”
Coaching and mentoring is a common thread
This way of working fits Carien to a T. Coaching and mentoring have been a common thread throughout her career at our university, which she started in 1989 at the age of 15, after getting her Sociology degree. “I went directly from studying into teaching when I became a lecturer at Hogeschool Oost-Nederland, which later merged into Saxion. At that age, the decision to go into education may not have been a conscious one at the time, but I did feel that the position was right for me from the very start. And I still do to this day.”
A wonderful time
Carien worked for ten years as a lecturer, tutor and mentor, including in the Small Business & Retail Management degree programme. After that, she then became project leader of the APL programme for people who wanted to rejoin the labour market and lateral-entry students wishing to do higher vocational education programmes. “It was one of the forerunners of the current Saxion part-time School. For me, that was a wonderful time. I had subsequently held various positions and roles, which had a certain amount of overlap or that flowed naturally into one another. This growth occurred automatically in a way, because I was always given enough room to grow.”
I held various positions and roles, which had some overlap or that flowed naturally into one another. This growth occurred automatically in a way, because I was always given enough room to grow.
Starting afresh twice a year
What makes working at a university of applied sciences so appealing to Carien? “An academic year is a busy time, but also a special one. The room to reflect comes naturally due to the summer holidays. I’ve always enjoyed that.” According to Carien, it’s a key difference with working in the corporate sector. “In education, including at Saxion, we get to start afresh twice a year. Not just at the start of the academic year, but also after the summer break. September is such a marvellous time: new students, new opportunities and a whole new energy. We jump in with both feet – together.”
Always at home
The variety she has in her job gives her extra energy too. She finds it interesting to be able to provide input throughout the organisation in her role as a coach. “You do need a home base, but I always succeed in finding that in the schools and departments I’m assigned to. Then, I am temporarily and intensively involved in a team. These days I know so many of my colleagues that I feel at home all over the organisation.”
Everyone feels very connected at Saxion
What typifies that ‘Saxion feeling’ for Carien? “Compared to other universities of applied sciences, many of which are larger than our own, I’d say we have maintained our unity as an organisation. A lot is organised centrally, despite our presence in three different cities. But you still regularly bump into quite a few colleagues at two if not three of our locations. I feel like just as much of a ‘Saxionite’ in Deventer as in Enschede or Apeldoorn. The organisation is big enough that you can keep on improving yourself but it is also very connected. It doesn’t feel that big. In that respect, our Executive Board feels ‘accessible’ to me. Our accomplishments are much appreciated and that also gets expressed.”
I feel like just as much of a ‘Saxionite’ in Deventer as in Enschede or Apeldoorn. The organisation is big enough that you can keep on improving yourself but it is also very connected. It doesn’t feel that big.
Time for a study sabbatical
In the next four months, Carien will get started on a study sabbatical, she says. In agreement with her supervisor, she can spend her hours on Sustainable Employability in order to become a certified KATA coach. “This could lead to a new approach for employees to hold development meetings with each other. I would love to eventually be able to contribute what I’ve learned within Saxion, in line with Continuous Improvement.”
An open working attitude
Carien thinks that having the space to be able to contribute towards becoming a better organisation is valuable. Also when she sees how her colleagues from different schools or departments have exchanged knowledge and experiences or have helped each other out during her training courses. “I’ve been around for a long time and I’ve noticed that we’ve mostly let go of the silo mentality inherent in large organisations. I come across that broad perspective, a positive and open working attitude, everywhere.”
You never stop learning
Carien says she hopes that this helps her current and future colleagues see the many opportunities that Saxion has to offer them. “You never stop learning here. I am 57 years old. Recently, I was asked why I would bother getting involved in another one of these training courses. For me, it’s a wonderful opportunity. Our three adult daughters are now at uni. And that excites me too. I have reinvented myself several times at Saxion. Even now, I’m keen to discover what my next step might be.”
Photo: Thomas Busschers