Khalaf Alkhalaf,
Alumnus of the Year
‘Have you ever met an asylum seeker?’
Editorial and
content
‘I dream of a peaceful and fair Syria,’ says Khalaf Alkhalaf in our opening article. He is portrayed on the cover as the UG awarded him the title Alumnus of the Year. Ten years ago Alkhalaf fled the country of Assad and IS. He experienced first-hand what it means to be an asylum seeker in the Netherlands and now observes it daily in his work as a refugee counsellor. He passionately passes his knowledge of this group of people on to Dutch people who have rarely or never met an asylum seeker. He tells about it in schools and lecture halls, for example, as well as to professionals who come into contact with refugees.
In addition to the new Alumnus of the Year, this edition of Broerstraat 5 will, as usual, cover beautiful books and music, love, humour, and inspiring career changes. However, there will also be some heavier topics discussed. Our researchers and alumni are, after all, at the centre of the world. Of this world. The Mafia, water issues due to climate change, living and working in Kyiv, unequal opportunities in education, perpetrators of genocide, farmland in crisis, false solutions in politics and propagated enemie images... after a quick glance at the list of contents of this Autumn issue, you would almost get escapist tendencies.
But, come on, don't be discouraged. The interviewees in Broerstraat 5 do not think in terms of problems, but in terms of solutions. Literally all of them, whether researchers or alumni, manage to put a positive spin on their story. Each in their own way, these Groningen academics strive to make the world a better place, often by gathering and sharing new knowledge and insights. Khalaf Alkhalaf sets a good example in the first story, with his dreams, but above all with his actions. Enjoy reading and have a wonderful autumn!
Spotified
Alumnus makes music Playlist 6
Varia
News, tips and
interesting links
The UG on Instagram
The UG on Instagram
Alumni Active
Alumni meetings,
public lectures, and
other activities
Column by
Rector Magnificus
Universities are doing well and not so well
Alumnus abroad
Dutch ambassador
Alle Dorhout in Ukraine
Italy takes a different approach to Mafia
High Italian accolade for jurist Laura Peters
Alumni in love
The love of
Hanna and Johan
Living on the water
Margo van den Brink, associate professor of Water and Planning: ‘From batting against the water to living with the water’
Ain Wondre Stad
Thomas Spekschoor, NOS-reporter climate news
‘You can’t blame the citizens’
Leadership expert Harry Garretsen misses politicians who dare to make clear choices.
Farmland in crisis
‘Try to understand each other’s points of view’
‘You can’t change the world with satire’
Jos Maalderink is going on tour now that the satirical TV program Plakshot is stopping
Life-long peace activist
‘Total objector’ Willem de Haan looks back on antimilitarism
Fermented food: healthy, local, attractive, and tasty
Leonie Bais’ Food Lab investigates ‘future food’.
Photo carrousel
World Press Photo
‘What have we done?’ World Press Photo reflects on 70 years of photojournalism
Too many learning theories, too few teachers
Inaugural speech Hanke Korpershoek, Professor of Educational innovation and school improvement
Alumni in hindsight
Applied Physics
Editorial
Editorial
Broerstraat 5 – Autumn 2025
Alumni Active
Alumni meetings, public lectures and other activities
Alumni Active
Farmland in crisis
‘Try to understand each other’s points of view’
‘You can’t blame the citizens’
Leadership expert Harry Garretsen misses politicians who dare to make
clear choices.
Fermented food: healthy, local, attractive, and tasty
Leonie Bais’ Food Lab investigates ‘future food’.
Life-long peace activist
‘Total objector’ Willem de Haan looks back on antimilitarism
The UG on Instagram
Too many learning theories, too few teachers Inaugural speech Hanke Korpershoek, Professor of Educational innovation and school improvement
Alumni in hindsight
Applied Physics
‘You can’t change the world with satire’ Jos Maalderink is going on tour now that the satirical TV program Plakshot is stopping
Ain Wondre Stad
Thomas Spekschoor, NOS-reporter climate news
Varia
Varia
Living on the water
Margo van den Brink, associate professor of Water and Planning: ‘From batting against the water to living with the water’
Alumni in love
The love of Hanna and Johan
Spotified
Alumnus makes music Playlist 6
Spotified
Photo carrousel World Press Photo
‘What have we done?’ World Press Photo reflects on 70 years of photojournalism
Italy takes a different approach to Mafia High Italian accolade for jurist Laura Peters
Alumnus abroad
Dutch ambassador Alle Dorhout in Ukraine
Column by Rector Magnificus Universities are doing well and
not so well
Khalaf Alkhalaf, Alumnus of the Year ‘Have you ever met an asylum seeker?’
‘I dream of a peaceful and fair Syria,’ says Khalaf Alkhalaf in our opening article. He is portrayed on the cover as the UG awarded him the title Alumnus of the Year. Ten years ago Alkhalaf fled the country of Assad and IS. He experienced first-hand what it means to be an asylum seeker in the Netherlands and now observes it daily in his work as a refugee counsellor. He passionately passes his knowledge of this group of people on to Dutch people who have rarely or never met an asylum seeker. He tells about it in schools and lecture halls, for example, as well as to professionals who come into contact with refugees.
In addition to the new Alumnus of the Year, this edition of Broerstraat 5 will, as usual, cover beautiful books and music, love, humour, and inspiring career changes. However, there will also be some heavier topics discussed. Our researchers and alumni are, after all, at the centre of the world. Of this world. The Mafia, water issues due to climate change, living and working in Kyiv, unequal opportunities in education, perpetrators of genocide, farmland in crisis, false solutions in politics and propagated enemie images... after a quick glance at the list of contents of this Autumn issue, you would almost get escapist tendencies.
But, come on, don't be discouraged. The interviewees in Broerstraat 5 do not think in terms of problems, but in terms of solutions. Literally all of them, whether researchers or alumni, manage to put a positive spin on their story. Each in their own way, these Groningen academics strive to make the world a better place, often by gathering and sharing new knowledge and insights. Khalaf Alkhalaf sets a good example in the first story, with his dreams, but above all with his actions. Enjoy reading and have a wonderful autumn!