Dutch Ambassador visits Bath Spa University

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Dutch Ambassador visits Bath Spa

Wednesday, 28 February, 2018

Bath Spa University recently welcomed His Excellency Simon Smits, Dutch Ambassador to the United Kingdom, to its Newton Park campus as part of his visit to the area which was organised by the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI).

The Ambassador of The Netherlands was in Bath to host a talk for the BRLSI’s ‘World Affairs through Our Eyes’ series of events. Ahead of this, he took time to meet with Bath Spa’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Susan Rigby, staff from the International Team and academics, to learn more about the University’s diverse collaboration opportunities.

Smits even posed for a photograph while riding a Newton Park campus nextbike – a tribute to the twinning of the City of Bath, and Alkmaar in north-west Netherlands, where locals are famously fond of the two-wheeled transport. Christopher Davies and Liz Bugg from the Bath-Alkmaar Twinning Association also joined Smits on his campus tour, along with Councillor Mark Shelford and Paul Thompson from Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Scott Williams, Director of Marketing and International at Bath Spa University said: “I was honoured to welcome the Dutch Ambassador to Bath Spa and enjoyed discussing the connections between our two communities as well as the potential for collaboration between our students and staff. We are looking forward to developing our offering abroad by further strengthening our partnerships with educational institutions in the Netherlands.”

During his campus tour, Smits also donned 3D glasses to view the latest installation on the University’s seven-metre high MediaWall. Created by Anthony Head, Professor of Digital Media Art and Design, and Course Leader for a new BA Digital Animation course at Bath Spa, ‘Flow – Elastic Space’ depicts a twisted tunnel-like sculptural form made out of twenty thousand red and cyan dots that have been manipulated by a series of algorithmic coding.

Smits grew up in an internationally oriented environment, a factor that he believes contributed to his eventual career as a diplomat. He is an avid fan of the Rolling Stones and enjoys spending time with his wife and four sons.

To find out more about the University’s global offering visit the International section of the Bath Spa University website.