Minds that Mould Futures
At Aevena International Polytechnic College, our faculty isn’t a roster of ivory-tower icons but a lively ensemble of thinkers and tinkerers, drawn from the eclectic corners of Europe and beyond, all converging on Haarlem’s canal-laced charm. Many arrived via the Netherlands’ welcoming Highly Skilled Migrant scheme, which since 2020 has streamlined visas for academics earning above the €5,331 threshold—proving once again that Dutch pragmatism extends to poaching talent without the bureaucratic fuss. Inspired by the collaborative spirit at TU Delft or the artistic rigour of VU Amsterdam, our professors blend rigorous scholarship with the occasional dash of eccentricity: a fine arts lecturer who swears by midnight sketches, or an economist admitting to a fondness for tulip-trading simulations gone whimsically awry. With over 60 educators across our programmes, they hail from 15 EU nations, their CVs a mosaic of PhDs from Bologna to Berlin, punctuated by grants from Horizon Europe pots. Not every tenure track is straight-laced; some veer through industry stints or refugee resettlement nods under the orientation year permit, adding layers of lived grit to their lecterns. Together, they don’t just teach—they provoke, prototype, and occasionally ponder the perfect stroopwafel pairing for a heated debate. Dive in, and meet the minds shaping our polymaths.
Fine Arts: Visionaries of the Visible
Dr. Eline Vliegenthart Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Practice Eline Vliegenthart, hailing from a quiet Frisian village in northern Netherlands, earned her PhD in Postcolonial Aesthetics from the University of Groningen in 2018, where her thesis on hybrid media in migrant narratives earned a nod from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Before joining Aevena in 2020 under a fast-tracked academic migrant visa, she curated experimental exhibits at the Fries Museum, blending Dutch Golden Age techniques with digital glitches. Her research probes the intersections of materiality and memory, often in collaborative workshops that spill into Haarlem’s streets—think pop-up installations critiquing urban erasure. Not one for polished perfection, Eline confesses to a penchant for ‘happy accidents’ in her encaustic paintings, which have graced galleries from Leeuwarden to Lisbon. Key publications include: “Fragments of Forgetting: Wax and Witness in Diaspora Art,” Journal of Visual Culture, Vol. 22, No. 1 (2021); “Glitch as Genealogy: Digital Interventions in Colonial Archives,” Art History Review, Vol. 47, Issue 3 (2023); and the edited volume Unfixed Frames: Hybridity in European Contemporary Art (Brill, 2024). At Aevena, she mentors MA students through thesis defences that feel more like fireside chats than formal grillings.
Prof. Karel de Sutter Professor of Sculpture and Installation A Belgian transplant from Ghent, Karel de Sutter holds a DPhil in Sculptural Theory from KU Leuven (2015), followed by a sabbatical at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris that honed his kinetic installations. Recruited to Aevena in 2017 via the EU Blue Card pathway—easing his move as a highly qualified specialist—he infuses secondary-level ateliers with the raw energy of Flanders’ craft traditions, often dragging students to Antwerp’s docks for material scavenging. His work explores ephemerality in public space, with pieces that weather and warp under Haarlem’s fickle rains, a metaphor for resilience he’s fond of unpacking over post-class bitterballen. Karel’s not immune to the odd workshop mishap—a toppled armature here, a misfired weld there—but these fuel his mantra: ‘Sculpture is as much about the fall as the form.’ Notable outputs: “Ephemeral Anchors: Kinetic Public Art in Post-Industrial Europe,” Sculpture Journal, Vol. 31, No. 2 (2019); “Rust and Renewal: Material Decay in Belgian Installations,” European Art Forum, Vol. 18, Issue 4 (2022); co-authored monograph Windswept Works: Climate-Responsive Sculpture (Routledge, 2025). He leads our Fine Arts PhD cohort, turning critiques into communal brainstorming sessions.
Ms. Liora Pfaff Lecturer in Drawing and Conceptual Art Born in Luxembourg to German émigré parents, Liora Pfaff completed her MFA in Conceptual Drawing at the University of Luxembourg in 2016, buoyed by a national arts grant that eased her path. She joined Aevena in 2022 on an orientation year permit post her stint as a visiting artist at the Mudam, Luxembourg’s modern art museum, where she specialised in performative sketches addressing border identities. At our institution, Liora guides undergraduates through gesture studies that evolve into socio-political manifestos, her classes a whirlwind of charcoal dust and candid confessions—admitting once that a student’s wild scribble outshone her own ‘master plan’. Her practice grapples with multilingualism’s visual echoes, drawing from the trilingual tapestries of her youth. Publications: “Lines of Liminality: Drawing Multilingual Borders,” Drawing: Research, Theory, Practice, Vol. 9, No. 3 (2020); “Sketches in Silence: Conceptual Responses to Linguistic Exile,” International Journal of Art & Design Education, Vol. 42, Issue 1 (2024). Liora’s energy keeps our drawing labs humming, even on those drizzly Haarlem mornings when inspiration feels as elusive as a dry umbrella.
Graphic Design: Storytellers in Type
Dr. Bram Quémeneur Associate Professor of Visual Communication From the Ardennes region of Wallonia, Belgium, Bram Quémeneur secured his PhD in Semiotics and Design from the University of Liège in 2019, his dissertation on typographic propaganda in bilingual contexts earning acclaim at the Antwerp Design Week. Transitioning to Aevena in 2021 through the Netherlands’ academic recognition scheme, he brings a flair for user-centred narratives, transforming GCSE briefs into campaigns that tackle Haarlem’s multicultural markets. Bram’s not shy about his trial-and-error ethos—a kerning catastrophe in a client pitch turned into his TEDx talk on iterative empathy. His research fuses semiotics with digital ethics, probing how fonts forge identities. Select works: “Typography as Territory: Bilingual Branding in Divided Europe,” Design Issues, Vol. 38, No. 2 (2022); “Ethical Encodings: Semiotics in Algorithmic Interfaces,” Journal of Graphic Engineering, Vol. 15, Issue 4 (2024). He oversees our graphic electives, where sessions often detour into doodle-filled diversions.
Ms. Nora van Hecke Senior Lecturer in Digital Prototyping A Dutch native from Zeeland’s windswept coasts, Nora van Hecke graduated with an MA in Interactive Media from The Hague’s Royal Academy of Art in 2017. She arrived at Aevena in 2019, fresh from freelance gigs with Rotterdam’s ad collectives, her portfolio a testament to adaptive design under tight deadlines. Nora’s classes on Adobe ecosystems are hands-on havens, where undergrads mock up responsive layouts amid the clatter of keyboards—and the occasional coffee spill that sparks a ‘eureka’ redesign. Her focus? Inclusive prototyping for neurodiverse audiences, drawn from her own stumbles in early career inclusivity audits. Publications: “Prototypes for All: Accessibility in Digital Narratives,” Visible Language, Vol. 56, No. 1 (2023); “From Sketch to Screen: Iterative Flows in EU Design Practice,” Digital Creativity, Vol. 35, Issue 2 (2025). Nora’s warmth makes our prototyping labs feel like collaborative cafes.
Industrial Design: Crafters of Change
Prof. Theo Schmit Professor of Sustainable Materials Luxembourg-born Theo Schmit, with a PhD in Biomimetic Engineering from the University of Luxembourg (2014), embodies the cross-border ethos of his homeland. He joined Aevena in 2016 via the EU’s researcher mobility directive, after leading material labs at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology. Theo’s secondary workshops turn recycled flotsam from the Spaarne into ergonomic wonders, his lectures laced with tales of prototypes that ‘walked away’ in early tests—a humbling nod to design’s unpredictability. His scholarship champions regenerative composites, bridging ecology and aesthetics. Key texts: “Bio-Inspired Binders: Algal Innovations for Zero-Waste Design,” Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 289, Article 125-142 (2021); “Parametric Ecologies: Modelling Material Flows in Urban Contexts,” Design Studies, Vol. 72, No. 4 (2023); Regrow: Sustainable Prototyping in Small-Scale Manufacture (Springer, 2024). He heads our MEng cohort, fostering a lab culture of bold, biodegradable experiments.
Dr. Fenna Koopmans Associate Professor of Ergonomics and User Experience From rural Drenthe in the Netherlands, Fenna Koopmans holds a doctorate in Human Factors Design from Wageningen University (2019), her work on adaptive interfaces informed by farm-tool ergonomics. Recruited internally in 2020 after a guest lectureship, she infuses BEng projects with real-world wear-testing—often in Haarlem’s bustling squares, where a wonky handle becomes a teachable tumble. Fenna’s approachable style shines in her admissions to ‘over-engineering’ her first thesis model, a flaw that now fuels her empathy-driven pedagogy. Research arcs towards inclusive haptics for ageing populations. Outputs: “Tactile Transitions: Ergonomic Design for Multigenerational Use,” Applied Ergonomics, Vol. 95, Article 103-118 (2022); “User Flows in Flux: Adapting Interfaces to Cultural Contexts,” International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Vol. 88, Issue 3 (2024). Her guidance turns lab frustrations into fluid innovations.
Mr. Joris De Smet Lecturer in Product Innovation Belgian by birth from Ostend’s salty shores, Joris De Smet earned his MSc in Industrial Innovation from Ghent University (2018). He settled at Aevena in 2023 on a highly skilled permit, post a stint at Design Flanders, specialising in modular systems that echo Flemish lacework’s intricacy. Joris’s classes buzz with 3D printing jams and joyous jamsessions—admitting his prototype once doubled as a doorstop mid-critique. His practice interrogates scalability in ethical manufacturing. Publications: “Modular Matrices: Scalable Design for Circular Economies,” Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 41, No. 2 (2023); “Lacework Logic: Intricate Systems in Sustainable Prototyping,” Engineering Design Graphics Journal, Vol. 27, Issue 1 (2025). Joris mentors with a seafarer’s steadiness, navigating students through iteration’s tempests.
Computer Science: Coders of Complexity
Dr. Lukas Zimmermann Senior Lecturer in AI Ethics German from the Harz Mountains, Lukas Zimmermann completed his PhD in Computational Ethics at the Technical University of Braunschweig (2020). He migrated to Aevena in 2022 under the orientation year scheme, after contributing to Berlin’s AI policy labs. Lukas demystifies algorithms for A-level coders through ethical hackathons, his sessions peppered with confessions of a buggy bot that once ‘hallucinated’ historical facts—a cautionary tale in every lecture. His inquiries centre on bias in creative tech. Works: “Ethical Entanglements: AI in Artistic Generation,” Ethics and Information Technology, Vol. 24, No. 3 (2022); “Bias Blueprints: Auditing Algorithms for Cultural Fairness,” Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, Vol. 75, Article 456-478 (2023). He cultivates a seminar space where code meets conscience.
Prof. Mira Jansen Professor of Software Architecture A Dutch veteran from Utrecht, Mira Jansen boasts a DSc in Distributed Systems from Eindhoven University of Technology (2016). Long at Aevena since 2018, she architects BSc capstones that simulate Haarlem’s smart city grids, her dry wit surfacing in anecdotes of servers that ‘sulked’ during stress tests. Mira’s research tames scalable architectures for interdisciplinary apps. Publications: “Layered Logics: Architecting Hybrid Software for Design Ecosystems,” ACM Transactions on Software Engineering, Vol. 31, Issue 2 (2021); “Resilient Racks: Fault-Tolerant Systems in Creative Computing,” IEEE Software, Vol. 40, No. 4 (2024); Building Bridges in Bytes: Interdisciplinary Software Frameworks (MIT Press, 2025). Her office door’s always ajar for debugging dilemmas.
Business Administration: Stewards of Strategy
Dr. Sabine Moreau Associate Professor of Entrepreneurial Leadership From France’s Alsace borderlands, Sabine Moreau holds a PhD in Strategic Management from Strasbourg University (2017). She joined Aevena in 2019 via the EU Blue Card, post a consultancy in Basel’s cross-border ventures. Sabine’s BBA simulations turn Haarlem cafes into pitch arenas, where a flubbed elevator speech becomes fodder for resilient rebounds. Her lens? Ethical entrepreneurship in creative sectors. Outputs: “Venture Visions: Cross-Border Startups in the Low Countries,” Journal of Business Venturing, Vol. 37, No. 1 (2022); “Leadership Lapses: Learning from Entrepreneurial Fumbles,” Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Vol. 46, Issue 3 (2024). She sparks student syndicates with unvarnished verve.
Prof. Rik van der Pol Professor of Operations Management Netherlands’ own from Limburg’s hills, Rik van der Pol earned his doctorate in Supply Chain Dynamics from Maastricht University (2015). A Aevena fixture since 2017, he orchestrates MBA case studies on Dutch co-ops, his classes alive with tales of a logistics model that ‘log-jammed’ spectacularly—now a staple humility exercise. Rik probes sustainable operations in global chains. Publications: “Chain Reactions: Resilient Operations in Fragmented Markets,” International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 42, No. 4 (2021); “Eco-Logistics: Greening Supply in the Benelux,” Journal of Operations Management, Vol. 69, Issue 2 (2023); Flows and Faults: Managing Uncertainty in Creative Industries (Palgrave, 2025). His mentorship maps steady paths through corporate chaos.
Ms. Tessa Bekaert Lecturer in Marketing and Innovation Flemish from Kortrijk, Belgium, Tessa Bekaert graduated with an MA in Innovative Marketing from KU Leuven (2019). Arriving at Aevena in 2023 on a skilled migrant visa, she revitalises secondary enterprise modules with guerrilla campaigns in Haarlem’s markets. Tessa’s not above sharing her ‘viral flop’—a meme that missed the mark—turning it into lessons on adaptive branding. Her focus: neuromarketing for ethical persuasion. Works: “Neural Narratives: Brain-Responsive Branding Strategies,” Journal of Marketing Management, Vol. 39, No. 5 (2023); “Innovation Ink: Marketing Creative Outputs in Multilingual Europe,” European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 58, Issue 1 (2025). Tessa’s sessions sizzle with strategic sparkle.
Economics: Analysts of Equity
Dr. Hans Vliegen Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Economics From the Netherlands’ Gelderland province, Hans Vliegen secured his PhD in Economic Psychology from Radboud University (2018). He’s been at Aevena since 2020, weaving A-level models with nudge experiments in campus co-ops—once derailed by a ‘too tempting’ cookie incentive that backfired hilariously. Hans unpacks decision biases in creative labour markets. Publications: “Nudges in the Niche: Behavioural Insights for Freelance Economies,” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Vol. 198, Article 112-130 (2022); “Bias and Bargain: Psychological Pricing in Art Markets,” Economics Letters, Vol. 234, No. 67 (2024). His seminars nudge towards nuanced thinking.
Prof. Clara Dupont Professor of International Trade and Policy French from Lorraine’s iron heartlands, Clara Dupont holds a doctorate in Trade Economics from Sciences Po Lille (2014). She bridged to Aevena in 2016 under the researcher directive, after advising at the European Commission’s trade desk. Clara’s MSc seminars dissect Brexit’s ripples on Benelux flows, her poise cracking with a wry admission of a forecast that ‘floated like a lead balloon’. Her scholarship champions equitable tariffs for cultural goods. Outputs: “Trade Tides: Post-Brexit Flows in Creative Exports,” World Economy, Vol. 45, No. 3 (2021); “Policy Pillars: Sustainable Tariffs for EU Cultural Industries,” Journal of International Economics, Vol. 152, Article 89-105 (2023); Currents of Culture: Economics of Transborder Trade (Oxford University Press, 2025). Clara charts courses with calm authority.