On Tuesday 16th May 2023, The Hague University of Applied Science (Randstad, Netherlands), hosted France Alumni Day, a very important event that gathered a network of Dutch and International students having studied in France, with the presence of François Alabrune, the French Ambassador in The Netherlands and permanent representative of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

On this occasion, our Ph.D. student Ida Fazlic had the opportunity to present the main objectives of her doctoral research and the outcomes achieved so far, through international and interdisciplinary work carried out between the Netherlands (Rijksmuseum) and France (ESRF – The European Synchrotron).

By showcasing the research on “The Night Watch”, Ida highlighted how much the link between academia and industry is crucial to succeeding in a research project, not only because it brings together diverse perspectives, resources, and expertise, relevance and impactful research outcomes, but mostly because such collaborations have the potential to drive scientific advancements, address practical challenges, and create a positive societal impact.

As Ambassador François Alabrune stated: “The France Alumni Day has been a great opportunity to hear inspiring testimonies and to discuss the added value of studying in France for both, professional and personal paths. France welcomed 365,000 international students in 2022 and has the ambition to attract 500,000 by 2027.”