In an inspiring fusion of academic rigor and societal engagement, Dr. Kayla Green recently celebrated a milestone rarely seen in academia - a societally engaged PhD defense of her research. Following her鈥痗um laude鈥痝raduation from 糖心直播 (EUR) in October 2024, Green took her work beyond the university walls, presenting her findings on youth well-being to a panel of practical experts during a groundbreaking鈥痵ocietally engaged PhD defense鈥痑t Albeda College. This event, a collaborative effort between EUR and Albeda, underscored the transformative power of uniting scholarly research with real-world application.
A new model for impactful scholarship
The societally engaged PhD defense, held on March 24, 2025, reimagined the traditional PhD defense by inviting a committee of practitioners to evaluate the societal relevance of 鈥檚 work. Chaired by youth worker , education leader , psychologist , and policy officer , the session emphasized actionable insights over theoretical debate. Their probing questions highlighted how Green鈥檚 research - centered on fostering resilience and equity for youth in a rapidly changing world - could directly inform policy, education, and community initiatives.v
Rotterdam alderman opened the event, stressing the urgency of Green鈥檚 work: 鈥淵outh well-being is not a given. Collaborations like this between and Albeda show how institutions can drive meaningful change鈥痺ith鈥痗ommunities, not just鈥痜or鈥痶hem.鈥
A bridge between worlds: Kayla鈥檚 dual role
The event also marked a pivotal career step for Green, as Albeda announced her appointment as Equal Opportunities Practor. In this role, she will merge her academic expertise with hands-on mentorship at Albeda, fostering inclusive education practices while continuing her research at EUR鈥檚 under . 鈥淭his is transdisciplinary collaboration at its finest,鈥 Crone remarked. 鈥淜ayla鈥檚 work exemplifies how science and practice can co-create solutions for young people鈥檚 futures.鈥
Albeda鈥檚 Executive Board member echoed this sentiment: 鈥淏y linking academic excellence to vocational education, we empower students and strengthen Rotterdam鈥檚 social fabric. Kayla鈥檚 leadership will ensure equal opportunities remain central to our mission.鈥
A vision for engaged research
, Director of Engagement & Research Services (ERS) at EUR, attended the defense and praised its innovative format. 鈥淲hat stood out was how Kayla鈥檚 defense transcended academia to engage stakeholders who鈥痩ive鈥痶he challenges her research addresses. This model - where scholars present their work not just to peers but to policymakers, educators, and youth advocates - is the future of impactful research. It鈥檚 how we ensure knowledge doesn鈥檛 stay on shelves but sparks tangible change.鈥
Creativity and connection
The celebration included creative touches that mirrored Green鈥檚 commitment to accessibility. Attendees received a version of her thesis, co-designed with , distilling complex findings into engaging narratives. Moreover, during the ceremony there was also an interactive workshop by , founder of . 鈥淲hat are the things that you wished you had learned at school?鈥 Jamal enlightened us by showing that we all can make meaningful contributions to the lives of youth if we just take the time to connect with them.
Looking ahead
As Green steps into her practor role, her work signals a bold step forward for EUR-Albeda collaborations. By embedding researchers in community contexts and vice versa, both institutions aim to amplify their impact on Rotterdam鈥檚 youth - and set a precedent for how universities can serve as engines of societal progress.
In the words of EUR Rector Magnificus : 鈥淪cience thrives when it listens. Kayla鈥檚 defense wasn鈥檛 just about answering questions - it was about asking new ones, together.鈥
