Organizing a Study Tour outside of Europe is no small task. Preparations began at the start of this academic year. Within two weeks, we made our decision: this year’s Study Tour will take us to Bangkok, with a three-day excursion to Kanchanaburi. In Bangkok, we will visit places like Baker Tilly and the Stock Exchange. In Kanchanaburi, we will enjoy Thailand’s beautiful nature.
Our committee consists of:
- Joost van Avendonk (Chairman)
- Luuk Brouwers (Treasurer)
- Yorick Brethouwer (External Affairs)
- Bart Frijters (External Affairs)
- Melanie Drummen (Secretary)
- Mirthe Loeffen & Raquel van Kuringe (Coordinators)
Together, we are working hard to organize an exciting trip and to answer our research question:
“How do sustainable initiatives in the textile industry contribute to environmental improvements in Bangkok?”
How Did We Choose Our Research Question?
Our research question was inspired by our own city, Tilburg. In the past, Tilburg was a major textile city—there’s a reason why we’re called “Kruikenzeikers.” Today, Bangkok is a key hub for the textile industry, a sector with significant environmental impact due to water consumption, chemical waste, and energy usage. Tilburg remains involved in this sector through innovative developments. By bridging the gap between Tilburg’s innovations and Bangkok’s current challenges, we hope to learn from Thailand’s approach to sustainability while also exploring whether Thai businesses can benefit from Tilburg’s innovations.
What Does It Mean to Be in the Committee?
We meet for an hour every week to discuss what needs to be done in the coming weeks. In the beginning, we brainstormed about possible locations. After that, things got serious: booking flights, arranging accommodations, promoting the trip, and pitching the first version of our research proposal—which got approved! Now, we are working on refining it. Currently, we are brainstorming fun informal activities for our Study Tour. We also spent some time planning our committee outing, because alongside hard work, there should be room for fun!
Besides the organizational work, being in the committee is also an opportunity for personal growth—developing leadership skills, learning how to negotiate with international contacts, and managing budgets.
Personal Experiences
Joost: Last year, I helped organize the Study Tour to Valencia with Asset | Economics. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to do it again! This time, the challenge is even bigger since it’s an intercontinental trip, which comes with extra hurdles. Everyone needs a passport, we need to research vaccinations, and we must ensure everyone has a way to make payments in Thailand. But that makes it all the more exciting! As Chairman, I set up agendas, lead meetings, and oversee planning. Fortunately, our committee members are enthusiastic and do their tasks well, which makes my second responsibility—coordinating and monitoring—much easier!
Luuk: I quickly realized that organizing a trip like this is harder and more time-consuming than I expected. There are many small details to arrange and consider. Every decision must be carefully thought through since we are spending other people’s money. Creating a budget was especially challenging—I had no experience with trip planning, so I had no idea how much everything would cost. In the end, as the trip starts taking shape, everything falls into place, but it has been a valuable learning experience.
Yorick: As External Affairs Officer, my main focus is arranging both formal and informal activities and maintaining contact with companies. Ensuring everything is properly organized is crucial—otherwise, we might find ourselves in the middle of Bangkok with no accommodations, and that would be a disaster. Luckily, our team is highly motivated, and the trip planning is going smoothly so far.
Melanie: As Secretary, I am responsible for keeping minutes, which summarize the key points discussed in our meetings. We have a lot to cover since we are organizing a trip for 20 people, and we need to make sure nothing is overlooked. It’s also essential to inform participants in advance about the trip—what vaccinations they need, our daily schedule, and what is expected of them. Our committee has a big workload, but since we have a large team, we can divide tasks efficiently!
Mirthe: As a Coordinator, I represent the Asset | Financials board and oversee the entire event. I make sure everyone completes their tasks on time so the trip runs smoothly. I also handle communication with external parties since everything must go through the Asset | Financials email. Aside from the work, it’s great to meet with the same team every week and catch up. We also see each other at Asset | Financials events and committee outings, which makes us a close-knit group in a short time.
Bart: I’ve organized a trip before, but a Study Tour involves so much more. Every little detail needs to be arranged in advance to ensure a smooth experience. That makes it fun because we have to collaborate a lot, which means we get to know each other quickly.
Conclusion
Organizing a Study Tour outside Europe is quite a challenge, with many aspects to consider. However, it’s a fantastic learning experience. It requires strong teamwork, clear task division, and dedicated effort—but with a motivated committee, we are making it happen!
