What is the point of a ‘professor’? - Studium Generale - Tilburg University
Channel: TilburgUniversity
Date: 2023-06-01

What would you share with your audience if it were your last lecture ever? That's the question we posed to Dr. Richard Clements of Tilburg Law School. His topic of choice: the role of a professor in the modern university. 

Pointless?
The title of this lecture suggests that there might be no point to a professor or university teacher at all – what a terrible thought! In fact, Dr. Richard Clements of Tilburg Law School  used the opportunity of his ‘last lecture’ to think with the audience about what the role of a professor should be in the modern university: Wise sage? Skills trainer? Problem-solver? Perhaps instead, as ‘discomforter’? Each of these models and more we discussed to understand the continuing importance of the professor and indeed the modern university in the 21st century.

Richard Clements
Richard Clements is an assistant professor of international law at Tilburg Law School. He teaches and researches in the areas of international criminal law, international organisations, international legal theory and more recently global health law. His research explores the links between international law and management tools in institutions such as the International Criminal Court and the World Health Organisation.

Last Lecture
A 'last lecture' is a lecture in which a professor lectures to a group of students as if it was their last lecture. The professor answers questions like 'What would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance? or 'If this were your last time to address a group of students, what would you say?

The event is inspired by the last lecture given by Professor Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon University upon his diagnosis with terminal cancer. In his wonderful speech ‘Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’ Pausch alternated between insights on his academic field, valuable encounters he made in life, personal choices and experiences, inspirational life lessons, and important events that guided him on his path of life.

* For students, this lecture may count towards the SG-Certificate. Check the SG-Certificate website for all the terms and conditions: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/campus/studium-generale/students/certificate-studium-generale

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