José Teunissen appointed interim Dean of FDMCI

In the coming period, José Teunissen will focus on the further development and positioning of the Faculty in a rapidly changing professional field. She will work on making choices in the education and research portfolio, partly in light of declining student numbers, the financial situation and AUAS-wide ambitions. She will also provide direction for the further development of the Faculty, in which technological developments such as artificial intelligence play an important role. In addition, as Dean of FDMCI, she will contribute to the strategic development of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) as a member of the Central Executive Council. José will remain involved in May and June in completing ongoing work within AMFI, including the relocation and the midterm review.

José Teunissen joined the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) three years ago as Programme Manager and is also Professor by Special Appointment of Fashion & Identity. Prior to joining AMFI, she was Dean of the School of Design and Technology at the London College of Fashion and Professor in Fashion Theory. José brings more than thirty years of experience in research and education in higher professional education. As a Professor by Special Appointment at ArtEZ, she was closely involved in the development of the creative industries in the Netherlands.

“Given the urgency, I decided to apply for the position. I believe the Faculty needs to reposition itself and make clear choices with a view to financial stability and a sustainable, future-proof portfolio. I see this as a challenging strategic task that fits well with my experience. I look forward to committing myself to this in the coming period, together with staff, the representative advisory councils and the Executive Board,” said José Teunissen.

Jopie Nooren, Chair AUAS: “We are pleased that José has stepped forward to lead FDMCI in the coming period. Within AMFI, she has demonstrated that she provides substantive direction in a people-centred way, while also achieving results. Her extensive experience and her familiarity with the Faculty and the professional field make her ideally suited to the role.”

Within the Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries (FDMCI) creativity, technology and societal development come together. Working with partners in the Amsterdam metropolitan area, students and researchers address challenges in the fields of media, digital design, communications, ICT and fashion. FDMCI educates students to become independent professionals and engaged citizens who, with subject expertise and a critical and entrepreneurial mindset, contribute to solutions for societal transitions. In a world that is constantly changing due to disruptive technology, FDMCI aims to play a leading role in education, research and innovation.