THUAS Talks
THUAS Talks is back! And we’re looking for you
Do you have an idea, a story, or a perspective that could inspire others? THUAS Talks is looking for students who want to step onto the stage and make the best of their 15 minute time slot. Whether it's about innovation, personal growth, technology, social change, or a unique life experience, this is your time to shine.
You don’t need to be an experienced speaker, just passionate about what you have to say. If you have a message worth sharing, we’ll support you in shaping it into a talk that people will remember.
The deadline for application is October 27, 2025 and speakers are required to deliver their talk in English.
Sign up now to be a speaker. The best ideas come from people like you!
This event is brought to you in collaboration with THUAS students Thijmen Puite and Frederique König.
Guidelines
To ensure that our talks are effective, engaging, and respectful of the guidelines of The Hague University of Applied Sciences, we have developed some guidelines for our speakers. Here are the key guidelines that you should keep in mind when preparing your talk:
- Non-promotional: Your talk should be non-promotional in nature, and you should avoid using your talk to promote your own products, services, or organizations. This is not a platform for self-promotion, but rather a platform to share your ideas and inspire others.
- Respectful: Your talk should be respectful of the audience, and you should avoid using offensive language, making discriminatory remarks, or engaging in any forms of hate speech. We want to create an inclusive and respectful community where everyone feels safe to express their ideas.
- Practice: Practice makes perfect! You are expected to rehearse your talk in advance, and to be well-prepared and confident when you take the stage. This will help you deliver your message effectively and engage the audience.
- Politics: THUAS Talks is not a place to push your political agenda. You should refrain from using your talk to push, endorse, or advocate for any political party, ideology, or stream. We want to keep our talks neutral and focused on inspiring others.
- Declining: The University is allowed to not upload or stop the talk if guidelines have not been considered. Note this only happens in extreme cases.
- Manuscript: You need to hand in a manuscript of your talk in advance, so the script can be approved by the organization before the talk is given. This ensures that your talk is on topic, engaging, and respectful of the guidelines.
Previous editions
Couldn't make it to THUAS Talks in person? Don't worry, catch up on all the insightful discussions and inspiring moments by watching the talks here!
Mike Unguryan & Amber van Schaik
The Forgotten Learning Disability
Hi! We're Amber and Mike, third-year European Studies students and we are very excited to do a THUAS Talks. At a young age, we were both diagnosed with dyscalculia, a specific learning difficulty that is still widely misunderstood. Due to this lack of awareness, we've encountered many challenges throughout our education. In our Talk, we want to raise awareness on dyscalculia. Through sharing our personal experiences and the broader issues surrounding this often-overlooked condition, we hope to advocate for better understanding and support.
Ioana Scalat
Love, actually... (yes, like the movie)
Hello everybody! My name is Jo. I am a 4th-year European Studies student looking to share some food for thought about love, because I love, love... and I could talk to you all day about how beautiful and complex love is outside its stereotypical, romantic image. No cliché stories here, just some lines from the diary of a lover girl.
Thijmen Puite
Walk of Shame
I am a bundle of endless energy and talking. And if anything more than that, I am fascincated by stories, and story-telling. I like looking at the things which make us tick, what moves us, and what doesn't. With an insatiable curiosity and inexhaustible enthusiasm, here I am.
The Son of Migrants
Aaron is a European Studies student and passionate activist against injustice, hailing from a Congolese background. He will delve into his personal journey, shedding light on the often overlooked challenges faced by immigrants living in the Netherlands.
Grass Roots
Eliot is an American Finn, studying International Law. His talk covers the dramatic and tragic reality of how the grass on the lawn of a house has been weaponized to discriminate people of color in the United States.
Children of War
Somia is a third year European Studies student, who fled from Afghanistan eight years ago, and has been living in the Netherlands ever since. In her talk Somia describes how the traumas of war are passed down through generations.
The land without an identity
Join Aiden on a journey through Belize's captivating story, colored by his own native experiences. From growing up in a family resort bustling with visitors to studying in The Hague, Aiden paints a vivid picture of Belize's cultural heritage.
Living one drink at a time
Delaney, an American exchange student studying European Studies, shares her personal battle with substance abuse. Her talk is a raw, heartfelt account of her journey, aiming to shed light on the complex realities of addiction among young adults.
Big fish in small pond
Meet Anna, whose journey from the colorful streets of Vietnam to the Netherlands sparks a remarkable adventure. In this talk, Anna dives deep into life's meaning, challenging norms and urging us to embrace the questions that drive us.