Improving the world. That was the dream of VUB alumnus Kilian Vandenhirtz. Driven by that desire, he studied political science at the age of 18. During his educational master's, he realized that he could truly make a difference in education. Today, he stands in front of the class. "Education is the most beautiful sector you can work in."
Would you choose the same studies again today, starting with political science and then the teacher training?
Kilian Vandenhirtz: “Yes, I would do it the same way. First, I gained substantive knowledge—which I found truly interesting—and later I learned how to pass that knowledge on to students to help shape them into engaged citizens. A perfect combination.”
Did you know from the start of your studies that you wanted to be a teacher?
“I struggled for a long time with what I wanted to become. Initially, I went to study political science because of an interest in politics. I was planning to apply to a political party. After finishing my master’s, I didn’t feel ready to leave university yet. I chose an educational master’s without a clear idea of what I wanted to do. But the teacher training convinced me completely. Education was the sector I wanted to work in.”
What aspects of the program convinced you of this choice?
“First and foremost, I always felt very supported by the lecturers. We didn’t just receive a lot of practical tools—from learning to work with Smartschool to classroom management—but there was also room to address my concerns. Could I really make a difference as a teacher in society? Shouldn’t I go into politics instead? As the academic year went on, I increasingly realized that as a teacher, I could have an enormous impact on the life paths of young people and thus help set things in motion. The interaction with the students during my internships ultimately convinced me completely: this was what I wanted to do.”
How do you experience making a difference in your job today?
“It’s only my second year in education, but I already notice that students often come to me to ask something or share something. There’s a bond of trust. They value my opinion or advice. That gives me a lot of satisfaction. I do much more than just teach 22 times 50 minutes. I can encourage and inspire students to do something for society. I also feel that I am a full-fledged member of the team and the school community. I’m not just clocking in my hours. In the Project General Subjects course—the subject I teach—you can cover a lot. Often, in my lessons, we discuss politics, especially in light of last year’s elections. That topic was not yet included in the PAV curriculum at my school, and I had the opportunity to develop it. It’s great to be able to focus on your own interests.”
Let’s look back at your student years. What memories stand out the most?
“The people, the many friends I made, are contacts for life. We’ve had countless spaghetti meals in the VUB restaurant or picnics on the grass field at campus. I cherish those small moments. But I also have fond memories of certain professors and subjects. My internship supervisor, Maggy Brusselmans, very concretely inspired me to go into education, and I also learned a lot from the lessons of Professor of Education Sciences Els Consuegra and Professor of Urban Education Joost Vaesen. They gave me the tools that I still use every day.”
Sloot de opleiding mooi aan op de klaspraktijk?
Did the program align well with classroom practice?
“Now that I’ve been teaching for a year, I can confidently say that the program gave me everything I needed. I teach in the direction of labor market finality. It’s sometimes tough, there are teachers who fall out, a lot of administration, and students are not always the easiest. But my internships in the Brussels context prepared me well. I knew what I was getting into. I didn’t always realize during my studies how useful that training would be. I remember sometimes swearing about a few lessons, especially about the many sessions on inquiry-based and reflective practice. In hindsight, I got so much out of that. I learned to constantly question myself. What can I do better? How can I listen more effectively to my students so I can identify their problems? That turns out to be incredibly useful in practice.”
"In my lessons, I provide students with tools to reflect critically"
Has the V from VUB influenced your thinking?
“Definitely. I used to have a particular view of the world that was mostly centered around the church tower of my own village, and I didn’t pay enough attention to the big challenges the world and society face. VUB, and especially the political science program, broadened my perspective on politics and what’s happening in the world. I now also work in community education, where freedom of thought is also highly valued. In my lessons, I provide students with tools to reflect critically. This is how I implement the philosophy of VUB in my teaching. Many students believe everything they see on TikTok. I encourage them to gather information from reliable news sources. This way, they see that not everything said on social media is accurate, and they can form a critical opinion based on the right arguments.”
What advice would you give to students who today choose an educational master’s?
“If I could speak directly to them, I’d say: sometimes during your studies, you may wonder: what’s the point of this? But once you’re in education, you’ll see that the whole program is valuable. So go for it. Let yourself be inspired by the professors, they give you the tools you need and really try to make you the best teacher you can be. And furthermore: don’t forget that education is the most beautiful sector you can work in. You see students grow over the years. When I see the students from last year, I’m sometimes shocked by how much they’ve already grown. It’s such a great feeling!”
Finally, in your free time, you’re still politically engaged. Does it sometimes itch to do something professionally with that political science degree?
“I enjoy keeping those two tracks separate. During the day, I’m a teacher, but after hours, I engage in politics. It was a conscious choice to keep my political engagement and professional life separate. In politics, you can create change, but as a teacher, you influence people to create change. In that way, you can make a huge impact.”
BIO
After studying political science, Kilian Vandenhirtz obtained an educational master’s in social sciences in 2023. He is currently a teacher of PAV (Project General Subjects) at a secondary school in Anderlecht.