Gijs Schoutens (BSc E&BE, 9.4 average) best FEB student, winner GUF-100 prize

On 4 July, during the official close of the academic year, the RUG will award GUF-100 prizes to nine outstanding students, one from each faculty. Gijs Schoutens (21), BSc Economics and Business Economics, is proclaimed the best student of the FEB. After completing 165 EC in the programme, Gijs has an average grade of 9.4. Besides that, he is a student assistant and currently takes an internship at the Triodos Bank.

In 2011 Gijs started with the BSc in Economics and Business Economics, which he chose because of his interest in economic and societal problems. He is following the Economics track and has a special interest in the field of sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Summa cum laude

According to professor Bert Schoonbeek, programme director of E&BE, “Gijs is a truly outstanding student. He was honored as Freshman of the Year of the FEB in 2011-12 based on his exceptionally high 9.53 average score. Currently, after completing 165 EC of the E&BE programme, Gijs has a convincing average grade of 9,4, which corresponds to a summa cum laude level.”

Highly appreciated

“In addition to his studies, Gijs has been a student-assistant in no less than three different fields,” Schoonbeek continues, “Macro-, micro- and international economics. Gijs has shown great commitment in assisting students in obtaining a better understanding of the course material. His input was highly appreciated by both students and staff members. Gijs is also well known for his support to fellow students outside classes.”

Triodos internship

On top of his BSc programme, to apply the acquired research skills, Gijs is currently doing a 4.5 month internship at the Sustainability Research Department of the Triodos Bank in Zeist. He is member of a team which analyzes the sustainability performance of companies. Whenever necessary, the final sustainability scores are discussed with the large stock-listed companies involved.

GUF-100 prizes and Excellence Award

The GUF-100 prizes for excellent students were first awarded in 1993 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Groningen University Fund (GUF). Prizes were awarded every five years until 2010, and yearly since then. The Excellence Award was first awarded in 2009 to mark the foundation of the University of Groningen Honours College. The winner is chosen from among the winners of the GUF-100 prizes.

Each GUF-100 prize is worth € 2,500 and the winner of the Student Excellence Award receives another € 2,500 .

► See also, FEB news -September 2012: Freshman of the year 2012: Secret to success?

“ I don’t really have a secret”, Economics & Business Economics student and winner of the ‘Freshman of the Year Award 2012’, Gijs Schoutens says when we ask him how he finished his freshman year with a 9.53 (!) average. "For me it’s just a matter of keeping on schedule with the required material. I always make sure I prepare for each lecture by reading the chapters of the books beforehand." Read more (on Student Portal)