Staff exchange in San Francisco: ‘Stepping out of your comfort zone is energizing and deeply enriching’
Associate Professor Robert Heinsch went on a staff exchange to the United States from January to April 2025. He enjoyed the challenge of teaching in a creative and more personal way. ‘I fully immersed myself in American teaching culture.’
What inspired you to take part in the staff exchange?
My main motivation was professional curiosity: I wanted to see how colleagues abroad design and deliver their teaching. I've been working in Leiden for 15 years now, and it felt like the right time to seek new inspiration, experience ‘clinical legal education’ – which is one of my main interests – up close, expand my network, and broaden my own horizon.
Why did you choose the United States? And specifically, San Francisco?
I've always loved the US. As a teenager, I travelled there several times and later on I developed a professional fascination for the American education system: it seemed both interesting and high-quality. I was especially eager to experience the clinical side of legal education firsthand, where students work on real cases or realistic simulations under the guidance of qualified lawyers. Apart from that, my wife is American, and my son holds American citizenship. So, when I heard about the exchange opportunity with San Francisco, it felt like the perfect fit.
A partnership has existed between Leiden Law School and UC Law San Francisco for over 30 years. Since the exchange had come to a halt during the Covid pandemic, it also felt right to help revive that connection.
How do you look back on the staff exchange?
My time in the US was primarily focused on teaching: it was really a teaching exchange. I taught a full three-month course on international humanitarian law of armed conflict. One striking difference compared to Leiden was the number of students: while BA courses in the Netherlands can attract hundreds of students and even our LL.M. course can have between 40 and 160 students, I had a group of just 25 students in San Francisco. This allowed for much more interaction and in-depth study of the topic, making the teaching more personal and dynamic.
It was a very positive experience that gave me the chance to fully immerse myself in the teaching culture of an American law school. The exchange pushed me to break from my routine and step outside my comfort zone. It was refreshing to embrace that challenge again. The colleagues at UC Law were incredibly warm and welcoming. I was particularly impressed by the weekly lunch lectures, where staff members gave informal presentations on their research to around 30 attendees. It was a great way to share knowledge, foster connections, and look beyond the boundaries of one’s own field.
Has your time in the US influenced your teaching style?
In a way, yes. The exchange made me more creative in my teaching methods. In Leiden, students often come in with a solid foundation, but in San Francisco, I first had to spark their interest in the subject. To do that, I used more interactive techniques, such as media, interactive quizzes and online brainstorming tools, to keep their attention and engagement high.
Was the tense political climate in the US noticeable during your stay?
The most tangible aspect was the stricter immigration policy under Trump. There were stories in the media about international students and academics having their visas revoked or being denied entry to the country. That made me a bit anxious. After all, I’m a European academic specialising in international law. Fortunately, the Dean at UC Law was very reassuring and helped ease my concerns.
What surprised me in a positive sense was the strong sense of community among colleagues at the faculty. Some disagreed with the government’s policies and published a joint statement affirming the importance of free speech and democratic values. As a visiting scholar, it was powerful to witness how law professors respond when the rule of law is under pressure.
Would you recommend a staff exchange to others?
Absolutely. It’s healthy to step into a new environment from time to time. Eight years ago, I also spent nearly a year as a guest lecturer in Germany. Both experiences helped me discover new routines and teaching methods. You learn to work with students from different backgrounds and are challenged to adapt your approach. It’s not always comfortable to step outside your comfort zone, but in the end, it’s energizing and deeply enriching. And those three and a half months at UC Law San Francisco have reignited a very strong motivation to further teach and disseminate the knowledge of international law.
Do you have any tips for colleagues considering an exchange?
If possible, get in touch with a colleague from Leiden who has previously taken part in an exchange, ideally at the same university. Firsthand insights into what to expect are incredibly valuable. There are often practical challenges involved, such as arranging a visa and finding housing. With some guidance, you won’t have to figure everything out on your own and the process will be a lot smoother.