APPOINTMENTS, ORATIONS AND SPECIAL MOMENTS

APPOINTMENTS

Prof. Dr. Hans de Groot named as Professor of Public Management

Hans de Groot was named as Professor of Public Management on September 1st, 2009. The Chair of Public Management (Finance & Administration research group) focuses on implementation issues in the public sector. The success of government policy depends on good implementation. More and more often government policy involves not only civil servants from municipal and provincial ministries, but independent public services, companies and non-profit organisations. A smart organisation and good management are essential. Within the Public Administration programme, Hans de Groot is responsible for the Bachelor's and Master's programme teaching in the area of public management. In the post-academic educational programme, he is the programme leader for the Master of Public Management (MPM), which is a part-time degree course for professionals.

As regards research, Professor De Groot will be developing a project to investigate the effectiveness of new management instruments for public administration, with particular reference to innovations adopted from the private sector, such as outsourcing and benchmarking. Hans de Groot worked as a member of the International Board of Auditors for NATO in Brussels, as Research Director for the General Auditor, and as Director of the Institute for Research on Public Expediture. He was formerly a part-time professor at the Free University of Amsterdam and the University of Tilburg. Hans de Groot's oration will take place on the third of June, 2010.

Prof. Dr. Rezaul Kabir is appointed as Professor of Corporate Finance and Risk Management

Rezaul Kabir became Professor of Corporate Finance and Risk Management on the first of August, 2009. The new professor will direct his research towards financial management and corporate governance. He is focused on bringing multi-disciplinary, international, and empirical characteristics into finance education. His research activities will include initiating new research projects and guiding doctoral students. Within the parameters of his research and teaching, Professor Kabir will stimulate national and international collaborations with the private sector and with other universities.

This professorship is part of the F&A Research Group. Most recently, Professor Kabir was Professor of Finance at the University of Stirling (Scotland, UK), but he began his academic career at the University of Maastricht. He went on to work for many years at the University of Tilburg and also has had broad experience at various international universities, including Antwerpen, Liège, Melbourne, Beijing en New York. Professor Rezaul Kabir will give his oration on the 14th of October, 2010.

Prof. Dr. Ariana Need named as Professor in Sociology of Public Governance

Dr. Ariana Need was named as the new Professor of Sociology of Public Governance. This professorship is part of the MR&V Research Group and is directed at interactions between regulation and individual behaviour. This area will be more specifically investigated by Professor Need as it pertains to education and health care. After studying Political Science, Ariana Need graduated in sociology with a dissertation on intergenerational transfer of voting behaviour. Since 2007 Professor Need has been a member of the Young Academy of the KNAW, and since 2008 an associated member of Nuffield College at the University of Oxford. Ariana Need's research has three main strands of inquiry: old and new political borderlines; structural inequalities (for the most part between men and women) in education and in the labour market; and, interactions between governments and citizens. In early 2010, Need became Chair of the School of Public Administration's Education Committee. She is also Research Group Chair for MR&V. "Choosing in Context" will be the title for Professor Need's oration, to be given on May 20th, 2010.

Prof. Dr. Lissa Roberts is installed as Personal Professor for Long-term Development of Science and Engineering

On March 1st, 2009, Dr. Lissa Roberts was named as a new Professor within the STePS research group. In her research, Roberts examines the historical development of science and the relationship between science, technology and society. Professor Roberts' research has three areas of interest: entrepreneurial technologists in a historical perspective, chemistry in daily life, and the placement of science and technology within a broader historical context. Lissa Roberts earned her doctorate in European cultural and intellectual history at the University of California, Los Angeles. Since then, Roberts has held various positions at several universities in the United States and in the Netherlands. Roberts is also a guest editor for special editions of two academic journals: "History of Technology" and "Itinerario." On the 25th of March Professor Roberts will give her oration, entitled "Technology out of Context."

Prof. Dr. Holger Schiele named as Professor of Technology Management - Innovation of Operations

Professor Holger Schiele was appointed full Professor of Technology Management, specialising in Innovation of Operations at the OOHR research group. His focus is on process innovations between organisations, for example, through collaborations between companies and their suppliers. Holger Schiele has broad and extensive experience in the business world, as well as a great deal of practical knowledge. He brings this expertise and his research findings to our educational programmes. Schiele will be track coordinator for the international variant of the Business Administration (IBA) programme. Schiele is also aiming to promote more international collaborations. As a participant in the research group at the Leibniz University in Hannover and the Jacobs University in Bremen, Holger brings a large international (German) network with him. Holger Schiele has had various positions in private enterprise, including at Preussag AG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and as consultant at, Shell, Siemens and ThyssenKrupp, among others,. Holger Schiele will deliver his oration on November 25th, 2010.

Prof.dr. Hindrik Vondeling named as Professor of Health Economics

Hindrik Vondeling was appointed Professor of Health Care Economics within the Health Technology and Services Research Group (HTSR) on September 14th, 2009. This appointment is aligned with the University of Twente's desire to raise its profile in Health Care Sciences. For the Health Care Sciences programme, Vondeling will provide part of the education for health economics, such as economic evaluation within health care. In the coming years, Professor Vondeling's research will be consist of a large European project to investigate new provisioning in health care based on his knowledge of the human genome.

Vondeling studied biology at the University of Groningen. For the past ten years he has worked in the Health Economics department at the University of South Denmark in Odense. Hindrik Vondeling will give his oration on December 16th, 2010.

Prof. Dr. Steven Walsh appointed Professor of Entrepreneurial Renewal of Industry

Dr. Steven Walsh became Special Professor for Entrepreneurial Renewal of Industry as of December 1st, 2009. This professorship is part of the NIKOS research group and has been established with the University of Twente Fund, and made possible by additional funds from the CIVI foundation and the East Netherlands Chamber of Commerce. Steven Walsh's research and teaching is focused on the renewal in industry that is generated by technological developments.

Technological Entrepreneurship is the spearhead of Professor Walsh's investigations. Walsh works on the development of new industrial activities based on the development of nanotechnology. In this area, Steven Walsh advises the MESA+ institute as well as diverse spin-off nanotechnology companies. Recently Professor Walsh was recognised as one of the world's top researchers in the last five years in the area of technology and innovation management. Walsh has received many international awards for his scientific and practical management contributions. In addition to his installation as professor at University of Twente, Steven Walsh is also Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of New Mexico. Before his scientific career Steven Walsh was a very successful entrepreneur.

Prof. Dr. Petra de Weerd-Nederhof appointed as Professor of Organisation of Innovation

Petra de Weerd-Nederhof was named as Professor of Organisation Sciences, and in particular as Professor of Organisation of Innovation. This professorship is a part of Operational Organisation and Human Resources (OOHR). Her research will be concentrated on innovating the organisation of innovations with respect to product innovation in the fabrication industry. As Education Director for Business Administration, Weerd-Nederhof works on the international variant of the International Business Administration (IBA) Bachelor's programme and on the two-year international (research) Master's variant. Professor Weerd-Nederhof studied Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Twente and went on to become Assistant Professor at the former School of Business Studies. In 1998 she graduated with her Ph.D. and in 2001 became Associate Professor of Organisation Studies and Innovation. She has been the Education Director of the Business Administration School since September 2006. Professor Weerd-Nederhof is also one of the editors of the scientific journal "Creativity and Innovation Management." In 2009, she was named to the professorship of Organisation of Innovation and gave her oration, entitled "Innovative (f) organisation is a Question of Balancing" on the 28th of January, 2010.

Prof. dr. Henk Zijm named as Professor of Production and Operations Management

Dr. Henk Zijm became Professor of Production and Operations Management in the Operational Methods for Production and Logistics (OMPL) Research Group. He returns to academia after ten years in various management functions including Scientific Director of the Centre for Telematica and Information Technology (CTIT), Dean of the School of Electronic Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EWI/EEMCS), as well as serving four years as the University's Rector Magnificus. Henk Zijm studied mathematics, physics and astronomy at the University of Amsterdam and graduated at the Technical University of Eindhoven. He worked at Philips for eight years as project leader and senior consultant on Production and Supply Chain Management before going on to become a part-time professor in the same area at TU Eindhoven, in 1987. In 1990 he was named as full-time professor of Production and Operations Management at the then-School of Mechanical Engineering, and thereafter at Stochoastic Operations Research at the Department of Applied Mathematics (while in post as Scientific Director and Dean) until he was made Rector Magnificus.

Orations

The Oration of Professor Michiel Heldeweg

Professor in Public Law Dr. Michiel Heldeweg held his oration, entitled "Smart Rules and Regulations: Public Law Design for Privatisation and Technological Innovation" on the 24th of September, 2009. In his address, the new professor suggested that public law in Twente offers an interesting angle on the debate about the new regulatory state: specifically whether, and if yes, how regulated markets and networks can offer the 'much-needed' social environment for technological innovation. Innovations that are socially practical remain elusive because the market makes its own rules to protect interests that are vested in existing technologies. The government, according to Heldeweg, can fulfil a balancing function and facilitate innovation through 'smart rules and regimes'. Governments must not uncritically adopt private sector norms with respect to controls on technological risks. Professor Heldeweg's oration, "Smart Rules and Regimes: Public Law Designed for Privatisation and Technological Innovation," is digitally available.

Oration of Professor Dr. Marianne Junger

Marianne Junger, Professor of Studies in Social Safety, gave her oration "Criminality Prevention: Management and Technology" on Thursday, November 19th, 2009. Junger's professorship is directed towards criminality and the prevention of criminality, and Junger has as a particular aspiration the development of Crime Science at the University of Twente. The goal of Crime Science is to research and analyse criminality to the highest achievable standard. Thereafter, the policy and resource requirements for stopping criminality can be determined. The goal as respects the education and research is to bring all university instructors and researchers involved in issues around criminality and security together in order to facilitate more coordination, and to generate new teaching and research topics. To request a digital copy of the text of the oration, click here.

The Oration of Professor Dr. Stefan Kuks

Dr. Stefan Kuks, Professor for Innovation and Implementation of Water Administration, gave his address on "Water in an Institutional Landscape: the Search for the Institutional Essence of Water Administration' on October 2nd, 2009. The professorship of Dr. Kuks is directed to institutional questions in water management. Although water management is regarded in the main as a technically-solvable issue, it is Professor Kuks' view that technical measures usually only succeed when they are guided through the complex administrative processes. The execution of water management demands commitment and skill on the part of water managers: specifically the goal-orientated use of the complex and dynamic environment in which water management is conducted. The Kuks' professorship is a part of the National Roundtable on Water Governance, which is part-financed by the national "Living with Water" programme.

To request a digital copy of the text of Professor Kuks' oration, click here.

Click here for the interview in the magazine "De Waterspiegel".
Click here for an interview in "The Water Board."

Special Moments

Honorary Doctorate for Professor Dr. Olaf Fisscher, Eng.

Professor Olaf Fisscher was presented with his Honorary Doctorate on July1st, 2009, during the University's annual 'Dies Academicus' celebration in Germany. Professor Fisscher was surrounded by family and friends as he was presented with the degree by Professor Sascha Spoun, President of the Leuphana University. Fisscher received the honour for his vision and work in the area of socially-responsible entrepreneurship and innovation management. In part, the doctorate was also a gesture of appreciation for Dr. Fisscher's years of collaboration with the Leuphana University of Luneburg, where he is Professor of Ethics. Olaf Fisscher (born in 1947) studied mechanical engineering and Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Twente, as well as Philosophy of Science and Engineering at the Catholic University of Nijmegen. He went on to complete his Ph.D. studies at the University of Groningen. In 1989, he returned to Twente to become Associate Professor in Management of Quality and Innovation, before becoming a Professor of Organisation Science and Business Ethics.

Farewell Symposium for Prof. Dr. Kees van der Vijver

On Friday the third of April a symposium was held to mark the departure of Professor Kees van der Vijver. Van der Vijver is the Professor of Police Studies and Director of the IPIT Institute (Institute for Public Safety Studies). He has made a significant contribution to present-day local policing practices in the Netherlands.

The symposium, entitled "30 Years of Police Studies: A Look Back and Forwards," brought together progressive police chiefs and scientists from the Netherlands and abroad. Discussions centred on which research had made, or could yet make significant contributions to the furthering of public security in the Netherlands.

Kees van der Vijver held various positions in both law enforcement and in science during his career. He was a police inspector in Velsen, a scientific researcher at the Ministry of Interior Affairs, Commissioner of Police in Amsterdam, as well as Director at the Police, Security and Society Foundation. For the last eleven years Van der Vijver has been Professor of Police Studies and IPIT Director.