Every year, the Algemene Onderwijsvakbond (AOb) awards the Academiekus to people who campaign hard for better working conditions in academia. This year, the award went to two winners: Prof Marie-José van Tol (University of Groningen) and Kees Storm, dean of the Faculty of Applied Physics & Science Education. "I think you have to show people that you appreciate them," he said

The jury praised Storm for his commitment to making the university 'flatter'. He already did so during his 2018 inauguration, in which he said, "I think anyone who is involved in educating our students and PhD students, in acquiring and managing the funds that make our research possible, and in rigging and conducting our future research, is doing the work of a professor." He also played an important role in convincing his fellow deans of the importance of less hierarchy, according to the AOb press release.

Previous appreciation

According to Storm, besides professors, university lecturers and senior lecturers should also be allowed to bear the title of professor. He also advocates two other measures, namely that lecturers should also be allowed to wear a toga during ceremonies, and that they should be given the right to promote their own students. "Storm: "Sometimes people think: what are you worried about, but it really means something. It symbolises the quality we represent as professors. We need to recognise that more widely."

Storm thinks it is important to implement these measures because a new generation is entering the university. That new generation does not want to wait before they can call themselves professors. "I think you have to show them that you value them. You cannot make them wait until they are in their late forties or early fifties. They don't necessarily have to become professors, they can do that later, but you can give this token of appreciation earlier." In doing so, Storm mentions that legally there is no obstacle to implementing these measures. "You can always wear a toga and the title 'professor' is not even protected."

Although TU/e was early to the mark in terms of promotion rights for university (head) lecturers, the university is now lagging behind with the other two measures. "I hope Eindhoven can embrace all three. Although I am not advocating that just anyone can become a professor, nor that everyone can get the right of promotion unconditionally," Storm stresses. "You do have to keep paying attention to quality. When you start a Master's degree, you don't get the title right away either. You have to earn it. Perhaps that can be done through a course."

Adere winner

Besides Storm, Marie-José van Tol, professor of cognitive neuropsychiatry at the University of Groningen, also received the award. Like Storm, she has made "tireless efforts" to raise awareness of the issue of "everyone being a professor". Van Tol did so as president of The Young Academy. The jury also gave an 'honourable mention' to the third nominee for the prize. That is Evgenia Salta, affiliated with the Netherlands Brain Institute and the KNAW. She is committed to a more inclusive working environment.

Source: Cursor News
Photo: Bart van Overbeeke