Section 1 Report of the Supervisory Board

The year 2023 was marked in part by a number of social developments and the influence of protest movements, such as increasing criticism of institutions linked to fossil fuel industries. A number of climate rallies also took place on campus at EUR, which went without incident and helped prompt in-depth discussion in the EUR community within the EUR Climate Dialogues. 

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science issued a number of directives that immediately raised questions regarding the internal organisation of universities, such as the restriction on the active recruitment of international students and labelling of government funds towards starting and incentive grants. The Ministry also issued initial guidelines for monitoring knowledge security at universities. As these issues also touch heavily on EUR's strategy as an internationally active university, conversations on them formed the basis for a longer-term view of the university's governance. 

Partly in response to the social unrest in various areas, there was an additional focus on safety, including social safety, for employees and students and the services offered by the EUR organisation in this context. A painful reminder that this cannot prevent things from going seriously wrong came in the form of the shooting incident at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Care on 28 September 2023. The event made a deep impression on the EUR community. One of the topics of conversation with the Executive Board at the start of the 2023-2024 academic year was therefore the balance between accessibility and safety. It is an issue that sometimes also touches on the university's academic freedom, as became all the more evident when the effects of the Israel-Gaza conflict were felt on campus and led to demonstrations, walk-ins and gatherings in faculties. All interaction between different groups remained respectful. 

The Supervisory Board notes that in 2023 the Executive Board was able to assume responsibility, maintain a dialogue and make progress towards the strategic perspective of EUR as a socially engaged university on the basis of a balanced weighing up of interests. 

On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to express my appreciation for the collaboration with the EUR Executive Board, which enabled us to once again jointly set and monitor EUR’s course in 2023. Finally, I would like to express our great appreciation for all EUR staff members who once again worked as a community to create the conditions for outstanding education and research, contributing to the strong reputation of Erasmus University Rotterdam. 

Erasmus University Rotterdam Supervisory Board,

Prof. Jaap Winter

Dr Rahul Vas-Bhat

Prof. Ellen Giebels

Drs. Laura van Geest

Prof. Elmer Sterken

In this section, the Supervisory Board of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) renders itself accountable for its conducted supervision of the activities and the exercise of its powers in the year 2023. EUR applies the Code of Good Governance for Universities 2020.

Taking into account the nature of the university, its activities and the desired expertise, the Supervisory Board has drawn up a profile for its size and composition. This profile is public. For a further explanation, see www.eur.nl  

The Supervisory Board is composed in such a way that the members can operate independently and critically with respect to each other, the Executive Board and other stakeholders. The members of the Supervisory Board are appointed for a period of four years by the Minister of Education, Culture and Science (OC&W) and the Supervisory Board is accountable to this minister. 

In 2023, there were two changes in the composition of and roles within the Supervisory Board:

• Prof. Ir. Hans van Duijn resigned as a member as of 31 July 2023. The Supervisory Board thanks Mr van Duijn, who was also Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board, for his great commitment and contribution during the two terms he served on the Supervisory Board, in particular as Chair of the Quality Committee. Prof. Elmer Sterken was appointed by the Minister as a member of the Supervisory Board to succeed Mr van Duijn effective 1 August 2023.
• Prof. Ellen Giebels took over the role of Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board and the role of Chair of the Quality Committee from Mr van Duijn.
• Prof. Jaap Winter – Chair
• Prof. Hans van Duijn – Vice Chair and Chair of the Quality Committee, up to and including 31 July 2023
• Dr Rahul Vas-Bhat – Member of the Supervisory Board and Chair of the Audit Committee
• Drs. Laura van Geest - Member of the Supervisory Board and Member of the Audit Committee
• Prof. Ellen Giebels- Member of the Supervisory Board and Member of the Quality Committee up to and including 31 July 2023 and Vice Chair of the Supervisory Board and Chair of the Quality Committee from 1 August 2023
• Prof. Elmer Sterken – Member of the Supervisory Board and Member of the Quality Committee, from 1 August 2023 

The composition of the Supervisory Board in 2023 was as follows:

• Prof. Jaap Winter – Chair
• Prof. Hans van Duijn – Vice Chair and Chair of the Quality Committee, up to and including 31 July 2023
• Dr Rahul Vas-Bhat – Member of the Supervisory Board and Chair of the Audit Committee
• Drs. Laura van Geest - Member of the Supervisory Board and Member of the Audit Committee
• Prof. Ellen Giebels- Member of the Supervisory Board and Member of the Quality Committee up to and including 31 July 2023 and Vice Chair of the Supervisory Board and Chair of the Quality Committee from 1 August 2023
• Prof. Elmer Sterken – Member of the Supervisory Board and Member of the Quality Committee, from 1 August 2023

The Supervisory Board has an Audit Committee and a Quality Committee.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee focuses on both EUR’s financial policy (including its internal control and risk management) and on EUR’s operational management. The external auditor periodically reported his findings in the Audit Committee. 

The Audit Committee met four times in 2023 and advised on the following topics, among others, during these meetings:

• EUR Multi-year budget 2024-2027.
• EUR Annual Financial Statements 2022 and the Auditor's Management Letter.
• Erasmus Perspectives 2024-2027 (the framework memorandum).
• EUR Highlights reports (quarterly financial forecasts).
• 1 October census enrolment figures and impact on funding.
• Periodic reporting in relation to Starting and Incentive Grants.
• EUR Business Continuity Management.
• EUR Treasury Statute 2023.
• Audit Charter and Audit Plan.
• Audit & Review Agenda 2024-2026 and periodic update of internal and external audit results in 2023.
• Half-yearly financial Campus in Development report (for the purpose of the real estate strategy).
• Implementation of the EUR Procurement Policy.
• EUR Reserve Policy 2023.
• IT (Information security plan, cyber security risk signalling and outsourcing strategy).
• Progress in the registration of ancillary positions of professors and other staff.
• The internal allocation of funds from direct funding.
• The potential consequences of the tightening of the Policy Rule on Investment of Public Funds in Private Activities of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OC&W).
• Selection of new auditor.

Quality Committee 

The Quality Committee focuses on the quality of education and research, and how this quality is stimulated and secured within EUR and in cooperative arrangements. 

The Quality Committee met four times in 2023. The topics discussed at these meetings included:

• Convergence EUR-TUDelft-Erasmus MC and views on Transdisciplinary education.
• Recognition and Rewards.
• Institutional Quality Review 3.0.
• EUR Climate Dialogues.
• Safe@EUR help desk and social safety in general.
• EUR Educational Vision.
• Student Wellbeing Programme.
• Allocation of Starting and Incentive Grants.
• Student Wellbeing Monitor.
• The employee survey and 14 performances of the Mindlab show on social safety.
• Progress of Erasmus Research Services.
• Application of AI in education.

In its capacity as employer of the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board held evaluation meetings in 2023 on the cooperation with the Executive Board as a whole and with the individual Executive Board members. The Supervisory Board has strictly complied with the Senior Executives in the Public and Semi-Public Sector (Standards for Remuneration) Act (WNT) in relation to the remuneration of Executive Board members. This also applied to the remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board. 

As part of its duties, the Supervisory Board oversaw the lawful acquisition and efficient and lawful spending of funds and the design of the quality assurance system. 

The Supervisory Board had four regular meetings with the Executive Board in 2023 and twice held a joint strategy session. The Supervisory Board ensured that a range of topics was discussed with the Executive Board at the meetings throughout the year, as a result of which a comprehensive view was gained of the organisation. In the their joint meetings in 2023, the Supervisory Board and Executive Board approved a number of documents based on the Supervisory Board’s legal authority, including the following:

• 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements;
• EUR 2024-2027 Budget;
• EUR Administration and Management Regulations (Bestuurs- en Beheerreglement, BBR) 2024. 

In addition to its statutory duties, the Supervisory Board discussed range of topics with the Executive Board, including:

• The midterm evaluation of the EUR Strategy 2024 and the partial redefinition of the strategy in a number of areas including impact and sustainability.
• Impact@EUR, shaping contributions to society by creating societal impact.
• Receivables from the registration of ancillary positions by professors and other staff.
• The EUR Recognition and Rewards Framework for academic staff. Collaboration with external parties and the social role of EUR.
• Implementation of the SSH-wide sector plan at EUR. EUR’s educational vision.
• Internationalisation from a strategic perspective and the potential impact of the Balanced Internationalisation Act announced by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
• The climate protests on the EUR campus and the EUR Sustainability Dialogues with students and staff that took place at EUR in the second half of the year.
• Social security: the trend in society and EUR's approach.
• Integral security including a periodic update of the situation on campus in response to social movements and conflicts.
• Knowledge security: awareness, policy and plan of action with a timeline.
• Tomorrow'sCampus, the future vision for real estate and campus use.
• The University of the Arts Rotterdam fusion programme.
• The Supervisory Board was informed in the interim about the shooting incident at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences on 28 September and, in the period that followed, the impact on staff and students. 

The Supervisory Board made physical visits to faculties as scheduled. During the visits, a great deal of time was spent discussing the current issues affecting the faculty in question as well as looking ahead to the future and the associated focus areas. Common strategic themes were discussed at a joint strategy session attended by the Supervisory Board, the deans and the Executive Board in spring 2023. Topics included EUR's strategic alliances. The Chair of the Supervisory Board also held one-to-one talks with the deans. 

In 2023, several meetings took place between the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board of EUR and the Supervisory Board and Executive Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences/Erasmus MC. During the consultative meetings, a number of common topics were discussed, such as the wellbeing and social safety of staff and students, the various construction projects at campus Woudestein and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences/Erasmus MC campus, and the desired percentage of female professors in the context of diversity and inclusion goals. 

During the reporting year, the Supervisory Board met twice with the Presidium of the University Council to discuss current affairs and shared concerns. The Supervisory Board and the University Council have experienced these discussions as positive and constructive. Further to these talks, the Supervisory Board passed on a number of concerns to the Executive Board with a recommendation for further discussion. 

In its capacity as employer of the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board held evaluation meetings in 2023 on the cooperation with the Executive Board as a whole and with the individual Executive Board members. The Supervisory Board has strictly complied with the Senior Executives in the Public and Semi-Public Sector (Standards for Remuneration) Act (WNT) in relation to the remuneration of Executive Board members. This also applied to the remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board.

In 2023, the Chairs of the Supervisory Boards of Dutch universities met twice. Among the issues discussed were the importance and current events surrounding knowledge security, the potential consequences of restricting the influx of international students for the university, social safety at universities and the proper registration of ancillary positions by professors and other staff.

EUR and Erasmus MC are jointly involved in various cooperative arrangements, such as the Convergence EUR-TU Delft-Erasmus MC set up in 2019. The Supervisory Board has been updated and involved by the Executive Board in several discussions about this cooperative arrangement, whose ultimate goal is to create social impact together with the region as a living lab. The framework agreement, signed in 2021, also establishes agreements on operational management within the Convergence that are coordinated from the Convergence Office. For the Convergence, a separate governance structure has been established with a Convergence Executive Board and a Convergence Supervisory Board. The Chair of the Supervisory Board participates in the latter. 

EUR has partnered with Leiden University and TU Delft as part of the LDE cooperative arrangement. This collaboration centres around multidisciplinary education at the intersection of technology and society and is also regularly discussed at meetings between the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board.

In accordance with statutory provisions, the Supervisory Board monitors the quality and performance of individual members and of the Supervisory Board as a whole. An internal evaluation took place again in the reporting year. This included input from the Executive Board on collaboration. Topics addressed included developments in the knowledge and skill levels of members, deepening insights into and dialogue with the Executive Board on important, forward-looking themes for EUR and the current information provision by EUR, cooperative arrangements, society and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.