Governance and participation bodies
Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) has been a legal entity under public law since 1 February 1973, established by law and located in Rotterdam.
Higher Education and Research Act (WHW) and the Code of Good Governance for Universities
The Higher Education and Research Act sets out the rules and guidelines of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science that form the basis for the governance, obligations and responsibilities of universities. The Higher Education and Research Act lays a foundation for matters such as funding methods, staffing policies, accreditation of degree programmes, the range of programmes offered and collaborations.
EUR’s governance is designed in accordance with the Code for Good Governance in Dutch Universities (Code goed bestuur universiteiten), drawn up by Universities of the Netherlands (UNL). Under this code, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board work together on the basis of a transparent form of governance and supervision with good engagement of participation bodies.
This is done with a particular focus on:
- the responsibility of the various governance levels; in addition to the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board, deans and faculty boards are also held accountable for their governance role, as they have significant responsibilities within the university both under law and in practice;
- the importance of an open culture and a safe work and study environment; the role and powers of participation bodies;
- the effective design of the governance of collaborations between universities, and between universities and government bodies/businesses.
This appendix sets out an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the various governance levels at EUR: the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board and the deans. In addition, the role of the participation bodies is described in detail. In this context, the EUR Central Election Office is also of importance.
One of the provisions of the Higher Education and Research Act (WHW) and the Code of Good Governance for Universities is that the members of the Supervisory Board and Executive Board are transparent about their ancillary positions. This appendix therefore also contains an overview of the ancillary positions held in the 2024 reporting year.
EUR has various diligent procedures to ensure a safe work and study climate; you can read more about those procedures elsewhere in this annual report. In this context, we do describe the EUR complaints policy in this appendix.
Supervisory Board
Roles and responsibilities
In accordance with the Higher Education and Research Act (sections 9.6 to 9.9), the Supervisory Board supervises the Executive Board’s administration and management of the university and provides solicited and unsolicited advice to the Executive Board. The Supervisory Board is tasked with approving the strategic plan, budget, annual report and financial statements, as well as the university’s Administration and Management Regulations. The Supervisory Board is accountable to the Minister of OC&W, who appoints the members of the Supervisory Board.
Members of the Supervisory Board in 2024, ancillary positions and terms of office
- Prof. J.W. (Jaap) Winter, Chair of the Supervisory Board, partner in the consultancy firm Phyleon
- Leadership & Governance Professor of Corporate Law Governance & Behaviour at VU University Amsterdam
- Professor of International Business Law at the University of Amsterdam Chair of the Supervisory Board of Royal Schiphol Group NV
- Member of the Executive Board of Stichting Continuïteit ASR Nederland
- Chair of the Supervisory Board of the IMC Weekend School Foundation (from November 2024)
Term of office 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2028.
- Prof. E. (Ellen) Giebels, Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board and Chair of the Quality Committee
- Full Professor of Social Psychology of Conflict and Safety
- Member of the University of Twente TNO Strategic Advisory Council on Defence and Security
- Member of the TNO Strategic Advisory Council on Defence and Security
- Member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Police
- Member of the LOWI Advisory Board (nominated by the Dutch Research Council)
Term of office 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2028.
- Dr R. (Rahul) Vas-Bhat, Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Supervisory Board
- Chief Financial Officer of Caldic BV No ancillary positions in 2024
Term of office 1 March 2022 to 28 February 2026.
- Drs. L.B.J. (Laura) van Geest, member of the Supervisory Board and member of the Audit Committee
- Chair of the Executive Board of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM)
- Chair of Financial Expertise Center (FEC)
- Member of the Assessment Advisory Committee of the National Growth Fund
- Member of the Executive Board of the Pierson Fund
- Member of the Supervisory Board of Netspar
- Chair of Interdepartmental Climate Policy Research
- Columnist at Het Financieel Dagblad
Term of office 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2024.
- Drs. A. (Angelique) Berg – Member of the Supervisory Board and member of the Audit Committee
- Director-General of Statistics Netherlands
- Member of the Supervisory Board and member of the Audit Committee for Finance & Real Estate of Forensic Care Specialists Temporary
- Member of the Council for Public Administration (until July 2024)
Term of office 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2028.
- Prof. E. (Elmer) Sterken, member of the Supervisory Board and member of the Quality Committee
- Professor of Monetary Economics, University of Groningen
- Chair of the Supervisory Board of the University of Humanistic Studies
- Member of the Council of the University of Tartu
- Member of the Supervisory Board of Groninger Museum
- Member of the Central Planning Committee of CPB
Term of office 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2027.
Members of the Executive Board: portfolios, ancillary positions and term of appointment
The members of the Executive Board are appointed by the Supervisory Board and render themselves account to the Supervisory Board for the policy and management they have conducted.
President – Prof. A.L. (Annelien) Bredenoord
The President is responsible for general administrative matters within the university. The President’s portfolio includes strategic policy, regional, national and international collaboration and contact with Rotterdam City Council and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
Ancillary positions in 2024:
- Chair of the Supervisory Committee for the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (Sociaal Cultureel Planbureau, SCP)
- Member of the High Level Expert Group Horizon Europe (until November 2024)
Term of office: 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2028.
Rector Magnificus – Prof. A.J. (Jantine) Schuit
The Rector Magnificus is responsible for the portfolio of education, research and valorisation (including quality), as well as the academic staffing policy, student policy and the provision of public information about science.
Ancillary positions in 2024:
- Member of the Academic Research Advisory Committee for the VSB Fund Scholarship Programme
- Member of the Executive Board of Universities of the Netherlands
- Vice-Chair of the Education and Research Steering Group, Universities of the Netherlands
- Member of the Social Safety in Higher Education and Academia Steering Group External Adviser to the Management Board of GGD West-Brabant (until November 2024)
Term of office: 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2028.
Vice-President – Dr E.M.A (Ellen) van Schoten, RA
The Vice-President handles the finance, professional services, real estate, sustainability and IT portfolios and is responsible for the ongoing development of operational management to support EUR’s strategic and other objectives.
Ancillary positions in 2024:
- Chair of the eScience Centre
- Member of the Supervisory Board of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
- Member of the Accelerating Circular Economy South Holland (ACCEZ) Board
- Member of the Audit Committee of Statistics Netherlands (until June 2024) President of the Supervisory Board of Erasmus Holding (from October 2024)
- Chair of the Supervisory Board of Erasmus Enterprise (from October 2024)
Term of office: 1 January 2021 to 1 January 2025.
Deans
The deans bear responsibility for the quality of the education and research at their faculty. Two changes took place in 2024, in the Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil) and the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM).
- Prof. P.J.F. (Patrick) Groenen, Dean of the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE)
- Prof. M.J. (Maarten) Ijzerman, Dean of the Erasmus School of Health Policy Management (ESHPM)
- Prof. W.B.F (Werner) Brouwer until 31 November 2024 on an interim basis, succeeded by Prof. A.S. (Aukje) Hassoldt from 1 December 2024 as Dean of the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM)
- Prof. H. (Harriët) Schelhaas, Dean of the Erasmus School of Law (ESL)
- Prof. V.J.J.M. (Victor) Bekkers, Dean of the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Science (ESSB)
- Prof. M. (Martine) van Selm, Dean of the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC
- Prof. H.A.E. (Hub) Zwart, Dean of the Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil), replaced by
- Prof. L.H.J. (Liesbeth) Noordegraaf-Eelens as acting dean from 1 October 2024
- Prof. S. (Stefan) Sleijfer, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FGG Erasmus MC)
- Prof. R. (Ruard) Ganzevoort, Rector of the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)
Participation in decision-making
Staff and student participation in decision-making is assured through several bodies at EUR:
- the University Council, which has an EUR-wide perspective;
- the representatives of the trade unions, who sit on the Erasmus Labour Council (ELC);
- the various faculty advisory boards and service unit advisory boards;
- the programme committees.
An overview of the various participation bodies:
University Council
The University Council (UR) is the participation body for the whole of EUR. The University Council is made up of twelve students and twelve staff members, who are all elected by the university community. Elections are held for all seats on the University Council at the start of each academic year. Below,an overview of the members who sat on the Council until 1 September and the members who sat on the Council after 1 September 2024 can be found. The University Council liaises with the representatives of the Erasmus Labour Council (ELC), Faculty Councils, Advisory Boards and programme committees.
The Executive Board met monthly with the University Council in 2024 to discuss a jointly prepared agenda. These meetings covered the legally required topics, as well as topics that the Executive Board and the University Council wished to discuss with each other. The University Council can provide advice when requested and on its own initiative.
Quarterly consultations are convened between the central and decentralised participation bodies (ELC, Faculty Councils, Advisory Boards and programme committees) at the University Council’s initiative. Working groups were set up by the University Council and relevant policy staff for the joint implementation of the national Higher Education Quality Agreements (HOKA), for creating close involvement in EUR’s strategy and for EUR’s sustainability goals. The University Council’s Presidium was represented at all academic ceremonies.
Members of the University Council until 1 September 2024:
Chair: Ivonne Cune-Noten (EUR staff member)
Staff members: Emese von Bóné (ESL), Irena Boskovic (ESSB), Georgiana Carp (RSM), Jaap Cornelesse (PS), Aleid Fokkema (ESHCC), Ernst Hulst (ESHPM), Sebastiaan Kamp (PRO), Natascha Kraal (EMC), Chaya Raghoenath (ISS), Nikita Schoemaker (ESSB), Albert Wagelmans (ESE), Max Wagenaar (ESPhil).
Student members: Cagla Altin, Simo Azzarhouni, Veerle Bakker, Tom van Dijken, Erin van Gestel, Wesley Hennep, Sandra Constantinou Juhasz, Patryk Jarmakowicz, Wincey Randoe, Friso Roos, Luuk van Tol and Nawin Ramcharan
Members of the University Council from 1 September 2024:
Chair: Ivonne Cune-Noten (EUR employee)
Staff members: Emese von Bóné (ESL), Linda Dekker (ESSB), Wesley Hennep (ESSB), Katarzyna Lasak (ESHPM), Rosita Boedhai-Jansen (ISS), Aleid Fokkema (ESHCC), Ernst Hulst (ESHPM), Jaap Cornelese (PS), Sebastiaan Kamp (PRO), Jasper Klasen (EMC), Albert Wagelmans (ESE), Max Wagenaar (ESPhil).
Student members: Achraf Taouil, Esra Kahramanoglu, Bachar Farousi, Timo Zandvliet, Daan de Boer, Hugo Speelman, Sara Ouljour, Deniz Alican, Luna Becirspahic, Jaron Buitelaar, Reinier van Woerden, Nawin Ramcharan.
Advisory boards
Each of the supporting service units (Professional Services, the General Management Directorate and the University Library) has been represented by its own advisory board since 1 November 2016. These boards regularly consult with the heads of the relevant organisational units. Representatives of the advisory boards liaise with representatives of the University Council and ELC (see below).
Erasmus Labour Council (ELC)
In the Local Consultations (Lokaal Overleg), the Executive Board makes further agreements with the representatives of the trade unions, which are jointly represented in the Erasmus Labour Council (ELC). The General Education Union, FNV Overheid and CNV unions are represented in the consultations.
During the 2024 reporting year, the ELC met seven times with the Vice-President of the Executive Board and the HR Director.
Central Election Office
EUR’s Central Election Office (CSB) organises elections for the University Council and for the advisory boards of the central service units. The Central Election Office also coordinates the activities of the faculty election offices, which organise the faculty council elections.
For the University Council, staff are represented by organisational unit based on individual candidacies, while students vote in an EUR-wide election based on electoral lists of candidates.
Following a review of the Code of Conduct for Elections and the grant scheme in 2023, experiences with the new documents in the subsequent elections prompted a review of the Election Regulations for the University Council, in collaboration with the University Council.
As well as various process-related and editorial changes to improve readability, a more substantial change to the Election Regulations for the University Council concerned the introduction of public sessions to determine nominations and election results. The Central Election Office hoped that this change would increase transparency around the decision-making process.
Another addition to the Election Regulations for the University Council was the power of the Central Election Office to suspend the campaign grant for an electoral list/candidate in the event of alleged or proven irregularities during the elections and – after investigation, and if there is reason to do so – to reduce or withdraw it. This new measure is expected to have a preventative effect.
Complaints Policy
EUR handles submitted complaints, objections and appeals in accordance with legally prescribed procedures. The way cases are handled is described in various regulations published on the EUR website.
As well as formal appeals, objections, reports and complaints under the General Administrative Law Act (Algemene wet bestuursrecht) and the Higher Education and Research Act (Wet op het Hoger onderwijs en Wetenschappelijk onderzoek, WHW), these regulations also apply to complaints of a more general nature, as referred to in Section 7.59a WHW (the legal protection facility).
In 2024, 280 students (in 2023: 203) filed appeals with the EUR Examination Appeals Board. These mainly concerned decisions regarding negative binding study advice, admission to a Master’s programme and examinations.
Eight cases (in 2023: 13) were appealed to the Council of State. This included five appeals against a decision of the Examination Appeals Board and three against a recommendation of the Student Disputes Advisory Committee.
Furthermore, a total of 104 (in 2023: 73) notices of objection were handled by the Advisory Committee for Complaints and Objections (11) and the Student Disputes Advisory Committee (93). These mainly concerned decisions taken by or on behalf of the Executive Board.
Four complaints were handled in 2024 by the Research Integrity Committee (2), Inappropriate Behaviour Committee (2) and Whistleblower Committee (0) (compared with 10 in 2023).
In addition to the notices of appeal and notices of objection submitted, 271 complaints, reports and requests were submitted to EUR’s Legal Protection Facility in 2023 (compared with 247 in 2023). All institutions of higher education are required by law to have such a facility.