Section 5 Research – global impact

Research vision

EUR is at the start of a new strategic period. This period will see EUR build on the current strategy, which is centred around generating positive societal impact. Since EUR’s impact partly stems from the core task of research, the vice-deans of research decided to draw up a research vision, in consultation with the Executive Board. This vision clarifies how EUR research is being transformed from research that is fundamentally driven by curiosity to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research. This type of research contributes to EUR’s mission. Multiple meetings were held to develop the research vision, including one attended by around a hundred participants representing a cross-section of the research population. Using various questions as a starting point, diverse groups of people seated at ten tables discussed EUR’s mission, vision and profile. The outcome of these discussions served as the basis for developing the mission, a vision with seven goals and the related ‘strategic priorities’. In 2025, the research vision will be developed further into tangible action points, specifying the research infrastructure needed to achieve the goals set. 

Starter and incentive grants

In 2023, the focus was on drawing up plans for the distribution and the sustainable and effective spending of the structural funds that Minister Dijkgraaf had made available for stimulating unfettered research and reducing workloads. 2024 was dominated by the funding cuts imposed by Minister Bruins. Because the funds for starter and incentive grants have largely been cancelled, EUR was forced to disappoint numerous researchers, and many planned research projects were unable to go ahead. In 2024, the remaining grants were awarded to eligible researchers in accordance with the spending plans submitted by the faculties. The number of grants awarded by each faculty is set out in the annual financial report.

Sector plans

In implementing the overarching Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) sector plan, known as the ‘SSH-Wide’ plan, Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) has chosen to fully commit to interdisciplinary study, embedding and development of the theme ‘The impact of digitalisation on work, prosperity and entrepreneurship’. Under this sector plan, funds were made available for the recruitment of 36 FTE assistant professors across the ESE, ESHCC, ESL, ESPhil, ESSB and RSM faculties. By the end of 2024, these funds were almost entirely spent. 

Within the SSH-Wide sector plan, we have defined five sub-themes. These can be found on the websites for the sector plans. Interdisciplinary teams have been formed to execute the plans. Each team is coordinated by two theme leaders from different EUR faculties. The teams comprise both the newly recruited assistant professors and the numerous junior and senior staff who volunteered to join. This sizeable influx has increased the SSH-Wide community to over a hundred members. 

A number of meetings on each sub-theme were held in 2024. These resulted in various national and international interdisciplinary workshops and seminars being held, as well as research projects (including grant proposals) being set up and teaching modules being developed that transcend the boundaries of the faculties involved in the SSH-Wide Sector Plan. In addition, the entire SSH-Wide community met twice in 2024 at the invitation of the sector plan management team. The first of these meetings was attended and introduced by the Rector Magnificus, while the second was attended by Prof. A. van Buuren (Strategic Dean for Impact & Engagement) and Dr Stefan de Jong. The theme was ‘Impact’. 

Impact

Evaluating Societal Impact

From 2020 to 2024, the Evaluating Societal Impact (ESI) strategic initiative focused on facilitating and advising on the development of a governance structure to enable impact activities and developing tools and methods to work on achieving and evaluating impact in a more structured way. 

The ESI developed further tools to help the organisation work on achieving impact in a more structured way (see here for an overview of the tools shared with open access). This includes a toolkit made with and for faculties to create faculty impact ambitions and strategies. The toolkit comprises several components, including workshop formats, interview protocols and a set of key focus areas. After an initial collaboration with ESE, in which preliminary versions of these tools were developed, the tools were developed further in collaboration with ESHPM and ESHCC. These faculties worked with their staff to create their own faculty impact ambition and strategy, which they are now developing and implementing. 

The ESI team also conducted a number of impact assessments for and with key internal and external stakeholders, such as Erasmus Initiatives, Convergence and ACCEZ. In all of these collaborations, an existing impact evaluation method was developed into a practical method for evaluating impact, with a firm focus on a qualitative, learning approach. 

The team actively contributed to EUR’s internal and external visibility. Thanks in part to numerous EUR employees, the ESI team was able to launch the first edition of the EUR Impact Report, which contains many fantastic and inspiring examples of how EUR enables and creates impact. The report was launched on the second day of the Societal Impact Days, which were organised in conjunction with Impact at the Core to inform the wider organisation of the many impact-related initiatives in research, education, engagement and operational management (read an impression of the Societal Impact Days here). The ESI team conducted many Theory of Change workshops and shared its knowledge and experiences at national and international conferences. The team also contributed to various working groups at the national, European and global level. The Journey of Progress card game has found its way around the Netherlands and far beyond, helping a wide audience to easily understand the impact they want to create. 

In the area of governance, EUR decided to create the position of Strategic Dean for Impact & Engagement. Prof. Arwin van Buuren was appointed to the role on April 1^st. He had previously served as the academic lead of two strategic initiatives aimed at spurring the transition to an impact-driven university: ESI and Impact at the Core. In his role of Strategic Dean, Van Buuren will drive the EUR-wide impact strategy, building connections and reporting on progress. It is currently a four-year role, linked to EUR’s old and new strategies. The Strategic Dean’s responsibilities were jointly determined by the Executive Board and the Board of Deans. Van Buuren advises the Executive Board and deans on impact, engagement and related activities in the areas of research, education and operational management. 

Although the ESI project was wound down at the end of 2024 due to the completion of the current strategic period, a number of activities will continue in 2025 to provide ongoing support to the organisation in its transition to an impact-driven university. 

ERS ‘Innovation and Partnerships’ Team

I. Impact Journey

In 2024, EUR successfully ran Impact Journey for the third time. This five-session programme helps researchers use their academic work to create societal impact. Participants define a clear mission, design an impact pathway and develop effective communication strategies to engage diverse audiences. 

ll. Spin-offs

Two spin-offs were established in 2024. FiHeTo is a knowledge centre in the emerging field of responsible and sustainable film tourism. It supports regional development, using cinematic heritage to attract visitors and boost local economies. The other spin-off is GoalStart BV, which was established to develop the goal-setting intervention created by the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) into user-friendly and scalable solutions to improve the study success of students around the world and significantly reduce dropout rates. This spin-off is overseen by the research group led by Prof. Michaéla Schippers.

 lll. Impact pathways

The university provided strategic support for the impact development of the ‘If you ask us’ initiative, led by Dr Marjolijn Heerings (ESHPM). This initiative aims to improve the quality of care in healthcare institutions and home care settings. It is now equipped to implement a sustainable adoption model based on a ‘train-the-trainer’ approach, including a certification framework and licensing model.

 lV Arts, Culture and Creativity Community (A3C)

In June 2024, the first meetings of EUR’s new Arts, Culture and Creativity Community (A3C) were held. This community aims to increase the internal and external visibility of all researchers working in the cultural and creative sector. The idea behind it is that these sectors can drive change, especially in relation to the major transition issues of our times. Moreover, the consumption of arts and culture contributes to welfare and wellbeing. ESHCC is a pioneer in this area, but nearly all of the other faculties are working on these issues from their own perspective. The ‘Just Fashion Transition’ seminar attracted academics, students, businesses, policymakers and professionals from the fashion and textile industry. Mariangela Lavanga (ESHCC) was joined by speakers including Brigitte Stepputtis (Vivienne Westwood), Hilde van Duijn (Circle Economy Foundation) and Jeremy Even (the startup PrimalSoles). Mariangela and Brigitte spoke again the following day, along with fashion designers Joline Jolink and Niki de Schrijver (Cosh.eu). The audience was made up of fashion students from all the relevant programmes in Rotterdam. The seminars held in collaboration with Fashion in Flux, which embraced the theme at the New Institute in the same week. Following these events, a magazine was published that brought more attention to these issues. The launch of the Digital Culture, Art & AI expert practice by Trilce Navarrete Hernandez (ESHCC) at ECDA and activities with the immersive tech network in Rotterdam (now South Holland Immersive Network & Ecosystem, SHINE) also took place, confirming the steady expansion of the A3C ecosystem.

 Wellbeing

EUR has a partnership related to wellbeing with the City of Rotterdam, which it set up in conjunction with Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Erasmus MC and a wide range of societal stakeholders. 

In 2024, a Monitor of Wellbeing was developed for the Province of South Holland, and the university is a partner in two regional deals focusing on the achievement of wellbeing in the regions. In addition, partners regularly call on prominent academics with extensive knowledge of wellbeing, such as Prof. Martin de Jong and Prof. Martijn Burger, to give presentations and contribute to events. A university professor, Frank van Oort, was appointed in late 2024. He has been given a mandate to work with partners on the next steps in developing a wellbeing growth agenda.

Erasmus Initiatives

i. The Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities & Citizens (VCC) engaged in a number of activities in 2024 to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration with positive societal impact. There are now 25 projects running, each with its own project page: https:/www.eur.nl/en/research/research-programme/vcc-projects-page. All of these projects involve collaboration with many faculties (ESL, ESE, EMC, ESHPM, RSM, IHS, ESSB, ISS and ESHCC). This demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of VCC. The VCC initiative is particularly committed to ‘community engaged research’, which it performs in conjunction with the Wijkwijs programme. This programme is run in collaboration with the Convergence programme Resilient Delta Initiative, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool Rotterdam) and various neighbourhood cooperatives in Rotterdam. The programme now comprises ten practical projects in Rotterdam. The idea of a ‘civic university’ is central to the programme; this means that research is designed and conducted in close consultation and collaboration with citizens and residents’ groups. There is now a great deal of interest in Wijkwijs, including from the Dutch Research Council (NWO), the EU and other bodies. We are frequently asked to share our experiences and apply them more widely. We publish articles about our experiences in academic and professional English-language and Dutch-language journals. Different target groups are served with a diverse range of outreach activities. The involvement of the VCC initiative in the curriculum has been extended to the Inclusive Energy Transition honours programme. Links have also been created to existing curricula, such as Master’s specialisations. This opens up the possibility of linking graduation research projects to the VCC initiative.

ii. The Erasmus Initiative ‘Smarter Choices for Better Health’ (SCBH) continued to conduct research along four ‘action lines’, further developing collaborations around those themes. This included collaboration with external parties as well as with other, mainly young EUR academics who are focusing on similar topics but are not formally involved in the SCBH initiative. To promote this collaboration, two calls were launched to encourage new projects. In both cases, the calls were for projects performed by academics from at least two faculties. The first call covered funding for new research with a maximum contribution of €50,000. In this round, five projects could be funded on the basis of proposals from various faculties. The call particularly benefited young researchers and provided an important stimulus to expansion of the internal network.

iii. The Erasmus Initiative ‘Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity’ (DoIP) expanded ongoing research in 2024, particularly at the international level. In doing so, it drew on existing collaborations as part of the UNIC project. This led to the joint appointment of a postdoctoral researcher, in partnership with the University of Liège. It also encouraged various reciprocal visits by delegations to formulate joint projects based on a shared interest in the challenges of post-industrial cities, ultimately promoting inclusive prosperity. This involved collaboration with institutions in cities that are not members of the UNIC consortium, such as Gothenburg. It strongly promoted the international visibility of EUR expertise in this field, including on other continents.

The second call involved a new round of ‘seed grants’ of up to €15,000, for additional funding of new projects. The money was intended to enable activities such as the purchase of datasets or international field research. The amounts awarded are modest, but for young researchers, it is the difference between being able to carry out their proposed research and not. Nine new projects were funded through this call. 

Finally, as part of the Convergence alliance, SCBH contributed to a joint call with the Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness Centre, which enabled research projects at Erasmus MC, TU Delft and EUR to link up. This call gave a boost to a project on organising healthcare capacity in the event of a pandemic. 

At the same time, the DoIP initiative was involved in research closer to home concerning impacts on inclusive prosperity. Involvement in regional deals encouraged collaboration with the ‘Drechtsteden’ and other towns and cities along the Nieuwe Waterweg canal. In particular, collaboration was intensified with the municipality of Vlaardingen, including research into the economic effects of the opening of the Blankenburg tunnel. 

Existing international collaborations continued with institutions in China, including concerning better and healthier waste management methods, and Saudi Arabia, concerning the development of smart cities. For the waste management project, the DoIP initiative received a grant from the Dutch Research Council of almost €1 million. DoIP doctoral candidates successfully defended their dissertations last year and embarked on their new careers in academia or in advisory positions in the public sector. This is another way in which the DoIP initiative is building a national and international network.

Open and Responsible Science (ORS) makes science more transparent, open, reliable and efficient, and is one of the ways we can make a positive societal impact. For this reason, EUR intends to integrate ORS into its daily practice. To ensure that ORS practices become part of the academic process, EUR is focusing on support and domain-specific solutions for all faculties. 

The ORS programme provides guidance on integrating these core values with the mission and research goals of our organisation. This has led to several initiatives. 

Implementation of the EUR Digital Competence Centre has begun. The aim is to improve support for digitalisation and Open Science through extensive collaboration within and outside EUR, as well as securing better access to services and expertise for researchers. After the kick-off, the first teams were formed, a stakeholder analysis was started and an advisory group was set up. 

Two awareness-raising campaigns were also organised, involving discussions, lectures and workshops. The spring campaign focused on the relatively neglected topic of open education, while the autumn campaign was about citizen-centric and engaged research and the implications for research in general. These campaigns were run in collaboration with the Erasmus Chairs. 

The first inventory of the Civic Engaged research field was completed, and citizen science was included. The results revealed the extent of and need for support infrastructure. 

The close connection with the Recognition & Rewards programme was reflected in the application for and awarding of a €2,500 grant from the Dutch Research Council, intended to better integrate this important programme with ORS practice. It was also reflected in the presentation of the annual ORS Awards, which are worth the same amount. The awards recognised outstanding achievements in open research, open education and societal engagement in the following projects: the ‘ALIVE project’ (Advanced Lung Image processing for personalised mechanical VEntilation) from Erasmus MC; ‘Bottom-up Open Science Education (BOSE)’ also from Erasmus MC and ‘Empowering Young Fathers’ from ESHPM. 

To exchange knowledge about the rapidly changing open science and research data management landscape and the associated challenges for academic institutions, EUR organised a two-day event for research support staff from various UNIC-affiliated and other universities within the EuDaNos network. 

Coordination of the bottom-up network Open Science Community Rotterdam (OSCR) resulted in communication and educational activities for the hundred community members from various schools and career stages.

All academic research performed for public institutions, including universities with a research remit, is reviewed by an external committee once every six years. During a review, the committee evaluates the research unit (faculty or department) according to the Strategic Evaluation Protocol (SEP). Three main criteria are considered: academic quality, social relevance and vitality. A number of sub-criteria are also applied. These include research culture, encompassing research integrity, diversity and inclusion, HR and talent policies, PhD policies, and open and responsible science. 

There were no external evaluations in 2024. Only a mid-term sociology review was conducted at ESSB. Preparations are underway for the upcoming audits of Erasmus MC, ESHCC and ESPhil, scheduled for 2025.

The research integrity policy aims to prevent violations of the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity as much as possible. That is why it is important for EUR researchers to be regularly confronted with the theme of research integrity. One of the tools to achieve this is EUR’s Dilemma Game App, which prompts researchers, lecturers and students to reflect on a dilemma related to research integrity. A new version of the app was launched in 2024. The new app is more user-friendly and includes dilemmas that deal with issues such as social safety. The user can decide which type of dilemma to select. 

Prof. Ellen Hey (ESL), one of the two central confidential advisers, asked to be relieved of her duties and for a replacement to be appointed, due to her imminent retirement. Meanwhile, Prof. Susanne Janssen (ESHCC) has been appointed by the Executive Board as confidential counsellor for research integrity. 

The Research Integrity Survey, last performed in 2018, was repeated in early 2024. The survey provides a picture of awareness of the topic of research integrity and how the culture around research integrity is perceived. Based on the results of the survey, a number of recommendations were made, which will be followed up by the faculties in consultation with the Executive Board.

2024 saw the highest number of doctorate conferrals in six years, at 437 (the average from 2019 to 2023 was 373). Just over 70% of the total number of doctorates conferred were from Erasmus MC. Of the total number of candidates receiving a doctorate, 59% were women, which is a small increase from 2023. There were a total of 20 doctorate conferrals (5% of the total) in which the candidate was awarded the cum laude (CL) designation. At the EUR-wide level, men and women were awarded the designation in equal percentages. In past years, the designation was awarded relatively more frequently to men. Extra attention has therefore been given to the awarding of the cum laude designation, in terms of both process and criteria. The direct effect of this policy change cannot be demonstrated, but the increased attention given to the issue may have had a positive effect. 

Three candidates obtained their doctorate in 2024 as part of the doctoral candidate experiment programme. No candidates dropped out of the programme. The total number of active doctoral candidates is four.

In 2024, the PhD policy focused on various PhD-related themes. Besides the cum laude profile, EUR developed policies on the use of artificial intelligence in the PhD programme. This resulted in an information document and e-learning module produced by the university library. The right to wear a gown was extended from professors only to everyone with ius promovendi (the right to nominate doctoral candidates). 

The Doctorate Regulations were updated in 2024, in line with the cycle. The new Doctorate Regulations were approved and will take effect in 2025.

 The Rectors of the Dutch Universities decided to stop welcoming scholarship doctoral candidates with scholarships below the IND standard. The financial situation and welfare of the candidates were central to this decision. EUR ratified the decision and developed policies accordingly. In addition, the question of whether the PhD survey could be run nationwide was explored.

The Young Erasmus Academy (YEA, 21 members) is a diverse group of talented academics from many different disciplines.

 The focus areas for the YEA included:

• Recognition and Rewards – The YEA subgroup for this issue actively considers policies around and the implications of the Recognition and Rewards programme. Members are involved in local implementation in the various faculties. 
• The ius promovendi – The YEA requested the Executive Board to consider granting the ius promovendi to associate professors. This request is in line with developments at other universities in the Netherlands. 
• Higher education spending cuts – At the initiative of the YEA, all Dutch Young Academies jointly requested the Minister of Education, Culture and Science to reconsider the proposed drastic cuts to higher education spending. This request was reported on by the NRC newspaper and NOS TV network.

 The YEA has been working to become more professional. For example, its presence on LinkedIn has been expanded and connections with alumni have been strengthened. This will make it easier for the YEA to inform stakeholders about its activities.

In 2024, two coordinator applications were granted and supported with a CEP (Coordinator Enablement Package).

Excelling Human-Centric Collaborative Ecosystems for Smart Digital Transition (EXCENTRIC) in CCSI is a three-year €3.5 million project funded by Horizon Europe, of which €680 million has been allocated to EUR and 11 partners. The coordinator is Eric Hitters (ESHCC), and the co-leaders are Izabela Derda (ESHCC), Ellen Loots (ESHCC) and Enrique Santamaria Echeverria (ESL). 

The project is focusing on the digital transition within sustainable and responsible growth in the European cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI). More specifically, it is looking at the underutilisation of data in the day-to-day activities of specific experience sectors, such as live music, festivals, theatre and museums. The project’s unique approach is to apply the concept of collaborative data practices in the CCSI. This concept has already proven to be effective in the pharmaceutical, energy and logistics sectors. The project includes six pilots in six countries, with three pan-European umbrella organisations. This will ensure both impact and adoption. 

TWIN4DEM stands for Strengthening Democratic Resilience Through Digital Twins. This three-year project is also funded by Horizon Europe. It has a value of €2.9 million, of which €581,000 has been allocated to EUR and its 11 partners. The coordinator is Clara Egger (ESSB), and the co-leaders are Asya Zhelyazkova (ESSB), Michal Onderco (ESSB), Elena Kantorowicz-Reznichenko (ESL) and Shreyas Meher Rajesh (ESSB). 

The aim is to scale up the use of Computational Social Sciences (CSS) in democracy research. This will be achieved by bringing together scientists in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities, CSS, computer scientists and parties interested in promoting democracy to address one of the most crucial questions in the study of democracy: what causes the decline of democracies? By making prototypes of the first-ever digital twins of four European democratic systems (Czech Republic, France, Hungary and the Netherlands), interdisciplinary tools are being developed to process textual and non-textual data more efficiently and accurately. The data will also be aggregated through the simulation of policy scenarios in a participatory and inclusive environment. 

During the reporting period, Engagement and Research Services (ERS) supported researchers in the ESSB, ESHPM, ESHCC and ESL faculties through the CEP. The results of six coordinator applications are expected in 2025.