Recognitions

The Dr. J.G.H. Tans Medal is the highest distinction at Maastricht University. It is given to people who have made a significant contribution towards the development of the university. Previous recipients of this medal include former Govenor Kremers and former Rector Magnificus Cohen.

The UM Medaillion of Honour is presented to UM staff members who have made an exceptional contribution towards the brand awareness, reputation and development of the university. Recipients receive this medallion upon their departure. 

The first UM Medallion of Honour was awareded to drs. André Postema, former Vice Chairman of the Executive Board. He received the medallion during the Dies Natalis in 2014. Postema was recognised for the extraordinary way in which he contributed towards improving operational management, sustainability and valorisation at Maastricht University.

More information:

  Regulations on Awarding the Maastricht University Medallion of Honour

The Wynand Wijnen Education Prize is an annual prize awarded to members of the UM teaching staff who have made an exceptional contribution to education at Maastricht University. This prize is awarded during the Dies Natalis.

The Wynand Wijnen Education Prize is presented as a tribute to Wynand Wijnen, a professor of didactics who passed away in 2012. In addition to considerable national achievements in the field of education reform, he helped lay the foundations of Problem-based Learning at Maastricht University.

The UM Award is an annual award given to staff members who have served the university with special merit, be it on an academic, managerial or service level. The UM Award is presented at the New Year's reception.
 

During the Opening of the Academic Year on 5 September 2022, it was announced that Marts Ivaskis, Moritz Takacs and Friederike Leppert had won the UM Student Award 2022.

Marts, Moritz and Friederike are co-founders of the project Shelter Our Students Maastricht (SOSMaastricht).

The project was a swift response to the housing shortages of students. SOSMaastricht aimed to do three things: 1) provide short-term solutions to students looking for housing, 2) initiate a continuous discussion between the relevant stakeholders regarding student housing issues in Maastricht and 3) lobby for long-term solutions.

They created a Couchsurfing platform for students. In collaboration with Maastricht Housing, SOSMaastricht was able to find students semi-permanent housing for their first year in Heksenstraat. Finally, SOSMaastricht also lobbied in the Municipal Council meetings for more container housing. This resulted in the building of 600 more container housing units in Randwyck.