Recognitions

Maastricht University gives out awards to people from both within and outside of the organisation, who have directly or indirectly contributed to either the university or society-at-large. UM's awards include honorary doctorates, the Dr. J.G.H. Tans Medal, the UM medallion of honour, the Wynand Wijnen Education Prize, the UM Award and the UM Student Award.

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 Medallion 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 awarded 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.
 

More information

  UM Award - Regulations

During the Opening of the Academic Year on 31 August 2026, it has been announced that Anaïs Hublet has won the UM Student Award 2026.

Anaïs Hublet has founded and is supervising the Tauli project, a project to screen cervical cancer in Malawi and support local communities. The main project is cervical cancer screening, but it also includes such as a literacy center in Togo to teach women how to read and write, a reading project to encourage children of a school in Togo to read, a sexual education project to decrease early teens pregnancy in Togo and a water tank building in Malawi. 

The strength of the project resides in the fact that there is a true collaboration with the people who are affected by this problem. There are no European doctors coming for the screening; everything is done by local nurses, who get paid for their work, so it also has a positive effect on the economy. Anaïs is the only external actor, the teams in Malawi and Togo are working hard for the project to work. Even when Anaïs is not there, the projects need to work. The screening has to be done, the material was left there and a nurse got trained, so the clinic is always open. 

UM Student Award 2027
Do you want to recommend someone for the Student Award 2027? Download the regulations and the recommendation form.