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.
Honorary doctorates
UM bestows honorary doctorates upon people who have made an extraordinary contribution to science or society. The following people have received an honorary doctorate:
Year | Honorary doctor | Honorary supervisor |
---|---|---|
2017 | Joachim Gauck | Prof.dr. Martin Paul |
2016 | Prof.dr.med. Detlev Ganten | Prof.dr. Martin Paul / Prof.dr. Thomas Unger |
Prof.dr. Susan-Rose Ackerman | Prof.dr. Michael Faure | |
Prof.dr. Paul de Grauwe | Prof.dr. J. Muysken | |
2015 | Jimmy Wales | Prof.dr. Luc Soete |
Drs. Frans Timmermans | Prof.dr. A.W. Heringa / Prof.dr. Sophie Vanhoonacker | |
Prof.dr. Wolfgang Wahlster | Prof.dr. Gerhard Weiss | |
Prof.dr. Michelle Craske | Prof.dr. Peter Muris | |
2014 | Prof.dr. Peter J. Barnes | Prof.dr. E. Wouters |
Prof.dr. P. Levitt | Prof.dr. Valentina Mazzucato | |
Prof.dr. Amy Edmondson | Prof.dr. W. Gijselaers | |
Prof.dr.Jürgen Hennig | Prof.dr. R. Goebel | |
Prof.dr. Paul Craig | Prof.dr. B. de Witte | |
2013 | Prof.dr. Fred H. Gage | Prof.dr. Harry Steinbusch |
Prof.dr. Mohammad Hashem Pesaran | Prof.dr. Franz Palm | |
Prof.dr. Trevor Pinch | Prof.dr. Wiebe Bijker | |
Prof.dr. Paul Crutzen | Prof.dr. Pim Martens | |
Dr. Feike Sijbesma | Prof.dr. Martin Paul | |
Prof.dr. Christine van den Wyngaert | Prof.dr. A. Klip | |
2012 | Prof.dr. A.L. Goldberg | Prof.dr. A. Schols |
2011 | Prof.dr. P. Alston | Prof.mr. M. Kamminga |
Prof.dr. Parsu Parasuraman PhD | Prof.dr. J. Lemmink | |
Prof.em.dr.dr. H.C. B. Kohler | Prof.dr. T. Blom | |
Prof.dr. Kamil Urgurbil | Prof.dr. R. Goebel | |
Prof.dr. H.M. Levin | Prof.dr. H. Maassen van den Brink | |
2009 | Prof.dr. J. Campbell | Prof.dr. P. Eicholz |
2006 | Prof.dr. J. Friedman | Prof.dr. W. Saris |
Prof.dr. M. McKee | Prof.dr. H. Maarse | |
Prof.dr. R. Zimmerman | Prof.mr. J. Smits | |
2005 | Prof.dr. J. Drèze | Prof.dr. J. Herings |
2001 | Prof.dr. H.S. Barrows, MD PhD | Prof.dr. C.P.M. van der Vleuten |
Prof.dr. W.J.M. Levelt | Prof.dr. G. Kok | |
H.J.A. Hofland | Prof.dr. J.H.W. Kusters | |
1996 | H. Kotz | |
W.J. Baumol | Prof.dr. H. Maks | |
P.A. J. Janssen | Prof.dr. R.S. Reneman | |
1993 | Marc Lalonde P.C., O.C., Q.C. | |
1991 | Prof.dr. F.J.A. Huygen | Prof.dr. A. Knottnerus |
T. Koopmans | Prof.mr. C.F. Flinterman | |
Prof.dr. R.R. Nelson | ||
1989 | Dr. C.F. Beyers Naude | Prof.mr. Th. van Boven |
1986 | Prof.dr. A. Fleckenstein | |
Prof.dr. J.D. Caen | ||
Prof.dr. M.E. Josephson MD | ||
Prof.dr. P.C. Johnson | ||
1981 | Dr. J.G.H.. Tans | |
Prof.dr. B.A. Smith | ||
Prof.dr. J.R. Evans | ||
Prof.dr. J.J. van Rood |
Dr. J.G.H. Tans Medal
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 President of the Executive Board Cohen.
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2012 | Prof. mr. G.P.M.F. Mols |
2011 | Dhr. L.J.P.M. Frissen |
2011 | Prof. dr. ir. J.M.M. Ritzen |
2009 | Mr. P.A.F.W. Elverding |
2005 | Mr. B.J.M. baron van Voorst tot Voorst |
2004 | Prof. dr. H.J. Martens |
2004 | Prof. dr. A.C. Nieuwenhuijzen Kruseman |
2002 | Dr. K.L.L.M Dittrich |
2002 | Mr. Ph. J.I.M. Houben |
1998 | Prof. dr. R.S. Reneman |
1997 | Prof. mr. M.J. Cohen |
1995 | Prof. dr. W.H.F.W. Wijnen |
1995 | Drs. L.E.H. Vredevoogd |
1990 | Dr. J. Kremers |
1989 | Drs. J.B.M. Verhey |
1987 | Mr. R.B. van den Biggelaar |
1986 | Prof. dr. J.M. Greep |
1984 | Dr. J.Ph. van Campen |
1982 | Dr. P. Thung |
1982 | Prof. dr. H. Philipsen |
1978 | Dr. J.G.H. Tans |
Dr. Sjeng Tans
See this file for more information on the Dr. J.G.H. Tans Medal (in Dutch only)

UM Medallion of Honour
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
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2017 | Jan Muijtjens |
2017 | Jos Smits |
2016 | Louis Boon |
2015 | Laurent Louwies |
2015 | Herman Kingma |
2014 | André Postema |
Wynand Wijnen Education Prize
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.
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2016 | Dr. Jeanette Hommes, SBE |
2015 | Dr. Anja Krumeich |
2014 | Catalina Goanta, FL |
2013 | Jaap Bos, Gwen Noteborn and Sjoke Merk, SBE |
2012 | Dr. Jan de Roder, FASoS |
2011 | Dr. B. van Diepen en dr. C. Kerckhofs, SBE |
2010 | Dr. Dirk Tempelaar, SBE |
2009 | Gwen Noteborn, Kelly Guyskens, Nina Belei en Claudia Jabmad, SBE |
2008 | Gerard Maijoor en Ton de Goeij, FHML |
2007 | Rob de Vries, FPN |
2006 | Louis Boon, Gerard Korsten, Anouk Cuijpers, Ans Netjes, Pascal Suppens, UCM |
2005 | Herco Fonteijn, FPN |
2004 | Bob Wilkinson, Language centre |
2003 | Prof.dr. Eric Heineman, FHML |
2002 | André Meijer, FHML |
2001 | Prof.dr. Anita Jansen, FPN |
2000 | Oefenrechtbank, Law |
1999 | Dr. A. Paulus, FHML |
1998 | Staf Multimedialab, FASoS |
1997 | H. Schneider, FL |
1996 | Dr S. Romme, SBE |
1995 | Mevr. H. Snellen - Balendong, FHML O&O |
UM Award
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.
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2017 | Jan Vijgen, MUO |
2016 | Len Cuppens, MUO, Bakir Bulić, FHML |
2015 | Brigitte Caenen-Alblas, Birgitte Hendrickx |
2014 | Roel Spätjens, René Gabriels |
2013 | Chantal Kuijpers, FL, Ali Jahanshahianvar, FHML |
2012 | Alejandro Lavopa, Chair PhD Academy |
2011 | Erie van den Heuvel, CAPHRI, Martin Tossings, CARIM (passed away in 2012) |
2010 | Prof.dr. Corine de Ruiter, FPN, Ingrid Wijk, Denise Vilerius and Margot Krijnen, Kids College |
2009 | Ien van de Leur, FASOS, Lou Quaden, FD |
2008 | Tiny Simon, MUO, Dr Ton. de Goeij, FHML |
2007 | Ine Kuppen, Alumni Officer, Prof.dr. Arnoud Arntz, FPN |
More information

UM Student Award
The UM Student Award is annually awarded to a student (or group of students) at Maastricht University who, in addition to their studies, have made a special contribution to culture or society. The award consists of a piece of art and € 1.000,-. In addition, a portrait of the winner is hung up in the ‘student hall of fame’ in the UM administrative building. The winner of the award is announced during the Opening of the Academic Year.
The winner in 2017 was sixth year medical student Victoria von Salmuth. During a clinical internship in 2015 at Shirati Hospital in Tanzania she met a young woman who just gave birth to triplets but was not able to provide sufficient breast milk to her newborns because she was simply not getting enough nutritious food herself. Victoria thought that the meal situation in the hospital was unacceptable and felt a great need to do something about it. To provide every patient with at least one meal a day, more money was needed for the hospital food program.
Therefore she started a fundraising initiative, the Shirati Food Program, raising funds every month in Germany and the Netherlands and sending a monthly contribution of 600 Euros to the Shirati Hospital Food Program. Due to the help of the Shirati Food Program, patients in the Shirati Hospital recover faster and there are less cases of malnutrition. You can watch Victoria receiving the prize in this video.
UM Student Award 2018
Do you want to recommend someone for the Student Award 2018? Download the regulations and the recommendation form.
Overview of UM Student Award winners:
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2017 | Victoria von Salmuth |
2016 | Matthijs Bosveld and Sjim Romme |
2015 | Aurelia Streit, Student and Society Initiative |
2014 | Board of the 'Gezondheidsuniveristeit' |
2013 | Foundation BONT and Maastricht Eco-Map |
2012 | Taskforce Qualitative Resuscitation by Students |
2011 | Mpower Foundation |
2010 | Maaslife.nl |
2009 | Anna Theuvenet |
2008 | Marjolein Buss and Lennard Duijvestijn |
2007 | KALEIDOSCOPE Maastricht |
2006 | MUSTANGH Foundation |
2005 | Navtej Talwar |
2004 | Evelien van der Zon |
2003 | Werkgroep Allochtone Studenten |
2002 | Michael Hoeck |
2001 | Independent Fraternity Que Pasa |
2000 | Jasper Grosskurth and Bas de Zwaan |