FASoS alumna Tessa Groen wins Higher Education Thesis Award
Tessa Groen, alumna of the Cultures of Arts, Science and Technology research master at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS), has won the Higher Education Thesis Award 2019. Tessa received the award during an online ceremony chaired by Minister of Education, Culture and Science Ingrid van Engelshoven.
Tessa wrote her thesis about commercial university rankings. The jury praised the depth of her research and the contribution of her thesis to the worldwide discourse on rankings and Recognition and Rewards.
Tessa conducted her research under the supervision of Professor Cyrus Mody, chair in the History of Science, Technology and Innovation (FASoS). Through the application of quality indicators rankings agencies set the standard for a different notion of quality and excellence. Rankings have contradictory implications, because quality indicators that are criticised such as reputation and international outlook contribute to good rankings’ performances. To evaluate this tension, Tessa investigated practices of data submission, analysis and communication in Dutch academia. Extending beyond the experiences of policy officers, researchers and students, this research provides insights into the subject of rankings and the wider implications of rankings’ practices and excellence-driven policies in public research universities in the Netherlands.
Also read
-
Studio Europa Launches Policy Brief Series on the Digital Services Act and Democracy in the Digital Age
On 15 May 2025, Studio Europa Maastricht launched its new Policy Brief Collection on Digitalisation, a multidisciplinary effort exploring how the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) shapes our digital future.
-
Harro van Lente appointed chairman of Netherlands Health Council committee
The Netherlands Health Council (Gezondheidsraad) has installed a committee to prepare an advisory report on preventive signalling of dementia.
-
Darian Meacham appointed co-investigator in national ROBUST programme
The programme boosts fundamental research in artificial intelligence through public-private collaborations.