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International committee positively assesses FASoS Research Institute

On 17 and 18 October 2023, an international committee of experts visited the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) to assess our research for the period 2017-2022. We are required to undergo such a research accreditation every six years. The committee looked at various aspects of our work, including research quality, societal relevance, and viability. They also look at four ‘ingredients’ for achieving these, including (1) academic culture, (2) open science, (3) HR policies, and (4) PhD policies and training.

The committee read our self-evaluation report and met with a variety of colleagues, including the Faculty Board, Research Programme Directors, Research Centre Directors, Graduate School Board and GS coordinator, PhD candidates, early career scholars, and a few external stakeholders.

In its formal report, the committee noted that it was very impressed by the quality and relevance of research at FASoS. The committee observed that while FASoS is a complex research institution, partly because of our interdisciplinary ambitions, and the entangled relationships between programmes, centres, and departments, this actually works rather well in practice. The committee praised the Faculty Board for putting in place policies and instruments that allow researchers to flourish. Most importantly the committee appreciated the academic culture at FASoS. They noted how we support each other and help each other out, also across programmes and departments, and have been very good at welcoming new colleagues from across the globe into our institution and academic culture.

The committee consisted of the following: Professor Amy Verdun (chair) (University of Victoria, Canada), Professor Jan Baetens (KU Leuven), Professor Sven Dupré (Utrecht University), Professor Malcolm Fairbrother (Uppsala University), Dr Gisela Hirschmann (Leiden University), and Marta Sienkiewicz (PhD candidate, Leiden University). They were supported by an independent secretary, Dr Frans van Steijn.

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