Recognition & Rewards
The Maastricht Young Academy has been actively advising on the UM policy of Recognition & Rewards and spearheaded the discussion on academic citizenship. We participated in various task forces and working groups to ensure the perspective of junior academics was heard. We continue to participate in the implementation and monitoring.
Looking to the future, we are eager to experience the positive impact this policy can have on our university, but are also anticipating challenges ahead. If you have a view or story to share, please contact us.
Below you can find an archive of some documents the MYA wrote on this topic and a summary of a public debate we hosted.
The Maastricht Young Academy Recognition & Rewards project is led by Costas Papadopoulos with the team of Katleen Gabriels, Veerle Melotte, Lilian Tsourdi, and Donna Yates.
Do you have a suggestion? Write to mya@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Open letter on "Everyone (iedereen) Professor"
The Maastricht Young Academy believes that reserving the title "Professor" for only those in the latest stages of their career and not allowing it to be used by Assistant or Associate Professors is out of place in international academia and serves little positive purpose. Read our open letter here.
A Debate on Recognition and Rewards
On January 14th 2022, the Maastricht Young Academy hosted a debate on Recognition & Rewards (R&R) between two signatories of letters in favour and in opposition of this new policy. Prof. Hanneke Hulst (Leiden University) and Prof. Floris de Lange (Radboud University) helped us dive into the relevant topic of the R&R revolution.
The debate mainly focused on the issues of current forms of evaluation in research, but also the evaluation of teaching, leadership and impact was discussed. Prof. Hanneke Hulst stated that R&R is evolving. Because we are currently in a period of change, we need to practice, learn from past mistakes, and include richer qualities of definition beyond quantifiable metrics when trying to develop a more adequate system. She stressed that R&R aims for people to make fitting decisions and enhance the potential of their research and work, doing so by rewarding excellent academics in all fields and disciplines.
Prof. Floris de Lange argued that the main issue in R&R lies within the scientific indicators that make it hard to evaluate and compare people with different aims or skills. By stressing the importance of evaluating research potential, he highlights that new, more efficient methods of evaluation need to be developed. In addition, he noted that people with different kinds of expertise are needed and to be heard, as variety plays a pivotal role. However, when using metrics there is little room for diversity. That is why Prof. de Lange argued for more objective criteria so that everybody is allowed to be part of the conversation and to choose their own ways.
All in all, there is an urgent need for measurements that value all skills and potential of academics. Only if we integrate efficient indicators, we can build a fair Recognition and Rewards program and provide equivalent opportunities for all academics.
Call to join the movement towards a new academic citizenship
The Maastricht Young Academy has worked with our university’s senior management to call for more emphasis on academic citizenship. Part of this conversation is the need to change leadership training at our university as soon as possible to align it with these new perspectives on academic citizenship. Click here to read the call to join the movement towards a new academic citizenship.
Position paper on Recognition & Rewards
At the MYA we are actively taking part in the discussion on the Recognition and Rewards policy. This is an initiative that is widely supported. To voice our support, but also to offer critical reflections to support the further development, the MYA published a position paper in October 2021. In the paper we provide insights from the perspective of the young academic and offer essential questions that we think should be part of the discussion.
Click here to open and read the position paper.