PhD defence Bas Nugteren: Support staff at Utrecht University in historical perspective, 1876-2011

On Friday 11 October, Bas Nugteren will defend his PhD dissertation ‘'Die zorg droeg voor dit goede verloop'. De professionalisering en modernisering van de ondersteuning bij de Utrechtse universiteit in historisch perspectief (1876-2011)’.

The evolution of support staff

For the first time, a comprehensive study has been conducted on the development of support staff and the organisation of their services, covering the period from 1876 to 2011.

Nugteren examines, among other topics, the growth in specialist knowledge and professionalisation of non-academic staff, the formalisation of organisational structures, and the modernisation of the university community. The number of support staff increased from a few dozen to more than three thousand, representing 45 to 50 per cent of the total staff.

Influence of scholarship, technology, and society

Developments in scholarly practice, technology, and the socialisation of the university have influenced the development of the support staff and the organisation of their services. By 2010, between 20 and 25 per cent of support staff were considered professionals, where a century before most support staff had no formal education.

Following the introduction of the University Governance Reform Act in 1970, the university organisation, and especially the organisation of the support staff and their services, was increasingly approached from a business perspective. Support staff became more involved in the university’s primary processes and operations.