Stevin Prize awarded to Paul 't Hart
On Wednesday 2 October 2024, NWO awarded the Spinoza and Stevin Prizes 2024. Professor of Public Administration Paul 't Hart, affiliated with the Utrecht University School of Governance, received a Stevin Prize. Climate researcher Detlef van Vuuren, also affiliated with Utrecht University, received a Spinoza Prize. These prestigious awards amount to 1.5 million euros, and the winners presented some ideas for spending the premiums at the ceremony. Paul 't Hart would like to set up a central, national data infrastructure for research into the quality of government and to develop an empowerment programme for young first-generation academics.
Paul 't Hart received the Stevin Prize for his achievements in the field of knowledge utilisation for society. In the laudatio, he was described as one of the most influential public administration experts in the Netherlands. The impact of his research is significant, especially in how the government responds to emergencies. In the past decade, in national and international teams of researchers, he has been keen to emphasise so-called positive public administration. Not focusing on failure, but rather at what lessons can be learned from what public administration does well and what makes it have a positive impact in society.
Stevin Prize winner Paul 't Hart
What does 't Hart want to do with the Stevin Prize?
During the presentation of the Stevin Prize, Paul 't Hart gave an outline of his ideas for spending the prize. He would like to set up a national data infrastructure for research into the quality of government and to develop an empowerment programme for young first-generation academics.
Knowledge hub for information on the quality of government
There is a wealth of data that is available and with which we can map the quality and social impact of government action. At the moment, this data is scattered across many sources and presented in many different forms. In collaboration with relevant scientific partners, knowledge institutions and ministries, 't Hart wants to develop a Government Quality Database. In it, all this information is brought together in one place and made available. 'This should be the place for easy accessible, authoritative reference for anyone asking: "what does the government actually do?" says 't Hart.
In addition, he wants to initiate a triennial National Government Survey, by analogy with the National Voter Survey. In it, administrators, civil servants and experts are asked to assess the quality of government on numerous dimensions. The Netherlands Institute for Governance (NIG), the national research school for public administration and political science, should become a sustainable home base for this collected data.
Empowerment Programme for Young, First Generation Academics
With 'Paths to Impact' , Paul 't Hart also gives a personally motivated destination to the Stevin Prize: an empowerment programme for young first-generation academics who want to make a difference for the public good with their expertise. These can be classic 'white' working-class children as well as second and next generation children of migrants. A substantial part of the first generation of academics has to bridge a gap between the world in which they grew up and that of academia and government practice, in which they want to have their impact. That's not always easy. For example, some experience persistent, sometimes lifelong (self-)limiting beliefs and feelings, such as imposter syndrome).
't Hart, himself a first-generation academic, wants to develop a programme that offers incentives and support to advanced PhD students, postdocs and young assistant professors in the social and behavioural sciences in broadening their professional repertoires and networks, and in gaining experience in working with and within the government. The Young Academy of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) is currently studying first-generation academics and seems to be the perfect partner in setting up this programme, says 't Hart. In time, this could also provide a model for other disciplines and institutions.
Event: Meet the Stevin & Spinoza Prize winners of the UU
On Thursday evening, 10 October, journalist and television presenter Twan Huys will speak at Utrecht University with the winners of the Stevin & Spinoza Prize 2024, professors Paul 't Hart and Detlef van Vuuren. They discuss their groundbreaking research, share their personal journey, and explore the challenges and opportunities in today's research landscape. Are you an employee or student at Utrecht University? Then you can sign up for this, and... Maybe ask a question yourself.
New book: Pathways to Positive Public Administration
This summer, Pathways to Positive Public Administration was published, edited by Paul 't Hart and others, by Edward Elgar. At a time when trust in government is low and the negativity bias is pervasive, the authors in this book go against the grain. In it, they make a case for positive public administration.
There is a great need for systematic knowledge about what does work in public administration. In the book, scholars from five continents present case studies of successful policies and high-performing public organizations. They investigate what we can learn from the way in which these are designed and implemented. Together, their 27 contributions form a powerful illustration of the added value of positive public administration.