Strategic Themes: enduring engine for multidisciplinary research and impact

Utrecht University chose four strategic research themes ten years ago. In the past decade, these have proven themselves. “The strategic themes form a crucial engine for realising academic innovation and social impact,” says Rector Magnificus Henk Kummeling. That is why from 2022 onwards, they will receive structural funding and a bigger place in the governance of the university.

Structural funding

In 2012, the university chose four multidisciplinary strategic themes: Institutions for Open Societies, Dynamics of Youth, Pathways to Sustainability and Life Sciences. The four themes have gone through a strong development in the past ten years. They have since formed an indispensable driver of multidisciplinary collaboration. That is why the decision was made that the strategic themes have and retain a set position in the university organisation. They can also count on structural funding of 1.5 million euros per year.

Vision and strategy

In spring of 2021, the Executive Board has requested the development of a vision and strategy for the upcoming years from the governance and academic leadership. The plans were drafted after thorough participation by UU staff. For instance, the plans of Pathways were based on the position paper The Way Forward. This was disseminated via newsletters and social-media channels. Via walk-in sessions and an online form, every staff member of UU received the opportunity to think along.

Academic innovation, manoeuvrability and impact

In November 2021, the plans for the future of the four themes were submitted and approved in December. Every time, academic innovation, manoeuvrability and impact had priority. More researchers and specialisations were provided with space to link up. The themes will also have greater influence on the development of multidisciplinary education. The themes are already contributing to this. For instance, a DoY Minor has already started in September 2021 and a DoY Master’s programme set to start in September 2023 is already in development. Furthermore, much attention is spent on the way in which collaboration beyond institutional borders can take form, both with private and public institutions. PtS developed a field guide for transdiscipilinary research for this purpose.

Governance

New agreements were made around the themes: Deans were already responsible for the management of the themes alongside the Academic Directors, but the themes are now also more involved in policy and faculty governance. The Academic Director or a representative of the strategic theme receives an advising role in the development of faculty strategic plans, faculty chair plans, and relevant developments in the alliance with TU/e and WUR. For chair vacancies that are relevant to the strategic theme, the Academic Director will from now on be involved in the drafting of the structural report and the theme is represented in the Appointments Advisory Committee.

The four strategic themes make multidisciplinarity concrete.

Rector Magnificus Kummeling thinks the university takes important steps by doing this. “You often see that institutions mostly just talk about the importance of multidisciplinarity. We make it concrete. That is very much needed in order to handle the great issues of our time, such as the climate crisis or the growing inequality. I'm very happy that there is also much support for this among the faculties. The four themes invite colleagues AND external partners to join their plans. I gladly join that invitation.”