Collaboration
The Utrecht University School of Governance (USG) is at the heart of society, a society facing many challenges. We collaborate with all kinds of organisations and social partners to tackle these challenges. We do this by linking scientific knowledge and expertise to practical questions and by contributing ideas in various ways to well-founded solutions.
Read more about:
- Collaborating with social impact (examples)
- Collaborating in research and consultancy
- Collaborating in education (also for professionals)
- Collaborations and partners
- Public Engagement
- USG Impact Fund
Collaborating with social impact
Please have a look at a few examples of collaboration projects with social impact:
Work after perinatal loss
With creative methods attending to the experiences of mothers who return to work after perinatal loss.
Master's programme Organising Social Impact
The international Master’s programme Organising Social Impact prioritises the integration of theory and practice of organising social change.
Making politics more appealing with theatre
Collaboration with the creators of the Kiesmannen, a creative agency for social innovation.
USG consultancy
USG consultancy works closely with clients and partners on solutions to complex issues in the public domain. At USG consultancy, we provide high-quality consultancy and applied academic research, such as: change processes for organisations, policy evaluations, professionalisation processes, tailor-made leadership programmes, training & coaching, interim management and more.
In the collaboration with the client, USG consultancy pays explicit attention to the context and the formulation of the assignment. Decisions about research methodology are also taken in close consultation with the client. When using specific methods, maintaining and creating support among those involved in the organization is one of the important starting points. There is also ample attention for the (inter)human aspects of work processes without losing sight of the interests of the organisation.
Contact
For questions about the work of USG consultancy and what we may be able to do for you, please contact: Marie-Jeanne Schiffelers, manager USG consultancy (m.j.w.a.schiffelers@uu.nl) or Lianne van Donselaar, management / office assistant USG consultancy (c.vandonselaar@uu.nl).
Research
The researchers from our chair groups frequently work together in (PhD) research, contract research, teaching, in editorial boards of scientific journals and in the organisation of international conferences and workshops. We also collaborate internationally with various universities, institutes and individual researchers and receive colleagues as visiting scholars and professionals as academic fellows.
Nationally, we participate in national and international partnerships, such as the National Science Agenda or Horizon 2020. In addition, we work closely with the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR), the University of Humanistic Studies and the Netherlands School of Public Administration (NSOB), among others, and many employees are associated with various advisory boards.
Within Utrecht University, we work together in an interdisciplinary manner in the strategic research themes Institutions for Open Societies, Pathways to Sustainability and Dynamics of Youth as well as in the research hubs Security in Open Societies, Future of Work and Transforming Infrastructures for Sustainable Cities and we collaborate with other researchers within research focus areas, Professional Performance, Governing the Digital Society and Migration and Societal Change.
Contact
For questions about USG's research, please contact research director Stephan Grimmelikhuijsen (s.g.grimmelikhuijsen@uu.nl) or the research secretariat: research.usg@uu.nl.
Whether it concerns bachelor's, master's or executive education: cooperation is central to USG. Students, lecturers and partners in the field learn with and from each other. In small-scale, interactive working methods, we bring practitioners in contact with our students and we also actively collaborate with practitioners ourselves. We work together with public organisations, both locally (such as in Utrecht) and nationally. The students carry out timely and societally relevant assignments and, for example, present policy advice to the client. Working visits and activities 'in the neighbourhood' also offer room for experiential learning, which is in line with the principles of Community Engaged Learning.
The students research (e.g. theses, group assignments) are strongly focused on creating social impact and therefore require close collaboration with social partners in practice.
This leads to a valuable exchange between students, social parties, guest lecturers, and scientists. Students learn to connect policy and implementation and sharpen their analytical skills by recognizing theory in practice. Guest lecturers bring in practical experience and get fresh insights in return. Professionals (including those who follow a training course at USG) can immediately apply insights into practice. And scientists can enrich their research with experiences and nuances from practice.
Contact
For questions about USG's education, please contact the Director of Education of the Bachelor's programme Tom Overmans (t.overmans@uu.nl) or the Director of Education for the (executive) Master's programmes Jasmijn van Harten (e.j.vanharten@uu.nl).
We work together with social partners, parties and citizens in public and private organisations. You can think of:
Collaboration in research and/or consultancy processes with:
- Public organisations (such as the Municipality of Utrecht, the Province of Utrecht, the Ministry of the Interior, the WODC, the Police (including the National Police Lab AI), the Secondary Education Council and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Defence)
- Civil society organisations (such as Stichting Lezen en Schrijven, De Tussenvoorziening, Saxion, Avans, HU, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Arnhem Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences, UMC Utrecht, Antonius Hospital and Radboud UMC, IZZ Foundation, GAK Institute, De Voorkamer, CASCO, de Kiesmannen, KNVB, NOC NSF and the Johan Cruijff Foundation.)
- Private organizations (such as Mulier Institute, FC Utrecht and Eredivisie CV)
Collaboration with public and private organisations through, among other things:
- Academic fellows, and fellows of the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance (such as the WRR, the Dutch Safety Board, the Province of Utrecht, the Interprovincial Consultation of, for and by provinces and the State Commission against Discrimination and Racism).
- Endowed professors, who have been appointed on behalf of such organisations (such as Necker and the NSOB.)
Collaboration with partners in education:
- Public organisations (such as the Municipality of Utrecht, NS, Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior, VO Council, Court of Audit and GGD Haaglanden.)
- Civil society organisations (such as Commons Network, CASCO, Villa Vrede, De Voorkamer, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, De Kiesmannen, Eredivisie, KNVB, More2Win and The Turn Club.)
- Private organisations (such as TivoliVredenburg and Berenschot)
Contact
For questions about collaboration with social partners, parties and citizens , please contact Kim Loyens, portfolio holder for social impact (k.m.loyens@uu.nl).
Public engagement refers to the various ways in which the activities and findings of scientific research can be shared with a wide audience. By looking at how science can provide answers to societal questions, a meaningful dialogue is created between the public and science, which benefits both. In principle, this is a two-way street because it involves interaction and real involvement.
For example, USG researchers and lecturers participate in social debates and dialogues, share their knowledge and expertise through the media and perform at science festivals such as Breaking Science, the Weekend of Science or in collaboration with public programmes such as Studium Generale. But also think of our annual film series Science & Fiction, the theatre show of 'De Kiesmannen' about the European elections or the public project about bereavement.
Contact
For questions about public engagement and science communication, please contact communication consultant Gert den Toom (g.dentoom@uu.nl).
We recognise the importance of being able to tackle social issues of organisations that have less financial means. This has led to the establishment of the USG Impact Fund. USG employees can apply for a limited assignment from USG together with an organisation with a socially relevant objective. With this, USG wants to contribute to social impact and invest in cooperation with new parties.
The target group of the fund consists of organisations or (citizen) initiatives that do not have the necessary financial resources or access to knowledge institutions, but do have a social issue for which a Public Administration and Organisational Science perspective is relevant. Think of 'grassroots' initiatives, citizens' initiatives, associations, NGOs, foundations or interest groups.
The application must be relevant to research, advice or education at USG and is of limited scope. Applications can be submitted two times a year (deadlines in November and April) and a maximum of two projects will be awarded funding per year.
The requesting employee of USG is responsible for the implementation of the project, possibly in collaboration with other colleagues and/or students. We expect some form of quid pro quo from the organisation concerned, financially or in kind (for example, a guest lecture or collaboration in research).
Contact
If you are interested in submitting an application or would like to know more about the USG Impact Fund, please contact Kim Loyens, portfolio holder for social impact (k.m.loyens@uu.nl).