The faculty vision and strategy plan: the importance of the community
Behind the scenes people are working hard on the vision and strategy plan of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences: a manifest of our priorities and ‘a pamphlet for change,’ according to Dean Paul Wouters and Board Secretary Jordi Kerkum. The faculty-wide conversation about our collective future will be continued soon. Everyone is welcome to join.
‘The Faculty needs a new vision and strategy plan,’ says Wouters. ‘Based on this document, we continue building a solid and solidary knowledge community for the social sciences and we determine our grounds for decisions in the coming years.’
A safe and diverse knowledge community
One of the central points in the vision and strategy plan is social safety, diversity and inclusion. These topics are not only applied to the scientific perspective, but also to the community of our Faculty: how do we want to interact and work together with each other?
'If we want to remain relevant, we need to draw from all sources that the world has to offer. That also means: having the people that represent that.'
‘If we want to remain relevant, we need to draw from all sources that the world has to offer. That also means: having the people that represent that,’ says Wouters. ‘And if we want that, it has to happen in a safe and comfortable environment. That requires a certain type of leadership, with attention for diversity and inclusion, that recognises and rewards all contributions to science,’ Kerkum adds.
Interdisciplinarity
Wouters mentions two reasons why interdisciplinarity is becoming a more important point of attention: ‘Scientific problems have become more complex. Besides that, we want to relieve social and societal problems and contribute to solutions. Because of these trends, it is necessary to approach a subject from multiple perspectives.’
‘In the end, half of all research in the social sciences will be interdisciplinary,’ Wouters predicts. ‘That is not something we are trying to enforce top-down from the Faculty Board, but a development that is already in motion. With the faculty vision and strategy plan, we want to visualise, accelerate and facilitate that process.’
The vision and strategy process of the Faculty
Already in 2019 the development of a new vision and strategy plan for the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences was started, Kerkum tells us. Thirteen workgroups got to work on topics that had to be part of the plan. 2020 saw a lot of work done in that respect, but the process slowed down in 2021, due partly to the corona crisis. By now, we’re stepping on the gas again.
'A tangible record of what we, together, stand for and where we want to be headed in the next years.'
Writing teams from all corners of the Faculty, that are well-up in the different subjects, are at work as we speak. With their contributions the so-called ‘crayon outline’ will be formulated, an 80% version of the plan. Everyone in the knowledge community of the Faculty is invited to give feedback on this version. ‘It is important that everyone joins the conversation about the plan and recognises themselves in it,’ says Kerkum. ‘That is how it becomes a tangible record of what we, together, stand for and where we want to be headed in the next years.’
The goal is to officially present the vision and strategy plan at the opening of the academic year 2022-2023.
Save the date: join the conversation about the vision and strategy plan
On 22 April 2022, you will receive an email with the ‘crayon outline’ and an invitation to contribute. Several sessions will be organised, so save the date if you want to join the conversation. N.B.: you have to register to join!
| Session for target group | Date and time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, Professors | Tuesday 10 May 2022 12:00 – 13:30 |
Central hall of the Pieter de la Court Building |
| Students | Tuesday 10 May 2022 17:00 – 18:30 |
Central hall of the Pieter de la Court Building |
| Open to all | Wednesday 11 May 2022 17:00 – 18:00 |
Online |
| Non-academic staff | Thursday 12 May 2022 12:00 – 13:30 |
Central hall of the Pieter de la Court Building |
| PhD candidates, postdocs, lecturers, research staff | Thursday 12 May 2022 17:00 – 18:00 |
Online |
Photos: Suédy Mauricio
Text: Emma Knapper