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News | May 23, 2024 | 16:19
The Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) is establishing 2 new professorships for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There will be one professorship in Political Science/Public Administration and one in Anthropology/Sociology.
Leiden University and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), the Royal Netherlands Institute for Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV), in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam (UvA), have been selected as the host for the professorial chairs. Leiden University will host the professorial chair of political science/public administration, and the University of Amsterdam will host the professorial chair of anthropology/sociology.
Professorship
The Boards of Trustees of the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University have approved the appointment of the candidate. Social and cultural anthropologist Dr. Francio Guadeloupe will take up the professorship Public Anthropology of Kingdom Relations for KNAW/KITLV/UvA. Dr. Wouter Veenendaal, Associate Professor of Comparative Politics, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University, will hold the professorship Representative democracy in the Kingdom Leiden University. He will be based at KITLV in Leiden.
Extensive knowledge development
The creation of 2 special professorships is an initiative of the Directorate General for Kingdom Relations (DGKR) of the Ministry of the Kingdom of BZK in the context of a wider knowledge development. The professorships contribute to strengthening the knowledge function within the DGKR. A deeper and broader focus on the scientific field of Kingdom Relations is needed, resulting in more research, collaboration, synergies and greater spin-offs.
Caribbean University
The project aims to involve universities in the three Caribbean countries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the establishment of professorships. The project aims to collaborate with Caribbean universities, such as the exchange of lecturers and researchers. The project will be further completed in consultation and close cooperation with Caribbean universities.
Priceless value
Alexandra van Huffelen, Secretary of State for Kingdom Relations: “I am delighted that we have been able to complete this collaboration with the University. Solid scientific knowledge is invaluable and will help to further improve the Kingdom’s cooperation. This is a great milestone, especially as we celebrate 70 years of links with the Kingdom through the Charter.”
Professorial Chair Francio Guadeloupe: “Almost half of people with a Caribbean background live in the Netherlands. At the same time, thousands of Dutch citizens have great-grandparents who were born and raised in the Netherlands. This reality is more serious than the tensions between politicians in The Hague and those on the islands. We need to recognize that Kingdom relations work in practice less often than many policymakers expect. I want to focus on what is being done in the community and political spheres to make the Kingdom of the Netherlands more fair, just and inclusive for everyone. This is what I plan to research in collaboration with knowledge institutions on all six islands and in the Netherlands.”
Professorship holders Wouter Veenendaal: “The structure of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is quite unique. It consists of 4 autonomous and equal states, but one of them – the European Netherlands – is politically and institutionally superior to the others. This raises questions about democratic representation within the Kingdom, which I hope to investigate in the context of this Chair. Together with institutions and experts from the six islands and the Netherlands, I hope to advance knowledge and education in the field of politics and democracy in our Kingdom. I very much look forward to collaborating with researchers and institutions on both sides of the ocean.”
Open Process
The professorships were awarded through an innovative, open process. Universities were asked to submit a proposal with their own explanation and research focus. The proposals from Leiden University and KITLV/KNAW/UvA were selected as the best.
The DGKR already cooperates with the Hague University of Applied Sciences (Haagse Hogeschool) on small kingdom relations.
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