1.1 Research in 2022
We have made great strides in the field of research in the past year. New research was initiated, important prizes were won, and grants secured. Throughout the year, additional attention was paid to aspects concerning the well-being of our researchers, with a special focus on our PhD researchers. New initiatives were launched, including in the areas of scientific integrity, Open Access (OA), and team science.
PhD researchers
Also in 2022, Tilburg University paid extra attention to (the well-being of) PhD researchers and the quality of their supervision programs.
PhD monitor: To get a more complete picture of the wishes and needs of our PhD researchers, we conduct a PhD monitor every two years. The results from the 2021 monitor were turned into an action plan that was largely implemented in 2022, including actions focused on well-being and social safety, progress on the PhD program, range of courses offered, and further improvement of the support for PhD researchers and their supervisors. The monitor will be conducted again in 2023, this time embedded in a national monitor.
Masterclass for supervisors of PhD researchers: In cooperation with the Hertz training for scientists, we organized several one-day masterclasses for
(co-)supervisors of PhD researchers, for novice and more experienced thesis supervisors. In 2022, there was room for 60 participants, and a total of 60
(co-)supervisors from all five Schools participated.Dutch PhD defense system session: A session for new university lecturers that introduced them to the Dutch PhD defense system. Ten university lecturers participated in the session. They found the information session very valuable.
Scientific Integrity
In 2022, a vision document was drafted under the leadership of academic lead Jelte Wicherts. In 2023, it will be further developed into a concrete action plan. The mandatory integrity training sessions for PhD researchers continued to grow in numbers in 2022:
Research Integrity E-Learning Module: PhD researchers starting from September 2020 are required to complete the Research Integrity E-Learning Module. The module focuses on the theoretical aspect of scientific integrity, European legislation, and policies and procedures within Tilburg University. The module is completed by passing a test. In 2022, 235 PhD researchers (86%) passed the test.
Face-to-face Research Integrity Training (F2F training): In 2022, a total of 94 PhD researchers attended the F2F training. The training considers ethical issues and challenges and how to deal with them. The training is mandatory for PhD researchers started as of September 2021. The researchers are very positive about the training. Sharing each other's experiences, getting to know other PhD researchers, and the safe environment created by the instructors are praised.
Open Science
By 2022, Open Press Tilburg University has evolved from lab to service, as one of the first Open Presses in the Netherlands. These include the publication of the Atlas of European Values(new window)—with a foreword by Ursula von der Leyen—and The Socio-Legal Lab(new window), a special open textbook for law students. In addition, we have worked hard to make more and more scientific publications by Tilburg University scientist available in OA, and thus, we see a substantial increase in the number of OA publications from our university. We have also contributed to national developments in the field of Open Science through the Chiefs Open Science and are pleased to have a new chair of the Tilburg University Open Science Community, Caspar van Lissa (associate professor).
Pilot team science
In the coming period, Tilburg Law School (TLS) will further develop the four Signature Plans (thematic research lines) in various ways. For example, in 2022, preparations started for formulating a framework for team science within these Signature Plans. This framework will serve as a starting point to formulate team goals in a bottom-up manner and link them to TLS’s substantive and strategic goals (including social relevance, multidisciplinarity, and a balanced national-international focus).
Seed Money Call lottery
On July 8, 2022, a lottery was held at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) to distribute €100,000 in grant money internally. In doing so, TSHD aims to move away from distributing grants by ranking and assessment and substitute it with a sustainable research culture. The condition for obtaining a grant was a collaboration with a scientist from another School. In this way, interdisciplinary collaboration, something that is a policy point at TSHD, should be given a boost.
Examples of projects funded by the lottery:
APF: Artistic Process Futures and AI by Simone Ashby (Department of Communication and Cognition)
User Perceptions of Surveillance: Competing Imaginaries of the Individual in Digital Society by Saif Shahin (Department of Culture Studies)
Design of a VR Game for Evaluation and Enhancement of Prospective Memory in Older Adults by Maryam Alimardani (Department Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence).
Research application as an article
In order to encourage and value researchers to submit research grant applications, it was decided within the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology (TST) to value submitted applications as a written scientific article when evaluating research output in performance reviews.
Impact Pathways
Together with a group of experienced researchers in the field of scientific research and the creation of social impact, the Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM) is working on indicators in the field of impact in order to recognize, acknowledge, and value important contributions in this field. This should make it easier for both scientists and Heads of Department to include social impact during individual development interviews.
Funding of chairs
As a university, we want to be at the center of society. We want to acquire and share knowledge through scientific research and education and contribute to dealing with social issues. The core tasks of a contemporary university are to conduct scientific research, offer education, and to realize social impact. These tasks require constructive collaboration between universities and social partners.
We pride ourselves on having full professors who are connected to practice. This is particularly the case with endowed professors. They often have an appointment in addition to a position elsewhere; this is important for the impact of scientific research and also an enrichment of scientific education for our students. Obviously, these (endowed) professors are assessed on their qualities by means of careful procedures and the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Scientific Integrity is fully applicable to them.
Also in 2022, much attention was paid to the funding of endowed professors and to special forms of funding for "ordinary" full professors. We understand this attention; the independence of a full professor is an essential condition for trust in science in general and the university in particular. We also want to be transparent ourselves in this regard, and in 2023, we will provide a list of all (endowed) chairs, including mention of any external funding, on our website.
