All scientists professor
The Academy Kiss was won this year by professors Marie-José van Tol and Kees Storm. They argue for a 'flatter' university.
Professors Marie-José Tol and Kees Storm won the prize for their efforts to rearrange the hierarchy at the university. Image: Herman Engbers.
Every year on Valentine's Day, the... AOb the Academy Kiss to someone who is committed to better working conditions in higher education. This year the Kiss was won by two professors, Marie-José van Tol and Kees Storm. The jury praises their efforts in rearranging the hierarchy at the university. Storm does this as professor and dean of the Applied Physics & Science Education faculty at Eindhoven University of Technology. Marie-José van Tol is professor of cognitive neuropsychiatry at the University of Groningen and chair of De Jonge Akademie. The university must become 'flatter', they say. “All PhD researchers who conduct independent research should be allowed to call themselves professors.”
What exactly is going on with the hierarchy at universities?
Van Tol: “The hierarchy at the university is not always functional. For example, only professors are allowed to perform certain tasks, such as promoting PhD students, while assistant professors, associate professors and people with similar positions at research institutes often do most of the work for this. In many cases, they supervise the PhD candidate's research and assess the quality of the research. You would therefore want them to also have the right to promote their own PhD students. In addition, the distinction between assistant professors and senior lecturers on the one hand, and professors on the other, is also made very visible. Only professors are allowed to wear a gown.”
Storm: “We are not concerned with completely abolishing the hierarchy. A university is a complex organization, and for that you need a certain hierarchy. It is mainly about recognizing the expertise of researchers. For example, if you are a professor, you are invited to talk about something in a television program. Editors are looking for someone who has professor in front of his or her name, so an older gentleman or lady usually comes and explains how things are going. Professors are often older because they have already gone through all the processes. I would also like to hear the voices of the young generation of researchers here. They often know a lot about topics that are relevant to our times, such as artificial intelligence or transition issues. By making assistant professors and associate professors all professors as well, they become visible.”
Academy Kiss winner Kees Storm: "We are not concerned with completely abolishing the hierarchy." Image: Herman Engbers
Why do we have professors?
Storm: “We need professors for the operational side. A university is a school where we train in science. People are needed there who know a lot about a subject and at the same time know 'the company'. A university is a school like other schools, with new generations going through the educational process and leaving again. You need teachers to ensure the continuity of education and the institute. That's what a professor does. He or she is a security guard of the training institution.”
Marie-José: “A professor conducts research and focuses on the content of the research, and also looks for connections, within the discipline, but also towards the future. A professor has an important role model to ensure that we maintain focus on knowledge and academic craftsmanship.”
In Germany or America they have long had the title of professor for all scientists
Does everyone have to become a professor now?
Van Tol: “In the Netherlands we always use titles and functions interchangeably. A professor is the position that someone holds. A professor is a title. Until now, only professors may bear the title of professor. We now believe that all scientists should be allowed to call themselves professors. So everyone, professor. We also believe that the three levels at the university should continue to exist. The levels of assistant professor, associate professor and professor. All three have their own tasks and responsibilities. We do think that they should all be allowed to wear the gown when awarding a promotion.”
Academy Kiss winner Marie-José Tol: "The hierarchy at the university is not always functional." Image: Herman Engbers
You are both professors. Is that nice in the existing hierarchy?
Van Tol: “It's only been me since July. There are many professors who also want everyone to be a professor, and that a change in the hierarchy is necessary.”
Storm: “I can tell you from the perspective of a professor what I experienced during the journey to becoming a professor. I would like us to be the generation of professors who say: it is okay that some of our achievements also apply to a younger generation of researchers who are not professors. The fact that until now only the professor is allowed to award a diploma is often very inconvenient. The professor is often not the one who provided the guidance. The senior lecturer knows much more about the person who will be promoted and the subject than the professor. I often say in such a situation, if protocol permits, I'm here for show. Because I'm sitting there in a toga, and the rest aren't. I also have to explain to colleagues from abroad that no, you are not allowed to wear a gown, sorry, and you are also addressed differently than I am. That's very uncomfortable. In Germany or America they have long had the title of professor for all scientists. In that ceremony you have to say to some 'highly learned opponent' and to others 'very learned opponent'. It creates level differences in a place where it should not be necessary. During a promotion it is purely about the content, about knowledge, about new ideas.”
I believe that all scientists should be allowed to wear a gown
What about the toga? Everyone a toga, or no one a toga?
Van Tol: “I like the use of a toga. There's something magical about it. It seems like a bit of a puppet show, but it is also out of respect for the promotion. I believe that all scientists should be allowed to wear a gown. By the way, it is especially nice to wear a toga the first few times, but after that it all feels strange. It is the most expensive dress I have.”
Storm: “The gown is by far my most expensive piece of clothing. You have to buy it yourself, but the university always has a few to borrow.” Van Tol: “Well, Kees, they are all men's size, with such broad shoulders.” Storm: “Is that so? We must do something about that. The toga is a symbol of independent, nuanced science. Individual differences are put in the background for a while, and you speak on the basis of your expertise. We must cherish that in the Netherlands. As a piece of clothing I find it quite warm. After four times, a colleague told me that I should not wear the jacket of my suit underneath. I was sweating profusely.”
