The University Medal
The University Medal is the main internal award given by Tilburg University to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the university.
It is a bronze Medal designed by Jos Reniers. All members of our university community may nominate individuals for the Medal to the Executive Board. Great restraint is exercised in the awarding of the Medal to ensure the special recognition intended in its granting.
Procedure for awarding the Medal
The Tilburg University Executive Board had established a University Medal Commission, whose task it is to review nominations for awarding the Medal, which it may or may not submit for approval to the Executive Board. The Commission is chaired by the Secretary to the University, Hans-Georg van Liempd, and furthermore consists of Karim Schelkens (Dean of the Tilburg School of Theology), Wietske Sijtsma (Policy Staff team leader, Finance & Control Division), and Joep van Gennip (Academic Heritage program manager).
As a rule, the Commission meets twice a year to discuss potential new nominations for the Medal. Every member of the university community can nominate candidates to the Commission. The Commission can also nominate persons on its own initiative. The Commission is further tasked with overseeing the process after the approval of the Executive Board, such as practical matters relating to the presentation of the Medal, preparing a document with the reasons for awarding the Medal, and including a copy of this document in the academic heritage archive.
Principles and criteria for awarding the Medal
As regards nominations, the Commission takes account of the following principles.
- If merit in the field of science (education and/or research) also plays a role in the assessment process, the Commission can consult with the Board of Rector and Deans.
- In principle, the Medal can be presented at any moment, but preferably on a special occasion, such as retirement, farewell, or an anniversary or similar moment of celebration.
The Commission applies the following criteria in assessing nominations.
- The Medal can be awarded to candidates from outside the university community who have provided exceptional services to the university and to members of the university community if they have rendered exceptional internal and external services to Tilburg University over many years.
- Great restraint is exercised in awarding the Medal; this is to ensure the special recognition intended in the conferment of this award.
- The candidate’s merits link up with the university’s strategy and four core values of Tilburg University: Caring, Connected, Curious, and Courageous.
Would you like to submit a nomination?
If you are a member of the university community and want to submit a nomination, please first contact the Commission’s chair, Hans-Georg van Liempd. For a definitive nomination, the following information needs to be provided: name and position of the candidate; a description of the candidate’s career; a motivation showing the candidate’s exceptional and long-term services to the university; and any practical suggestions such as the moment of presentation and internal and external communication.
Recipients of the University Medal
2023
- Folkert Kootstra, former Managing Director of Finance & Control
Folkert Kootstra has been associated with Tilburg University for more than 36 years. When he received the University Medal on the occasion of his farewell on June 22, 2023, the Executive Board commended Folkert Kootstra for, among other things, ‘thinking in terms of opportunities, rather than impossibilities’. - Mies Hezemans, former Dean of Students
Mies Hezemans has been associated with the University and its students in various ways since 1979, from 1992 as Dean of Students. The Executive Board called Mies Hezemans ‘inside and outside this University an institution in herself’. She received the Medal on August 24, 2023. - Pieter Siebers, Academic Heritage program manager
Pieter Siebers has worked for the university for 30 years within various positions (editor-in-chief of Univers and the university websites, Executive Board spokesperson, university press officer). As of 2016, he served as Academic Heritage Project Manager. At a self-conceived symposium on the theme of ‘university’, which also marked his retirement on September 14, 2023, he was awarded the University Medal for his achievements in raising the university’s profile and preserving and enriching the institution's academic heritage and making it accessible.
2022
- Klaas Sijtsma, Professor and administrator
Klaas Sijtsma was appointed as Professor of Psychological Research Methodology in 1997 and subsequently held various administrative positions at the university, including that of interim Rector Magnificus during the Covid pandemic. The Executive Board states that Klaas Sijtsma has been important to the university at ‘crucial moments’, both as a scholar and as an administrator. He received the University Medal on the occasion of his farewell on May 19, 2022. - Ernst Hirsch Ballin, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law and the first University Professor
Ernst Hirsch Ballin has been associated with Tilburg University since his appointment in 1981. At his retirement on May 13, 2022, he received a royal decoration in addition to the University Medal. The Executive Board referred to his ‘impressive academic record, a great, committed and long-standing commitment to our university’.
2021
- Jaap Paauwe, visionary and connector
Jaap Paauwe has been with the university since 2005. He was a major force in the development of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB) and particularly within the Department of Human Resource Studies (HRS). The Executive Board appreciates and sees Jaap Paauwe's great commitment to the Recognition & Rewards program and to strengthening Tilburg University’s profile. He received the Medal on September 9, 2021. - Marc Groenhuijsen, Professor and administrator
Marc Groenhuijsen worked 35 years at Tilburg University as Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, a position in which he was highly regarded nationally and internationally. He also served two terms as Dean at Tilburg Law School. The Executive Board commends Marc Groenhuijsen for his warm heart for the university and the city. He received the Medal on September 10, 2021.
2020
- Peter Jonkers, Professor and former dean TST
Peter Jonkers received the University Medal on his retirement as professor of philosophy for his wide-ranging services to the School of Catholic Theology. He served as dean of the school several times, from 1993 to 1996, from 2003 to 2006, and most recently in 2013. On June 4, 2021, Peter Jonkers retired as professor of philosophy.
2017
- Peter Noordanus, former Mayor of Tilburg and Tom Rombouts, former Mayor of ‘s-Hertogenbosch
At their farewell on Nov. 16, 2017, Peter Noordanus and Tom Rombouts received the Medal for their efforts on behalf of the creation of the Data Science program in ’s-Hertogenbosch.
2015
- Philip Eijlander, former Rector Magnificus, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative law, Dean of Tilburg Law School
Philip Eijlander has been associated with Tilburg University in various positions since 1983. From 2008 to 2015, he served as Rector Magnificus. He received the Medal in 2015 for his exceptional services to the university.
2000-2009
- 2004: Yvonne van Rooij, President of the Executive Board
- 2005: Kees Mouwen, member of the Executive Board
- 2005: Jef van de Riet, Secretary to the University
- 2006: Herman Wijffels, chair of the Board of Governors
- 2008: Frank van der Duijn Schouten, Rector Magnificus
- 2009: Ruud Vreeman, Mayor of Tilburg
1990-2000
- 1992: Piet Verheijen, President of the Executive Board
- 1992: Jo Ritzen, as Minister of Education and Sciences, on the occasion of the opening of the new University Library
- 1993: Walter Goddijn, external member of the University Council
- 1993: Jan van Berkom, member of the Executive Board
- 1993: Ernst Hirsch Ballin, as Minister of Justice
- 1994: Nanda Boers, personal assistant/secretary to the President of the Executive Board
- 1995: Harry van den Eerenbeemt, Professor of Political, Economic and Social History
- 1996: Harry Peeters, Professor of Psychology
- 1997: Gerry van Veldhoven, President of the Executive Board
- 1998: Len de Klerk, Rector Magnificus
- 2000: Maurice Ackermans, Head of Communication
- 2000: Ben Schmitz, chair of the Board of Governors
1983-1990
- 1983: Lord Denning, see also The Rt. Hon. Lord Denning | Tilburg University
- 1984: Paul Bremmer, United States ambassador to the Netherlands
- 1985: Arie Pais, Minister of Education and Sciences
- 1988: Wim Letschert, Mayor of Tilburg
- 1988: Herman Hopman, Secretary to the University
- 1990: Ruud Lubbers, Dutch Prime Minister and later chair of the Board of Governors
More about history and academic heritage
The Tilburg University academic heritage is a very diverse set of archives, visual materials, collections, devices, recorded stories, et cetera that relate to the history of the university.