In practice, associate professors come up with a lot of research, and they supervise PhD students towards their PhDs, dealing with all the challenges and mental pressure that entails. Until a few years ago, however, they were not allowed to award doctorates for it, the so-called ‘ius promovendi’ right. This proverbial icing on the cake had to be overseen by a department's professors, who in practice sometimes were hardly involved in the research.
In 2017, the government already broadened the WHW legislation in this field, but UT has so far followed its own policy on this: some associate professors 1 were allowed to award doctorates, while associate professors 2 were not, based on a handful of criteria.
This has now been rectified: both associate professors 1 and 2 who are permanently employed by the UT can now receive the Ius Promovendi right. In addition to recognition for their work, the expansion ensures a better distribution of PhD candidates among the supervisors, alleviating some of the workload.
Explanatory meeting on 15 May
Twente Graduate School (TGS) will hold a meeting on 15 May for associate professors who are eligible for the Ius Promovendi right, to provide more information. The associate professors in question will be notified about this by email and through a letter.
