New management model Faculty of Science starting 1 July
After nearly a year-long process, the new collegial institute boards within our faculty's institutes are ready to begin. This marks the implementation of a new, modern, and contemporary way of management. Nearly all roles within the institute boards have been filled, with recruitment for some positions continuing through the summer.
Why new institute boards?
Introducing the new management model is part of our strategy’s implementation agenda aimed at ‘getting the basics right.’ One of the changes we are implementing is the use of collegial institute boards, consisting of three directors who are jointly responsible for the institute.
This new management approach aligns with how we want to organise ourselves: efficiently and effectively, and in good collaboration and harmony within and across institutes. Ultimately, this contributes to a faculty where we work across the boundaries of disciplines and sub-disciplines in a connected, inclusive community that is a pleasant place to work and study.
What has changed?
Instead of one institute director with a management team, there are now three institute directors, each with their own portfolio: a Scientific Director, an Educational Director, and an Operational Director. Together, they are responsible for the entire institute.
By each administrator bringing in their perspective from their area of focus, the quality and integration of management and decision-making are enhanced when addressing the complex issues the institutes face. The three institute directors have direct hierarchical lines to the faculty directors, having the same focus area.
How does an institute board look like in the new form?
An institute board consists of a Scientific Director with the research portfolio who also chairs the board, an Educational Director with the education portfolio, and an Operational Director with the operational management portfolio.
The roles of Scientific Director and Educational Director are additional responsibilities that come alongside one’s positions as a professor within our faculty. The role of Educational Director can be filled by an Associate Professor as well. The Operational Director is a full-time position. Each institute board is assisted by a management team. In most institutes, the management teams also include one or sometimes two Programme Directors who are responsible for one or more programmes within an institute. In many cases, one of the Programme Directors is also the Educational Director.
What else has changed?
We are also changing how we conduct meetings and develop plans. Just as the Executive Board and the faculties engage with each other: we have a fixed meeting schedule on a set day, which we call the 'beradendag'. The meetings follow the content line of the three portfolios of the directors.
For major projects such as the strategy implementation agenda, we work with temporary project groups and working groups. These are assembled based on expertise, knowledge, and experience. Members of project groups and working groups represent the interests of the entire faculty and look beyond the boundaries of their own institute or service.
Who are the new administrators in the institutes?
Nearly all administrators in the institutes have been appointed. For some positions, the appointment procedure is in the final stages, and for some positions, the recruitment process is still ongoing or will start after the summer. This applies to the Scientific Director for the IBL, the Educational Director for the LIC and the LION, and the Operational Director for the Leiden Observatory. (View the vacancy (in Dutch).
In this overview, you can see who has been appointed to which institute:
A new phase for the faculty
With the start of the collegial institute boards, we conclude a process that began in 2022 with the development of the new management model. The way we have done this as a faculty is precisely how we want to continue: together, by staying in conversation with each other and with the commitment, involvement, and expertise of many colleagues.
Dean Jasper Knoester: ‘I am proud of what we have achieved together. It was not always easy due to the complex processes we had to follow and the mandatory procedures that took a lot of time. The result speaks for itself; the faculty is leading the way with this working method and is in the spotlight within the rest of the university.’
'We certainly still have a lot to learn, but the result is already impressive.'
‘The entire Faculty Board is pleased with the colleagues appointed to the institute administrations. We certainly still have a lot to learn, but this is a wonderful start. With the help of the leadership programme we are starting after the summer, the experience we have gained in the past period, and all the other projects underway to better organise our faculty, I am confident this will be a success. I look forward to working on this together.’