Utrecht University: The best professor is a team player

Promotion to the rank of Professor 1 is not a standard career move for every professor. It is a position that is reserved for academics who are figureheads of what the UU stands for. Whereas until now this position was reserved for academics with an exceptional status in their respective field of research, the criteria and the procedure have been changed considerably in the latest revision, in order to fit within the new UU strategy and the Utrecht TRIPLE model for Recognition and Rewards. For example, the candidate must have demonstrable leadership qualities in education or research, and be able to achieve outstanding performance and impact as part of a team. The candidate must therefore have demonstrable qualities in educating, guiding and inspiring colleagues and be able to generate impact on a large scale.

The promotion procedure has also been adjusted. The candidate is asked to write a narrative reflecting on his/her own merits in the TRIPLE domains. If this shows above-average performance in at least three of the domains, the Dean may propose the candidate to the Executive Board. The candidate has the space to highlight publications (limited to five leading publications), and to use relevant indicators and alternative metrics (no h-index or impact factor).