URBAN AND REGIONAL STUDIES INSTITUTE (URSI) RESEARCH REPORT A SELF-EVALUATION

Transcription

1 Faculty of Spatial Sciences URBAN AND REGIONAL STUDIES INSTITUTE (URSI) RESEARCH REPORT A SELF-EVALUATION Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

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3 URBAN AND REGIONAL STUDIES INSTITUTE (URSI) RESEARCH REPORT A SELF-EVALUATION Research Programme Regional studies of population, economy and culture, planning and policy making sub-programmes 1. Explaining spatial economic change 2. Determinants of population dynamics 3. Planning for environmental quality 4. Making places Groningen, June 2007

4 Faculty of Spatial Sciences / Faculteit der Ruimtelijke Wetenschappen (FRW) Rijksuniversiteit Groningen PO Box AV Groningen The Netherlands Tel Fax

5 CONTENTS PREFACE... VII ABBREVIATIONS... VIII REPORTS REFERRED TO:... VIII PART A URBAN AND REGIONAL STUDIES INSTITUTE (URSI)...1 INTRODUCTION...1 A1 MISSION STATEMENT A2 LEADERSHIP...6 A3 STRATEGY AND POLICY...8 A4 RESEARCHERS AND OTHER PERSONNEL...12 A5 RESOURCES, FUNDING AND FACILITIES...17 A6 PROCESSES IN RESEARCH, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COLLABORATIONS...19 A7 ACADEMIC REPUTATION...20 A8 INTERNAL EVALUATION...20 A9 EXTERNAL VALIDATION...21 A10 OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS...22 A11 ANALYSIS, PERSPECTIVES AND EXPECTATIONS...24 PART B RESEARCH PROGRAMME...27 B1 EXPLAINING SPATIAL-ECONOMIC CHANGE...29 B1.1 Mission, strategy and policy...29 B1.2 Leadership...33 B1.3 Processes in research, internal and external collaborations...34 B1.4 Academic reputation...35 B1.5 Internal evaluation...37 B1.6 External validation...37 B1.7 Researchers and other personnel...38 B1.8 Resources, funding and facilities...41 B1.9 Overview of the results...41 B1.10 Analysis, perspectives and expectations...42 B2 DETERMINANTS OF POPULATION DYNAMICS...45 B2.1 Mission, strategy and policy...45 B2.2 Leadership...48 B2.3 Processes in research, internal and external collaboration...49 B2.4 Academic reputation...50 B2.5 Internal evaluation...52 B2.6 External validation...52 B2.7 Researchers and other personnel...53 B2.8 Resources, funding and facilities...55 B2.9 Overview of the results...55 B2.10 Analysis, perspectives and expectations...57 B3 PLANNING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY...59 B3.1 Mission, strategy and policy...59 B3.2 Leadership...63 B3.3 Processes in research, internal and external collaborations...64 B3.4 Academic reputation...65 B3.5 Internal evaluation...67 B3.6 External validation...67 B3.7 Researchers and other personnel...68 B3.8 Resources, funding and facilities...70 B3.9 Overview of the results...70 B3.10 Analysis, perspectives and expectations...71 v

6 B4 MAKING PLACES...75 B4.1 Mission, strategy and policy...75 B4.2 Leadership...78 B4.3 Processes in research, internal and external collaborations...78 B4.4 Academic reputation...78 B4.5 Internal evaluation...79 B4.6 External validation...80 B4.7 Researchers and other personnel...80 B4.8 Resources, funding and facilities...81 B4.9 Overview of the results...82 B4.10 Analysis, perspectives and expectations...83 APPENDIX B1: PUBLICATIONS EXPLAINING SPATIAL ECONOMIC CHANGE...85 Academic Publications...85 Professional Publications...93 APPENDIX B2: PUBLICATIONS DETERMINANTS OF POPULATION DYNAMICS Academic Publications Professional Publications APPENDIX B3: PUBLICATIONS PLANNING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Academic Publications Professional Publications APPENDIX B4: PUBLICATIONS MAKING PLACES Academic Publications Professional Publications vi

7 PREFACE Remarks and recommendations of the last Review Committee (2001) have guided the Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in improving her research programmes. Now after 6 years it is time to take stock again. Although the research programmes did not change in name one programme was added-, the research environment changed significantly. The Bachelor-Master system is now in place with two Bachelors, eight Masters of which three are English language taught and a graduate school. The number of students and PhD candidates increased to respectively 850 and 50, though staff numbers lag behind. The 2003 decision to concentrate all URSI (the Urban and Regional Studies Institute) researchers in Nethur (Netherlands Graduate School on Urban and Regional Research) had however the greatest impact by far. This move resulted in a united research community within the faculty and the (ongoing) development of a faculty-wide research programme. Further input came from the Faculty Board that established a research nucleus and created two tenure track positions. Extra scholarships attracted more (inter)national PhD candidates and the number of externally funded projects is on the increase. The emphasis is on scientific research, even though the Faculty regards society-oriented research an organic part of her mission and vital for a solid society-based scientific community in the field of Spatial Sciences. Although the contours of a faculty-wide research programme become more visible by the time, the Faculty Board has decided to prepare self evaluation reports for 4 research subprogrammes as this reflects present reality closer. The self-evaluations pertain to the following research programmes: 1. Explaining spatial economic change 2. Determinants of population dynamics 3. Planning for environmental quality 4. Making places. The complete self-evaluation report has been discussed extensively in the URSI Board, the Departments, the Faculty Advisory Board, was sent for final comments to the Scientific Advisory Board of the RUG and has been approved by the Faculty Board. Preparing a self-evaluation report fixes an ongoing process in time. It is a good opportunity to reflect on where we are, where we did come from and where we are heading for. At the same time it is a chosen moment to invite comments and suggestions to improve our efforts. We do hope that this report will fulfil its intended role by presenting a concise, accurate and transparent document to the Review Committee. On behalf of the Faculty Board I extend my sincere thanks to all who have contributed to this report, especially the supporting staff. A particular word of thanks for Prof. Inge Hutter who as the Faculty s Board member in charge of research affairs, was responsible for the writing and final editing of the report. Prof. Gerard Linden, Dean Groningen, June 2007 vii

8 ABBREVIATIONS AESOP AIO CDS CERES EDSD ERSA FRW IDPAD KNAW MAGW Nethur NEURUS NvD NWO OIO RUG SOM URSI WOTRO Association of European Schools of Planning Assistent-in-Opleiding: PhD researcher employed by RUG, direct or contract funding Centre for Development Studies, RUG Research School for Resource Studies for Development European Doctoral School for Demography European Regional Science Association Faculteit Ruimtelijke Wetenschappen / Faculty of Spatial Sciences Indo-Dutch Programme on Alternatives in Development, NWO Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Maatschappij en GedragsWetenschappen / Social Sciences, NWO Netherlands Graduate School on Urban and Regional Research Network for European and U.S. Regional and Urban Studies Netherlands Demographic Society Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research Onderzoeker-in-Opleiding; PhD researcher employed by RUG, research funding Rijksuniversiteit Groningen / University of Groningen Joint Research School of the Faculties of Management and Organization and Economics RUG Urban and Regional Studies Institute WOTRO Science for Global Development, NWO Reports referred to: FRW Strategic Plan FRW Application for accreditation Research Master in Regional Studies, 2004 FRW Internationalization Report, 2006 FRW Graduate School Spatial Sciences Report, 2005 Nethur Application for reaccreditation, 2004 RUG Strategic Plan URSI Annual Reports viii

9 Part A. URSI PART A URBAN AND REGIONAL STUDIES INSTITUTE (URSI) INTRODUCTION The University of Groningen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, RUG) was founded in 1614 and is a classical broadly based university, with about 23,000 students. The Faculty of Spatial Sciences (FRW) is one of the 10 faculties of the RUG and covers 3 scientific disciplines: human geography, demography and spatial planning. The Faculty Board is the ultimate body responsible for the political, financial and personnel aspects regarding research. Teaching and research is organized in 4 Departments (Basiseenheden), i.e. 1. Economic Geography (Head: Prof. P.H. Pellenbarg) 2. Demography (Head: Prof. I. Hutter) 3. Spatial Planning (Acting Head: Dr P. Ike) 4. Cultural Geography (Head: Prof. P.P.P. Huigen) The faculty has about 850 students. The faculty s research programme Regional studies of population, economy and culture, planning and policy-making is coordinated by the Urban and Regional Studies Institute (URSI). The programme is further divided into 4 sub-programmes, originating from the four departments: 1. Explaining spatial-economic change 2. Determinants of population dynamics 3. Planning for environmental quality 4. Making places, emerged from sub-programme 3, since URSI was established in 1999 building upon existing research in the 4 departments. The foundation of URSI was a result of the need felt to coordinate and focus existing research in the Faculty. The key feature of URSI s research the study of space (be it a region, city, country or rural area) from the multidisciplinary perspective of geography, demography and spatial planning. URSI s main objective is to produce high quality scientific research, aimed at peers, to increase academic knowledge; and to disseminate this research to policymakers, NGOs and the general public, thus enhancing evidence-based interventions and policymaking. In addition, capacity building of young researchers is a major objective (see A1. Mission Statement). In the period under review, the Faculty formulated several policies and strategies in the field of research, as well as in teaching and the organization of the faculty. Developments in the Faculty since 2000 The student population increased from 500 in 2000 to 850 in 2006, without a proportional increase in staff. The teaching programme offered in 2000 changed completely with the introduction of the Bachelor-Master system. The FRW now offers 2 Bachelor s degree programmes 1, 6 one-year Master s programmes 2, a two-year Research Master 3 and a two- 1 Social Geography and Spatial Planning, and Environmental and Infrastructure Planning. 2 Cultural Geography, Economic Geography, Real Estate, Population Studies, Spatial Planning, and Environmental and Infrastructure Planning. 3 The Research Master in Regional Studies was established in 2004 and accredited for the period by NVAO. 1

10 Part A. URSI year Educational Master. The graduate school was established in 2006 (see FRW Graduate School Report, 2006). Academic teaching and research are two sides of a coin and thus the focal point of the Faculty s efforts and attention. The Research Master, the Master s degree in Population Studies and the Master s degree in Environmental and Infrastructure Planning (EIP) are taught in English. The graduate school is also Englishlanguage based. Internationalization, both in research and teaching, has been a major focus in the period under review. FRW is one of the most internationally oriented faculties within the university, as indicated by a high number of Bachelor s students participating in European and USA exchange programmes; by the participation of international students in the Master s degree in Population Studies and Environmental and Infrastructure Planning; Master s students and excellent Bachelor students (Challenge programme 4 ) conducting their thesis research abroad; and researchers conducting international research and being involved in international research projects. There are strong working relationships with a number of foreign universities in the field of teaching 5 while research ties are on the increase 6 (see FRW Internationalization Report, 2006) In addition to this international orientation, FRW always has been strongly embedded within the region of the Northern Netherlands. From the FRW Strategic Plan : FRW believes it has a special responsibility for the cultural, social, economic and above all spatial development of its own region (p. 2). Research on regional development, for example on the labour market, firm locations, planning of the zone around highway A7, is conducted by researchers in particular from the Departments of Economic and Cultural Geography, and Spatial Planning. Developments in URSI since 2000 At the time of the former self-evaluation (2000; report 2001), researchers of the faculty still participated in two research schools. Economic geographers and demographers participated in the local Research School SOM ( with researchers of the Faculties of Economics and Management and Organization of the RUG. Spatial planners and cultural geographers participated in the national research school on urban and regional research, Nethur (Netherlands Graduate School on Urban and Regional Research; In 2003, demographers and economic geographers left SOM and became fellows of Nethur. This move resulted in a united research community within the faculty and was a boost for the development of a faculty-broad research programme. It also meant a strengthening of the URSI input in Nethur. As stated in the FRW Strategic Plan : 4 A special programme for talented students and directed at the Research Master 5 Double degree programmes with Institut Technologik Bandung, University of Oldenburg, 6 For example, participation in the European Doctoral School for Demographic Research, under the auspices of the European Association of Population Studies (EAPS); network Neurus; ERSA (European Regional Scientists Association); several universities in UK. 2

11 Part A. URSI Because.. FRW researchers are now members through URSI of a single national research school (Nethur), the form and content of research is also open to discussion. The emphasis is on possibilities for strengthening research and boosting quality through further linkage within the FRW. The focus will be on linkage based on the existing strengths and expertise of the departments (p. 2). Nethur was reaccredited in 2006 for a period of 6 years. PhD training programmes take place also within Nethur. Lecturers from different sister institutes, including URSI, provide modules. The Nethur PhD training programme was evaluated in 2003 and is not discussed here as such. Through Nethur, URSI researchers who specialize in developing countries participate in the national Research School for Resource Studies for Development CERES ( To enhance existing research and teaching related to developing countries, at that time within the Departments of Demography and Planning in particular, and to broaden research collaborations with other RUG faculties, in 2004 FRW welcomed the Centre for Development Studies (CDS; Director: Prof. P.P.S. Ho). CDS, previously situated in the Faculty of Economics, is owned by all 10 faculties of the University of Groningen and thus is not evaluated here. Researchers focussing on developing countries participate and meet within CDS. URSI researchers participate especially in the two CDS focal research groups Institutions, conflicting claim and property rights and Participatory approaches in lifelong learning and reproductive health. In addition to being the Director of CDS, Ho also is Professor of International Development at FRW for 0.6 fte. Since joining Nethur in 2003, URSI s objective has been to develop from a research institute where research is traditionally conducted within the boundaries of departments, into a research institute where researchers from different departments conduct research together within certain research themes. That is, researchers share their knowledge, experience and expertise. This means collaboration and exchange without losing disciplinary specializations. As the FRW Strategic Plan states: In the present model, departments play a much more prominent role than research themes The faculty explicitly aims at greater coherence in its research themes and seeks research synergy by encouraging cross-fertilization and cooperation between researchers from different departments with different research disciplinary backgrounds, both within the faculty and within Nethur (FRW Strategic Plan , p.13; and 11). Examples of collaborations and cross-fertilization in the period under review include the research themes of - firm demography, since 1999, which combines expertise from the disciplines of economic geography and demography (first within SOM, then Nethur); - heritage planning and identities bringing together research expertise from the discipline of planning and cultural geography (within Nethur). 3

12 Part A. URSI There is noticeably more dynamism, as indicated by: - new joint research projects, usually with young researchers, have recently been developed, for example on regional development and neighbourhood research (planning, economic, cultural geography), evolutionary economics and entrepreneurship (economic geography, demography), cultural meaning of people and places (cultural geography and social demography), real estate (economic geography, spatial planning), urban governance and poverty (spatial planning and researchers from all departments). Joint projects have the potential to become new research themes. - joint supervision of PhDs (for example Bentinck 2000; Terluin, 2001; Koster 2006; Haandrikman since 2005; Dias and Zeelenberg since 2006) and joint publications (for example Van der Aa and Ashworth, 2002, 2006; joint book publication on the Northern Netherlands (Pellenbarg ed. forthcoming 2007; Ashworth, Groote and Haartsen, forthcoming 2007). - joint proposal writing (for example Hutter, Van Wissen, Groote and Haandrikman). - discussions and reflections on articles-in-progress. - a future joint collaboration, in Research Master and PhD programme, of FRW and CDS, with Uppsala University (Ho, Hutter). The Faculty Board follows a pro-active policy in acquiring funding for PhD fellowships from the RUG, for example Ubbo Emmius, Erik Bleumink and Bernoulli fellowships; in 2005 a research nucleus 7 was appointed, consisting of Dr Justin Beaumont plus two PhD researchers, within the tenure track system. Dr Beaumont is developing a research programme on Urban governance, social justice, poverty and faith-based-organizations in cooperation with researchers from different departments. FRW formulated another tenure track path for a promising young scientist, Dr Bettina van Hoven, starting in January Here too researchers from different departments will participate in her theme Belonging and identities. In sum, the Faculty s research Institute URSI changed character after the unification of the researchers of the Faculty in The existing research programmes were accommodated within one framework and a new orientation emerged through direct efforts of URSI to stimulate interdepartmental exchange and cooperation. The establishment of the Challenge programme (for excellent students), the accreditation of the Research Master in 2004, the start of the graduate school in 2006, all contribute to a faculty-wide research effort. Appointing two tenure track staff members, one as a research nucleus and one on an individual basis, aims at strengthening this newfound communal base. 7 Research nuclei are appointed by the RUG to teaching oriented faculties to stimulate and contribute to the development of a research orientation. 4

13 Part A. URSI A1 MISSION STATEMENT The foundation of URSI was a result of the need felt to coordinate and focus existing research in the Faculty. At time of establishment in 1999, URSI s mission was: to coordinate and perform research on urban and regional problems. to focus research on the testing, application and communication of knowledge in real-world settings. to promote research activities, both within and outside the Faculty of Spatial Sciences. to foster ties with research institutes and other relevant organizations outside the University of Groningen. The first two objectives follow the institute s research philosophy as described below. The last two mission objectives relate more to organizational issues. Strategies, policies and activities developed to meet these last two objectives are described in A3. In 2003, the joint participation of URSI researchers in Nethur (see Introduction) facilitated the objective to achieve greater coherence in and synergy between research sub-programmes by encouraging cross-fertilization and cooperation between researchers from different departments with different disciplinary backgrounds within the faculty. In other words, the aim is for more collaboration and exchange, but without losing disciplinary specializations. The introduction of the Bachelor-Master structure and the establishment of the Research Master in Regional Studies in 2004 additionally highlighted the objectives of more integration of research and teaching activities. URSI s mission thus became - to conduct high quality scientific research on urban and regional problems, from a multidisciplinary perspective (economic and cultural geography, demography, planning), o aiming at peers and thus increasing the body of academic knowledge on urban and regional problems, and o to disseminate this scientific research to policy makers, NGOs and the general public, thus providing an evidence-base for policymaking and interventions. - to enhance capacity-building in the scientific field of urban and regional issues, from this multidisciplinary perspective. The URSI mission is an umbrella mission for the four sub-programmes (see Part B), each of them with an own, particular emphasis. URSI s main research objective being the study of regions, the functioning of regions and the development pattern of regions over time is viewed as the result of a complex dynamic interaction process between cultural, economic and demographic forces in spaces and places. This process takes place in an environmental setting that is partly of natural origin and partly shaped by the actors in this process: people, firms, governmental and non-governmental organizations. The development of regions is an evolutionary process in which path dependency and the function of the region in a network of regions 5

14 Part A. URSI is of crucial importance. Furthermore, the social, physical, institutional and cultural infrastructure plays an important role. Regions form the appropriate spatial unit for the analysis of society as they encompass the majority of daily movements of persons and goods as well as social, cultural and economic relations. Knowledge of both the spatial organization of spaces and places within regions, and the economic, cultural and demographic interaction between regions is crucial for understanding the roles of regions. This will provide insights into the functioning of society and identify possibilities for adequate policy interventions. The essential idea is the critical analysis of space and place as the basis for action and intervention in regions. This includes: - Critical analysis by means of quantitative and qualitative research methods, based on sound theoretical frameworks, focussing on unravelling the intricate relationships within and between regions and the associated opportunities for informed intervention. - Space connoting locational relationships, and competing claims over locations; and the impacts and interrelationship of the sectoral on the spatial and vice versa. This has very practical implications for how economies and their infrastructures function; how communities achieve cohesion; environmental capacity and ecological impact; and cultural identity. - Place a focus on outcomes, quality, form, and identity as experienced and perceived by occupants, permanent or transient; - Action or intervention a deliberate process focussing on what could and should be done, thereby inherently a process concerned with ethics and values as well as facts an active process, which includes the possibility of deliberate inaction. It also implies management skills appropriate to securing results. A2 LEADERSHIP Figure A1 depicts the organizational structure of research within the Faculty of Spatial Sciences and URSI. The Faculty Board (Dean, teaching: Prof. G. Linden; Vice-dean, research: Prof. I. Hutter; Financial and Personnel Manager: Mrs. G. Groen) is the ultimate body responsible for the political, financial and personnel aspects regarding research, teaching and management. In the period under assessment ( ), within the Board the following persons have been responsible for research: September 2000 Prof. F.J. Willekens - September Prof. H. Voogd - September Prof. J. Van Dijk - September now Prof. I. Hutter 6

15 Part A. URSI Figure A1. Organization of research within FRW and URSI FRW Faculty Board -Dean, Education (Linden) -Vice-dean, Research (Hutter) -Finances/personnel (Groen) CDS URSI Board - Hutter (Director) - Pellenbarg, Van Dijk, - Van Wissen - Voogd, De Roo, Ho - Huigen, Strijker URSI URSI researchers - Nethur-fellows - Associate fellows - PhD researchers - Research Master students (>2006 Graduate School) Nethur Research programme Regional Studies of Population, Economy and Culture, Spatial Planning and Policy making Explaining socioeconomic change Determinants of population dynamics Planning for environmental quality Making places Note: for a description of CDS and Nethur, see Introduction Since September 2000, the responsible Board Member for research is also the Director of URSI. In a small organization such as FRW, with short lines of communication, this has proved to be a suitable way of working. The Board Member responsible for Research / Director URSI coordinates URSI activities and the PhD programme (until September 2006 when the Graduate School started), monitors output, and coordinates the research direction and research policies. URSI is supported by an Office Manager (Mrs M. Harder) who keeps the records on publications (OZIS system), coordinates the URSI website, maintains contact with Nethur, etc. The Faculty Board makes decisions on strategic research matters in close consultation with the URSI Board. The communication is flexible and informal. Feedback is also provided to the Board from the bi-monthly URSI PhD meetings. URSI has an advisory URSI Board consisting of all professors of the faculty with a research task, who meet once every two months or whenever there is a need to gather on a specific issue. The URSI Board deals with: - advice and consultation regarding research policy matters. - consultation regarding the scientific quality of projects. For example, PhD proposals must be approved by two URSI Board members before they are accepted as URSI PhD projects. - advice on research in general. For example, publications registered annually in the OZIS system are presented and discussed in one of the URSI PhD conferences, and compared to output in preceding years. 7

16 Part A. URSI Researchers within URSI are: o Nethur fellows who participate in the national Graduate School Nethur. For fellows, at least 40 per cent of their working time is allocated to research. o Associate fellows who do not participate in Nethur, with a minor part of their activities (10 per cent) allocated to research. FRW s aim is to provide research time to all staff members, even when people do not participate in Nethur. Output of the associate fellows can sometimes be less embedded within existing research themes. o PhD researchers, who participate within the national Graduate School Nethur and, since September 2006, the local Graduate School of Spatial Sciences, including AIOs (direct funding and contract funding), OIOs (research funds such as NWO and KNAW) and PhD fellows; o Since September 2004, students of the Research Master in Regional Studies; since September 2006 part of the local Graduate School of Spatial Sciences. Since September 2004, URSI has its own Research Master in Regional Studies, accredited for the period by the NVAO. Since September 2006, the Faculty s own Graduate School of Spatial Sciences (Director: Prof. L.J.G. van Wissen), includes both the PhD training and the Research Master. Regarding PhD training, continuation of participation in the national school Nethur is aimed at, while the local school will monitor progress locally and organize local training, such as writing in English or specific methodological workshops. The Graduate School of Spatial Sciences is supported by an Office Manager (Mrs S. Tiggelaar). At the time of writing, the shift towards the local Graduate School is in full progress. The research programme Regional studies of population, economy and culture, spatial planning and policy making consists of the four research sub-programmes B1. Explaining spatial economic change, B2. Determinants of population dynamics, B3. Planning for environmental quality and B4. Making places. Although URSI aims at a research programme in which departmental boundaries become blurred, the division into the sub-programmes still reflects the way in which research has traditionally been conducted, i.e. within the boundaries of a department. The leaders of the research subprogrammes coordinate and manage the research activities of their programme. Management styles and means of motivation are rather similar in the research subprogrammes (see Part B). A3 STRATEGY AND POLICY In the period under review, URSI employed several strategies in pursuing its objectives. To promote research activities, both within and outside the Faculty of Spatial Sciences (1999-mission objective 3) and to foster ties with research institutes and other relevant organizations outside the University of Groningen (1999-mission objective 4), URSI organized (for details see the website of URSI: - Bi-annual URSI PhD conferences with presentations by PhD researchers, attended by all URSI researchers. During their 4-year contract, PhD researchers give presentations at least twice at these conferences. The presentations are reviewed by other PhD researchers and discussed together. Occasionally, the conferences 8