Tax law professor and PwC partner Herman van Kesteren does not dare to say whether there is actually any influence. “Either way, sponsors act as a sounding board for us to see exactly what we want to deliver in terms of education in the future,” he says. “There are numerous developments in the economy that you want to include in your education, and sponsors deal with these issues on a daily basis. They feel where the developments are, and we as professors make appreciative use of them.’
Van Kesteren is well aware that he wears two hats and understands that the opportunity for professors working both at the university and elsewhere is a theme. He calls it a valid point to make, which has both advantages and disadvantages.
Better education
He argues, for example, that professors can provide better education and train people in a more targeted way through more appointments. However, Follow The Money has studied that 17 of the 23 teaching employees come from sponsors. Van Kesteren: ‘This is because the agreement is that the sponsors also make people and money available. With that money you can attract others, but the sponsors have the obligation to make their people available one or two days a week.’
‘If we want to have good universities, we need private money’
In the financial field, he is supported by economics professor Arnoud Boot of the University of Amsterdam, who argues that universities cannot do without private money. “If we want to have good universities, we need funding not only from the government but also from the market,” he says.
Knowledge comes first
However, Boot makes a comment. He believes colleges are about bachelor’s and master’s programs and promotions. “This is the initiative, and the initiative must remain entirely with the universities,” he says. “The fact that you offer a course where practical knowledge is important and where a guest lecturer provides part of the course, in itself is not wrong at all.”
And that’s where the crux lies, thinks Boot. The moment a guest lecturer threatens to take the lead when it comes to the bachelor’s or master’s program, things go awry. “The initiative must in no way be external to the university”.
Wake up
Boot therefore requests that care be taken not to appoint professors who spend most of their time in practice. “They also have customers calling at any time of day because they want something,” he says. “It means that in universities there are professors for the maximum 10, 20 or 30 percent, who have no time for science.”
According to Boot they can give a few lessons, “and are authorized to do so”, but he would prefer not to call them professors. He has previously argued at the BNR that universities could invent new titles. “As an adjunct professor. That way you keep them out of the hierarchy of the university,” she says. “The hierarchy of the university should be based on merit.”