KiTeS was created in 2023 from the merger of the research groups Cheps and StePS. This page contains more background information about these two research groups.
About CHEPS
The Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS) is a renowned research institute at the University of Twente, founded in 1984. Since then, CHEPS has contributed to developing a vibrant higher education policy research community. Through its vast number of national and international research projects, its diverse development and consultancy activities, and the supervision of numerous PhD candidates, CHEPS has built a strong reputation in higher education studies.
In 2023, CHEPS merged with another well-known research unit of the University of Twente: Science, Technology, and Policy Studies (STePS). The new section is called KiTeS (Knowledge, Transformation & Society). KiTeS allows for a broader embedding of CHEPS and STePS activities in a group dedicated to analysing and improving the contribution of Knowledge to Transformations in Society to address intersecting societal and environmental challenges.
The KiTeS research theme “Transformative Higher Education and Science” clearly aligns with the research focus CHEPS used to have. CHEPS’ activities in training and consultancy on various aspects of higher education policy are also continued in the KiTeS group.
You may find all CHEPS staff, their current and former activities, projects, and publications on the KiTeS website.
About StePS
The mission of the Science, Technology and Policy Studies Division (STePS) was to help society navigate the fields of science and technology by conducting world-class multidisciplinary research, intensive education and practical interventions.
- We assessed socio-technical change by examining the past and anticipating the future.
- We stimulated constructive debates and identified productive governance options for governments, academic institutions, civil society, user organisations and businesses – in Europe and in emerging markets.
- We worked on better governance of science, technology and innovation and, together with stakeholders in this field, we are addressing important societal challenges such as cybersecurity, sustainability and health.
In 2023, STePS merged with CHEPS into KiTeS (Knowledge, Transformation & Society). This allows for a broader embedding on CHEPS activities in a group dedicated to analysing and improving the contribution of Knowledge to Transformations in Society to address intersecting societal and environmental challenges.
You may find all STePS staff, their current and former activities, projects, and publications on the KiTeS website. (Former STePS staff and activities can be found on this legacy page of STePS.)