As of 1 March 2019, the Executive Board will appoint Derek Jan Fikkers as Director of Strategy & Policy (S&P) at the University of Twente.
Derek Jan Fikkers obtained his PhD at the University of Twente in 2008, in the field of regional innovation policy. After completing his PhD, he was employed at PwC Advisory N.V., as an expert in research policy and knowledge transfer.
Derek Jan is currently a partner and assistant director at Technopolis Group in Amsterdam, which focuses on higher education and research policy and is active in over 50 countries. In this position, he is currently coordinating strategic projects in the field of open science, internationalization in higher education, and IP policy. He is also a member of the Management Board of the INCO Service Facility, which maintains the majority of international R&D relations with non-EU countries on behalf of the European Commission.
The new director of S&P, together with the S&P team, will focus on identifying strategic developments which could be promising for the University of Twente and which the department can translate into new opportunities together with the faculties and research institutes. Strategy & Policy will continue to develop as an entrepreneurial service department with a strong external focus, providing support for the Executive Board, the faculty boards and the research institutes in the fields of education, research and knowledge transfer.
Derek Jan Fikkers announces himself about his appointment: “The University of Twente is no ordinary university. Its campus culture, its focus on entrepreneurship, and its combination of technological sciences and social sciences all make it unique, and in that respect I’m very happy that nothing has changed since I left 10 years ago. But we also know that a lot is going to change for universities over the next ten years. There will be challenges, but also some great opportunities for the University of Twente. I’m looking forward to working with the S&P team to prepare the university for that future as effectively as we can.”
Victor van der Chijs about Derek Jan Fikkers’ appointment: “There was unanimity regarding Derek Jan’s nomination for this position. He has extensive knowledge of the international university landscape, he has a wide network in the knowledge sector and his style is sure-footed and collaborative. We believe that he will play a prominent role within the university and will make a real impact in helping to steer the university in a new strategic direction. In Derek Jan, we see a team player who is focused on continuing to strengthen the role of the Strategy and Policy department.”
The Executive Board looks forward to working with Derek Jan Fikkers and wishes him success in his new role.
