UG/Campus Fryslân dean Andrej Zwitter back to research and education

Prof. Andrej Zwitter has decided to not go for a second term as dean of the University of Groningen/Campus Fryslân. After 4 years of deanship of Campus Fryslân, and 5,5 dean of University College Fryslân, he chooses to return to research and education. Zwitters term ends on 1 January 2023.

Looking back with gratitude

‘The past years have been a very exciting time full of challenges and successes. I will look back with pleasure and pride at our work building our cooperation as regional partners in education and research. Together with staff and students we have been able to build a flourishing faculty with many novel educational programmes. For that I am grateful,’ says Andrej Zwitter.

Involved from the start

Managing director Piet Bouma expresses his gratitude for the work the dean has done: ‘Andrej Zwitter was involved from the start and has put in endless efforts to build up and strengthen the faculty. It’s not an easy task, but with great perseverance and dedication he brought the faculty to the point where we are today: an international interdisciplinary faculty, with innovative research and educational lines, connecting local, regional, national and international partners.’

Points of pride and cherished moments

Prof. Zwitter looks back: ‘Amongst my points of pride of the past years are, for example, earning the number 1 place amongst all bachelor programs in the country with our University College, opening semesters of our faculty with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and jointly building a community of colleagues committed to global challenges and local solutions. Most of all, however, I will cherish the moments when our students took the stage during the opening of the faculty and during the opening of academic years and other events.’

Next steps

In the month of January Andrej Zwitter will remain available for the transition process. After a sabbatical he will stay at Campus Fryslân as a full professor, heading his Governance and Innovation department and contributing to research and teaching in the faculty.