Thijs Broekhuizen appointed as Professor of Business and Management in Lifelong Learning

The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) is pleased to announce that Thijs Broekhuizen has been appointed as Professor of Business and Management in Lifelong Learning. The Chair is situated within the Department of Innovation Management and Strategy.

Thijs Broekhuizen has a long history at FEB, having joined the faculty as a Postdoctoral Researcher in 2006 and worked at FEB in various roles since then. In 2008, Broekhuizen was promoted to assistant professor, and in 2014, he became an associate professor. He also served as director of the Master’s Programme Business Administration between 2014 and 2020. Since January 2020, he has been the scientific director of the University of Groningen Business School (UGBS). At UGBS, he has co-developed three programmes for the Executive MBA: Energy Transition, Health, and Sustainable Business Models.

Apart from his administrative positions and involvement in (executive) education, Broekhuizen also conducts interdisciplinary research in strategy, innovation, and digitalization. His main research interests relate to the value creation and appropriation of innovations in technology-based settings characterized by fierce competition and changing environments. He investigates the development and performance of digital business models and how firms can appropriate value from their (digital) innovations by responding to digital/disruptive technologies. In terms of valorization activities, he maintains close relationships with national and international stakeholders of regional innovation systems. Through practitioner-oriented policy reports, publications, and workshops, he shares his expertise with them.

Academic leadership in Lifelong Learning

In his new role as full professor, Broekhuizen will provide academic leadership in Lifelong Learning within FEB and the University of Groningen (UG). The chair encompasses a broad set of responsibilities, including developing a clear educational vision for lifelong learning and leading programme development, innovation, and management.

In addition, Broekhuizen will contribute to research in business and management, with a specific focus on executive education and the educational philosophies that foster lifelong learning. Through scholarly publications and engagement within and beyond UG, he is expected to further strengthen thought leadership in this domain. He will also actively contribute to executive education by teaching in various programmes and by playing a visible role in advancing the impact strategy of both FEB and UG.

Broekhuizen looks forward to the opportunities his new role brings: “Lifelong learning is becoming increasingly central to universities’ societal role. I see this chair as an opportunity to connect high-quality research with innovative executive education, and to further strengthen the link between academia and practice.”