President Sibrand Poppema’s farewell

On Thursday 27 September, Professor Sibrand Poppema officially retired from his position as President of the University of Groningen for ten years. A farewell symposium has been organized to mark this special occasion. The keynote speakers were Ian Buruma, former editor-in-chief of the New York Review of Books, and Robert-Jan Smits, Open Access Envoy of the European Commission.

Professor Sibrand Poppema was appointed President of the Board of the University of Groningen on 1 October 2008. Poppema’s presidency has been characterized by passion and ambition. Under his guidance, the international position of the University has been strengthened and the competitive edge of the institution sharpened. The individual qualities of researchers and lecturers have also been stimulated, and a more challenging environment for students has been created in which performance is rewarded. Societal developments have been given a permanent place in University policy. As a result, the UG now holds a secure position in the international top of prestigious ranking lists.