In Memoriam Eric Bleumink

With great sadness, the Board of the University of Groningen has learned of the passing of former Board member and emeritus Professor E. Bleumink on Friday 31 January 2025.

Eric Bleumink (Dieren, 1935) graduated cum laude (Distinction) in Physics and Chemistry from Utrecht University. In 1967, he obtained his PhD degree, also in Utrecht, with his thesis Isolation and chemical characterization of atopic allergens from several foods. As a biochemist, he was appointed in 1977 to the Dermatology department at the former Academic Hospital Groningen, precursor to the UMCG. In 1980, he was appointed Professor of Dermatology at the Faculty of Medicine in Groningen, where he also served as Secretary to the Board.

For many, Bleumink will be remembered primarily for his roles in academic governance. His leadership skills were already evident at an early age: he repeatedly served as class representative and later became a scouting leader. In Groningen, he served consecutively for almost 16 years on the Board of the University, the highest governing body of the UG. From 1984 to 1988, he was Rector Magnificus, and from 1988 until his retirement in 2000, he was chair of the Board of the University, guiding the University through challenging times.

In the 1980s, the University had to make significant cuts, one consequence of which was the closure of the sub-faculty of Dentistry. Bleumink instantly recognized the futility of this plan, considering the impending shortage of dentists. According to Marius Kooyman, fellow Board member and Vice President: ‘It pushed us to the edge of our administrative resilience. Eric moved mountains to turn the situation around.’ And he did so successfully.

In the 1990s, Bleumink led the UG through a major transformation of the university organization (the MUB: Wet Modernisering Universitaire Bestuursorganisatie / Modernization of University Governance Act 1997). This led to a shift in the focus of the governance structure from a primarily democratic model to a more business-oriented model. As a result, the Board of the University was able to leave a personal imprint on University policy. It is partly due to Bleumink’s efforts that the Groningen Harmonie model was preserved. In addition, he saw the importance of the UG remaining a broad university, with degree programmes spanning the entire academic spectrum, also due to its role in the Northern Netherlands. He also saw the importance of the UG as a research university, with a strong connection between research and teaching.

Bleumink’s leadership style reflected traits of the Christian Historical Union (Christelijk-Historische Unie; CHU), the political party he was affiliated with in the 1060s, and ‘70s as one of its rising stars: undogmatic, harmony-oriented, and opposed to antagonism. The CHU later merged with CDA, a process that Blemink also worked towards. He also got to know Wim Deetman at the time, who would later serve as the Minister of Education and then Chair of the Supervisory Board of the UG. Perhaps his roots in a farming family in Dieren played a role in his approach to governance. Bleumink said that a farmer in the Achterhoek region knows 12 ways to say ‘yes’, all of which are friendly, polite, and correct.

Bleumink also deployed his extensive governance experience outside the UG, including as chair of the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU). His strong societal involvement was already evident when he was a member of the Board of the University. He was also keenly interested in life-long learning and in the Senior Academy (HOVO). After his retirement, he took the reins of the Senior Academy Groningen-Friesland-Drenthe for 15 years.

Bleumink assumed a pioneering role in promoting collaboration with international universities, with a focus on the Global South. It is only fair that the Eric Bleumink Fund, which offers Master’s degree scholarships to talented youth from non-Western countries, is named in his honour.  He was awarded the royal distinction of Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 1995 for his numerous accomplishments. Upon his retirement as President of the Board in 2020, Bleumink was awarded the Medal of Honour from the city of Groningen for his outstanding contribution to the Groningen community. The University of Groningen also presented him with its own badge of honour.