Our society is facing major challenges in the next few years, including climate change, digitalization, and increasing inequality. These fundamental issues require the application of scientific knowledge and students educated as critical thinkers to provide new ideas and solutions. Together, they play an important role in addressing the social challenges and in designing the required transition roadmaps. In this way, we contribute to a society that acknowledges that technological and economic prosperity is not all’important and that profound attention needs to be paid to the ecological and social aspects of growth and justice as well. Giving shape to this mission is not something we can do alone. We therefore collaborate in long-term partnerships both within and outside academia and we value each party’s unique contribution. In this way, we contribute in solidarity to a resilient society.
After Rector Magnificus and President of the Executive Board Wim van de Donk has opened the academic session, Prof. Harry Huizinga will present the honorary doctorate to economist Dr. Asl’ Demirgüç-Kunt. She receives this distinction in recognition of her research, with which she has had a great impact on the knowledge and practice of financial development, and of her work, that has contributed to achieving the World Bank’s poverty reduction objectives. Prior to the dies natalis, Asli Demirgüç-Kunt will talk about her groundbreaking work during the Green Finance symposium.
During this dies, we will also look ahead to our centenary in 2027. Its theme will be announced via a video. The book Licht in het donkere zuiden [Light in the dark south] will be presented to Mrs. Kaag, the daughter of Tilburg University’s first Rector Magnificus. The theme of ’Equal opportunities, shared responsibility’ is also the leitmotiv of the cultural interlude through a Reverse Poem that will be performed by a young Brabant student from Fontys University of Applied Sciences. Next, the Dean of the Tilburg School of Economics and Management, Professor Marike Knoef, and researcher Dr. Frans Cruijssen of Zero Hunger Lab will talk with people in the field about the added value of our research for them personally or for their work.
Program
15:30 hrs.: Doors open16:00 hrs.: Start of 97th dies natalis
- Welcome and introduction by Wim van de Donk
- Prof. Harry Huizinga presents honorary doctorate to Dr. Asl’ Demirgüç-Kunt
- Introduction of centenary theme and first activity in the run-up to the centenary
- Poem by Fontys student Joep Smeets (Jozef)
- Dean of Tilburg School of Economics and Management Prof. Marike Knoef and researchers Dr. Anuj Puri of the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Society and Frans Cruijssen of Zero Hunger Lab talk with people from the field, including Letty Broeren of Food Banks Netherlands, about the added value of research
- Conclusion and reflection by Wim van de Donk
17:20 hrs.: Drinks reception
18:45 hrs.: End of program
