Gepubliceerd: 20 november 2008
A sum of reputations
Gaining influence by means of reputation. That is the idea behind RISE, a Europe-wide university network to promote the interests of the Social Sciences. Tilburg University plays an important role in promoting cooperation in the area of education and research between these partners.
Stijn Dunk
It must be frustrating sometimes, representing one of those European universities with a splendid reputation in the Social Sciences in the political arena of Brussels.  The EU politicians and officials who make all the decisions may recognize your excellence, but this seldom leads to substantial financial funding. "I have the strong feeling", says Lars Bergman, rector of the Stockholm School of Economics, "That the implicit view of the European Union on science, economy and society is very much a technological one. Such a view does not account for other important factors, like the role of institutions."
To change this view, Tilburg University has taken the initiative to build RISE (Raising the Impact of the Social Sciences and Economics), a Europe-wide university network to promote the interests of the Social Sciences. Not only in Brussels, but also in the board rooms of companies and t he various national political arenas. Since 2005, Tilburg University rector Frank van der Duyn Schouten has asked a number of his colleagues across Europe to join this academic lobby.
Not all universities were interested from the start. "Our School receives many requests to join academic networks, and at first this request looked similar to many others", remembers Lars Bergman. "At second sight, however, it became clear that the scope of RISE was much broader."
In building RISE, the solid reputation of Tilburg University was vital. "Tilburg University is one of the most prestigious RISE partners", emphasizes Andrea Sironi, who has just stepped down as vice rector for  internationalization of another RISE member, the Milanese Bocconi University. Especially Tilburg's economic research enjoys an excellent reputation. "To become part of such a high-quality network is very interesting for us. In fact, refusing would have been a risk." Lars Bergman also emphasises the important role of the 'well respected' position of Tilburg University in the decision to join the network.
An interesting feature of both Bocconi and Stockholm is that both universities are already engaged in a number of reputable international networks.  In the league of business schools, for instance, they exchange students with fellow RISE member London School of Economics. Lars Bergman suggests that, thanks to RISE, in the near future students of the Tilburg University business school TiasNimbas will be able to come to Stockholm, and vice versa. Andrea Sironi would like to expand the cooperation to the regular master's programmes. "We would love to start a double degree master's with Tilburg University that builds on our own Master's of Economics and Social Sciences. This decision is not my responsibility, since I have stepped down,  but I think it would be very much appreciated."
Besides education, research is also a potentially fruitful area of RISE cooperation. Lars Bergman had a pleasant surprise when, during the festivities in 2007 for Tilburg University's 80th anniversary, he attended the opening of the behavioural lab of Tiber, a new research centre at Tilburg University. "We have the same kind of laboratory in Stockholm, so this can be an interesting field of joint research."  The field of Labor Economics can be another promising research match, according to Andrea Sironi. "Within the RISE network, we are already working together on this topic. For instance, we do research on the European employment contract."
Nevertheless, both Lars Bergman and Andrea Sironi confirm that the core business of RISE is gaining influence by means of reputation. The balance between the two factors can be fragile. For maximum political influence, it would be effective to extend the RISE network with universities from the other EU member states.
For academic reputation, however, this decision could have negative effects. "This is a delicate topic which is currently under discussion", Andrea Sironi explains. "I am quite in favour of extending the network. However, if you choose to have one RISE member for each EU country, then they will not always be the best institutions. It's an interesting debate for the future."
[Stijn Dunk]
[ The Commentary of Fank van der Duyn Schouten: "Nowadays, you need partners to be heard in Brussels. In RISE we've found a network with universities which have a similar profile and reputation. Together we can join forces."]
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