News
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PhD thesis written by Patrick Naaktgeboren
This dissertation investigates private partnerships in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Antwerp (1621–1791) from both a legal historical and a socioeconomic perspective. Whereas the legal-historical part deals with the interaction between Antwerp customary law and learned legal literature (the ‘law in books’) related to business practices in the form of notarised and privately drafted agreements (the ‘law in practice’), the socioeconomic historical part focuses on the functions a partnership could fulfil in an early modern society. Based on 221 notarised partnership contracts and 20 privately drafted agreements, this dissertation demonstrates that entrepreneurs resorted to the legal principle of freedom of contract to create a partnership contract that conformed to but also partially deviated from the existing legal framework. In addition to that, this dissertation argues that partnerships could be established to create some form of legal security for the partners involved and their family members, to stimulate or constrain the circulation of knowledge and skills, and to prevent or resolve conflicts. In this way, partnerships contributed to economic development and played a role in addressing social issues in early modern Antwerp. -
Since mid-2021, several SHE staff members have been involved in two cross-border projects that were co-funded by Interreg and the regional province of Limburg. These projects are now coming to an end. Here is a reflection on both projects.
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Seven broad research consortia will receive a total of 35 million euros from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) to conduct research on technological innovations that provide answers to societal challenges. Lorenzo Moroni, professor of Biofabrication for Regenerative Medicine at Maastricht University, leads one of the seven consortia.
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What is it like, being the first generation to go to university? We are talking about this topic with various UM students. Joy Osadebawem Daniel from Luxembourg is one of them. Her parents, originally from Nigeria, didn’t always have an easy time after arriving in Luxembourg. But they taught Joy an important lesson: “The sky is the limit”. Encouraged by her parents and with a scholarship in her pocket, Joy exchanged Luxembourg for Maastricht, where she studies at the European Law School. “I sometimes need to remind myself that I really can do this.”
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They may study an unconventional group, but they have fun doing so. Lynn van Vugt and Mark Levels focus on NEETs: young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training, and are difficult to engage. Van Vugt’s PhD research—supervised by Levels, professor of Health, Education and Work—produced eye-opening findings that point to the need for policy changes.
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ROA publishes new report on developments in education and labor market
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In June this year, Marjolein Smidt held her oration following her appointment as professor in 2020. She holds a chair at Maastricht University in oncological surgery, with a focus on mammary surgery (breast surgery). However, the research she carries out is much broader than that. Marjolein also tackles colorectal cancer by researching the microbiome. For example, she looks at how the microbiome affects the knock-on effects of chemotherapy and how that in turn affects the effectiveness of cancer treatment. The title of Smidt's oration is “Even goed met minder” (Just as good with less). This puts into words what drives her as an oncological surgeon: can we achieve at least as well for patients by actually doing less in treatment, research and care? Attention to lifestyle is also essential for Smidt. "There is a connection between cancer and lifestyle… we just can't ignore that anymore".
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Radboud University and Maastricht University want to work together more often. The aim of the collaboration: a joining of forces that ensures academic and social impact in the Southeast Netherlands. Would you like to contribute to this and do you have an idea for a project? Then there is now an application form to get you started.
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Being a homeowner: to some, it is a dream for which they are willing to work hard and bear a substantial financial burden. To others, it is an undesirable combination of maintenance effort, bureaucracy and reduced mobility.
Seemingly, this polarization of opinions applies at a broader level, too. The United States, in which homeownership is an integral part of the American Dream, treat it almost like an institutional right. However, with ownership rates around 65%, they are far from being top of the list of homeowner societies. Especially in some eastern European and Asian countries, ownership rates north of 85% are quite common. In stark contrast, less than 40% of all households own their home in Switzerland. These vast discrepancies raise the question whether, from a societal perspective, universal homeownership is a desirable goal. I discuss this question mainly from an economic standpoint, thereby omitting the role of cultural preferences, which may induce justifiable ownership gaps rates across different societies.
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Manon’s academic path led her to work on prevention and well-being at the workplace. A place where we spend most of our time. The master’s programme Occupational Health and Sustainable Work (OHSW) uncovered the interventions that companies and policymakers need to keep work sustainable. Her job as a motivation mover now supports those organisations with person-centered work policies and educational trainings.