Talent unlimited: the labour we need, the potential we can’t waste

The ambition is a growing economy, the reality an aging population. The solution is either working into your seventies or finding ways to empower unrecognised talent in all its diversity to contribute significantly. At Maastricht University, we help tackle this challenge through research and as an employer. How can we make sense of demographics and the labour market? How can we rethink talent? How can we help individuals flourish in order to flourish as a society?
 

Keynote lecture of Professor Robert Dur

In keeping with this year's economic theme, we have invited Professor Robert Dur to give a keynote lecture. Professor Dur is Professor of Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He conducts research on the labour market, education and people's behaviour in organisations. He conducts field experiments in collaboration with companies, ministries or big cities. The results of these experiments are practically relevant and often inspire the development of theories. In addition to his research, Professor Dur is active in all phases of academic teaching. He is the chair of the Netherlands Royal Association of Economics, which celebrates its 175^th anniversary this year. At De Correspondent, he writes a fortnightly column on economics and he is an expert member of the Ministry of Finance’s Policy Evaluation Committee. He is a research fellow of the Tinbergen Institute, CESifo Munich, IZA Bonn and ROA Maastricht.

This year, we are awarding two honorary doctorates. Professors Liesbet Hooghe and Gary Marks will jointly receive an honorary doctorate. Both are professors of Political Science at the University of North Carolina and researchers at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies of the European University Institute. Professors Hooghe and Marks are renowned for their concept of 'Multi-level Governance'. Through their acclaimed book on this subject and their research into European integration, they have inspired and greatly assisted many researchers. The joint honorary doctorate will be awarded by professors Dijkstra and Vanhoonacker from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Additionally, Professor Vanstraelen from the School of Business and Economics will confer an honorary doctorate on Christian Leuz, Professor of Accounting and Finance at University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Professor Leuz's studies on crucial topics like sustainability and corporate social responsibility have established him as a prominent role model for many researchers in the field of Accounting and Finance.

On the day of the Dies Natalis, between 10.30 and 11.30, Rector Pamela Habibović will present the Bachelor’s Student Prizes. You can follow this ceremony via the livestream below.