Two members of the Executive Board

You're ready for the future

That is our promise to students. NHL Stenden has evolved into a unique university of applied sciences known for being inclusive, engaged, resourceful, and groundbreaking. We instill these values in our students as well. Design-based education, practice-oriented research with a positive impact on broad prosperity, and a distinct international profile form our foundation. We have further strengthened this foundation and continue to build upon it through our “design-based” approach. This profile makes our university of applied sciences unique, especially in combination with the way we operate based on our values of “connecting, engaged, resourceful, and groundbreaking.” What makes NHL Stenden special?

• Innovative Education: Our distinctive approach lays the foundation for creative thinking, leadership, and sustainable development.
• Strong Connections: Our regional roots and international profile make us a key player in knowledge sharing and collaboration.
• Practice- and Impact-Oriented Research: Strategic themes such as digitalization, social cohesion, and sustainability make us a driving force for innovation.
• Inclusive and Diverse: We embrace equality and inclusion, which helps create an inspiring and safe learning and working environment for our colleagues and students.

NHL Stenden is the place where ambition and social impact come together. We aim to further strengthen our regional roots and international profile, with innovation and collaboration with local and international partners playing a key role. This requires a robust governance structure that positions the university of applied sciences as a leader in educational innovation and social engagement.

Governance

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences is a foundation governed by a three-member collegial Executive Board (CvB). The Executive Board is committed to the university’s mission on a daily basis: working toward globally-minded innovation. The Board of Trustees oversees the Executive Board’s policies and the general affairs of the institution. The Board of Trustees supports the Executive Board with advice and assistance.

Together for the greater good

High standards are set for the Executive Board’s performance as a collegial team. Together, we chart the course for the future. We do so against a backdrop of major transitions. Social and demographic developments are impacting higher education. We aim to translate ESG ambitions into concrete policies. Digitalization and GEN-AI are impacting both our core educational process and our operational management. We see the risks in this, but above all the opportunities. The Executive Board, together with our staff, will translate these transitions into our course and strategy. In doing so, it will pay attention to the task of change within our organization. To be able to optimally shape and define the governance of NHL Stenden, the members of the Executive Board must possess a broad social orientation and sensitivity to intercultural issues.

Faculty members must demonstrate proven leadership skills in change management and recognize that the faculty’s role as a cultural leader is of great importance. Consistency in word and deed, a willingness to experiment, a curious mindset, fostering debate, and the ability to handle uncertainty and change are essential in this regard.

Complementary

To function successfully as members of the Executive Board in the coming years, it is essential that there be a personal and professional fit among the members. It is also important that members complement one another and reinforce each other’s strengths. Within the Executive Board, we seek a balance of different qualities: innovation and a drive for renewal, as well as decisiveness, initiative, and the ability to build consensus; vision combined with an eye for practical realities.

Unity in decision-making

Unity of leadership, effective collaboration among members, and steadfast leadership of the university are critical success factors for the Executive Board. Members must possess sufficient strategic and administrative breadth to look beyond the boundaries of their own portfolios within the collegial governance model and to operate as a unified body at the level of the university as a whole. The Executive Board strives for decision-making based on consensus, whereby no decisions are made without the consent of the chair.

The board must ensure the sustained involvement of students and staff in its decision-making processes, as well as foster an open culture and active employee participation. Collaboration and transparency are key.

Portfolio allocation

All members of the Executive Board are responsible for specific academic programs, ensuring that each member maintains a direct connection to the university’s core academic activities. The current distribution of responsibilities is as follows:

• Chair of the Executive Board: external relations/branding and collaboration, marketing & communications, strategy, internationalization, employee participation;
• Executive Board member responsible for education, research, and internationalization: education, research, knowledge transfer, quality assurance, and internationalization;
• Executive Board member responsible for operations: finance and procurement, business control, HRM, IT/digitalization, facilities, and educational logistics.

The above distribution will be further reviewed and finalized following the appointment of the new members and in consultation with the Supervisory Board, taking into account the knowledge and experience that the new members bring to the table. A balanced mix of portfolios within the Executive Board and the interdependence among them will contribute to effective checks and balances among the members.

The members of the Executive Board have a strong connection to the northern region. Diversity in the composition of the Executive Board is important to NHL Stenden. In selecting members for the Executive Board, the university strives for complementarity and diversity in terms of background and experience, expertise, personality traits, competencies, and gender.

The appendix containsthe complete qualifications and experience profiles of all members of the Executive Board.

Job Opening for a Member of the Executive Board with a Focus on Education, Research, and Internationalization

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences is seeking a strategic and inspiring leader who will help shape the future of education, research, and internationalization. With a keen eye for innovation and a collaborative approach, you will strengthen our educational and research agenda and build sustainable international partnerships.

What we're looking for

You have a relevant academic background (a Ph.D. is preferred) and experience in higher (vocational) education and practice-oriented research. You combine this with a broad social perspective and a relevant strategic network, both regionally and internationally.

Leadership

You are an inspirer and facilitator who motivates and challenges academy directors, lecturers, and instructors. With your vision and experience in change management, you integrate educational and research innovation with quality assurance and organizational development. You foster innovation by bridging policy and practice, with a focus on Design-Based Education and Research. You know how to translate developments in the field of digitization into educational practice.

Your ambition

With a results-oriented approach, you will develop a clear and widely supported vision for NHL Stenden’s education and research agenda. You are a bridge-builder who strengthens education, research, and internationalization, both in the region and on an international level. You do this driven by a desire to prepare our students for the future.

Job Opening: Executive Board Member with a Portfolio in Operations

For the Operations portfolio, we are seeking a decisive Executive Board member who can make NHL Stenden’s operations future-proof. You will play a crucial role in supporting education and research by optimizing processes (efficiency) and thereby driving organization-wide impact. You are skilled at aligning strategy with resources and have a solution-oriented approach.

What we're looking for

You have an academic background relevant to the operational management portfolio and extensive administrative experience within complex organizations. You have extensive experience with digitization and IT. You are familiar with higher education, but preferably have also gained valuable experience in the (semi-)public or private sector. This gives you a broad perspective and the ability to make connections between education, research, and operational management. You have a vision for operational management and experience with organizational design issues.

Leadership

As a servant leader, you inspire and motivate department heads to innovate and improve processes. With strategic insight and a keen sense of efficiency, you bring coherence and consistency to operational processes. Your expertise in change management enables you to implement and sustain long-term changes.

Your ambition

You combine a passion for the subject matter and strong analytical skills with a results-oriented approach. You are enthusiastic about higher professional education, practice-oriented research, and NHL Stenden’s unique role in the region. With your ability to get things done and an innovative mindset, you will help shape the next phase of the university.

Recruitment and Selection Process

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about the Executive Board positions or the process, please contact Rick Verhoeven, managing partner at Colourful People. You can schedule a phone call with himvia this link(0626706757). Please submit your cover letter and resume by January 15, 2025.

In addition to your motivation, we ask that you explain in your letter what specific contribution you intend to make to the collaborative and collegial work within the Executive Board, and what you will need from your fellow Executive Board members in this regard.

Process:

To ensure a balanced decision-making process and facilitate mutual reflection, three committees have been established: one selection committee (SC) for both portfolios, and one advisory committee (AC) for each portfolio. The composition of the committees is provided in the appendix.

• Interviews with the search committee and the advisory committee for the position of Executive Board member with responsibility for Operations are scheduled for week 10.

• Interviews with the search committee and the advisory committee for the position of Executive Board member with responsibility for OO&I are scheduled for week 10.

For more information:

2023 Annual Report

Institutional Plan 2025–2023

NHL Stenden Infographic for 2023

APPENDIX: COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEES

The selection committee consists of the following members:

• the three members of the Board of Trustees' recruitment and selection committee
• the Chair of the Executive Board
• a student nominated by, and who may or may not be a member of, the student section of the HMR
• a staff member nominated by, and who may or may not be a member of, the HMR staff group
• the HR Director (as an advisor to the hiring committee)

The Advisory Committee on Education and Research consists of the following members:

• an academy director
• a department director
• a lecturer
• a student who is not a member of the student wing of the HMR/AMR/DMR
• an employee who is not part of the HMR/AMR/DMR staff

The Advisory Committee on Service Provision consists of the following members:

• two department directors (including the director of corporate staff)
• an academy director
• a student who is not a member of the student wing of the HMR/AMR/DMR
• an employee who is not part of the HMR/AMR/DMR staff