With the upcoming learning programme ‘Recognising & Rewarding Open Science’, People & Development (P&D) and the Maastricht University (UM) Library invite supervisors of academics and staff with Recognising & Rewarding responsibilities to reflect on these questions together. The guided working sessions will be led by Bo Kruiper, who brings a unique perspective that combines years of experience in academic support with a strong background in coaching and personal development.
A people-centred approach to academic culture
Bo has worked within the academic environment for over 17 years, supporting students and collaborating closely with academic staff. Her background as a study advisor and coach shaped her interest in the theme of Recognition and Rewards.
“What really drew me to this topic is the human side of it,” she explains. “It’s about seeing people for who they are, recognising their efforts, and creating an environment based on openness and integrity.”
Although Open Science was initially a relatively new concept for her, its underlying values felt familiar. Transparency, openness, and collaboration are principles that closely align with her personal and professional approach.
Why Recognition and Rewards matter
Recognition and Rewards are not only policy-level themes, but also play an important role in everyday academic practice. According to Bo, they directly influence team dynamics and motivation.
“When people feel recognised and appreciated, it creates a positive working environment. Colleagues are more engaged, more willing to support each other, and genuinely interested in one another’s work and wellbeing.”
At the same time, these themes are closely connected to Open Science. Open Science is a movement aimed at making scientific outputs, such as research data, software, and methodologies, freely accessible to everyone, thereby increasing transparency, reproducibility, collaboration, and societal impact. By valuing openness, institutions can encourage researchers to look beyond traditional metrics and consider broader contributions to research and education.
Creating awareness through reflection and interaction
The workshop is set up as a blended programme, starting with an online e-learning component followed by interactive, face-to-face sessions. During these sessions, participants from different faculties come together to exchange perspectives and explore challenges.
Bo’s coaching background plays a central role in how the training is structured. Rather than providing fixed answers, she focuses on guiding participants towards their own insights.
“The power of coaching lies in asking the right questions,” she says. “When people arrive at their own conclusions, those insights tend to stay with them.”
Participants can expect an engaging session that combines discussion, creativity, and unexpected perspectives. While the exact exercises remain a surprise, the goal is clear: to spark awareness and encourage participants to reflect on their own role in recognising and rewarding academic work.
An invitation to explore
Whether you are a supervisor, P&D advisor or involved in academic leadership, this workshop offers an opportunity to step back and reconsider how Recognition and Rewards are embedded in your daily work.
As Bo concludes: “Take part and let yourself be surprised.”
Would you like to be part of the change? Join the interactive learning programme consisting of three sessions, each requiring separate registration. You can sign up via My Learning in SuccessFactors (please find an instruction below). The first session will take place on 14 April or 20 April.
- Go to SuccessFactors
- Click on the View My Learning (Mijn Leeromgeving) icon under Quick Actions
- Find the course by searching for “recognising” in the search field at the top of the page
- Select the Program Recognising & Rewarding Open Science
- In the tab Agenda, click on the button “Enroll”
- Subsequently, sign up for the in-person working session dates you prefer (three in total).
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