To safeguard the quality of research within Leiden University, a committee of external experts evaluates the University’s institutes once every six years according to the Standard Evaluation Protocol which is drawn up by the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU), The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and the Netherlands Organisation for Academic Research (NWO).

International review committee

The composition of the 2024 international review committee commissioned to assess the research of the Institute for History:

• Prof. dr. Keimpe Algra – Utrecht University
• Prof. dr. Sujit Sivasundaram – Cambridge University
• Prof. dr. Graeme Small – Durham University
• Dr. Selin Dilli – Utrecht University
• Sanne Steen – Erasmus University
• Dr. Monika Sie Dhian Ho – Director Clingendael Institute

Assessment

The research was assessed on the basis of three criteria: research quality, relevance to society, and viability. Special attention was given to questions of academic culture, PhD policy, Open Science and HR policy. We are pleased with the high appreciation of the assessment committee for the Institute for History. The committee assessed the Institute as ‘internationally leading in historical research’, praised its ‘extraordinary productivity’ in a broad spectre of genres and media (ranging from journal articles and monographies to podcasts and op-eds). We were pleased to hear back from the committee that they see the Institute as a ‘happy place to work’. The committee appreciates the transparent governance structure and recognises the values that underpin the policy of the Management team: autonomy (for individual employees) and collegiality.

We are also pleased to see that the committee emphasised the importance of the way in which research and education are entangled in the work of our colleagues. We agree that this aspect contributes to the quality of our work both in terms of academic and in societal output. We were proud to read that the committee describes the institute as ‘leading the field’ and the research of our staff as ‘world class’.

At the same time the committee signals that it will be a challenge to maintain this situation. Budget cuts may put pressure on the collegial institute’s culture and the quality of our research. In addition, the committee recommended to update the Institute structure and provide a number of recommendations concerning the monitoring of PhD progress and supervision, the institute’s culture and our visibility in society.

The Institute for History is thankful to the committee for its thorough and conscientious assessment. The Institute has written a response to the most important recommendations of the committee and has begun to work on these challenges.