https://www.iss.nl/en/news/prince-claus-chair-20-years-excellence-equity...
https://princeclauschair.nl/
The Prince Claus Chair (PCC) is proud to present its 2023-2024 Highlights Report, marking two decades of fostering academic excellence and international collaboration in equity and development.
The Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development was established by Utrecht University and the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam in early 2003 in honour of his royal highness Prince Claus of the Netherlands (1926-2002).
The establishment of the Chair attests to the deep respect and appreciation of the academic community of Utrecht University and the ISS for Prince Claus as a person, for his work, and for his commitment to, and authority in, the field of equity and development throughout the world.
Chairholder 2022 – 2024: Dr Fatima Denton
Dr Fatima Denton appointed to Prince Claus Chair
As of 1 September 2022, Dr. Fatima Denton will formally start the Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development at Utrecht University on ‘Just Transitions’.
Watch her inaugural lecture titled “Lecture on Power and Powerlessness”. The lecture argued for a just transition that allows new players, power structures, and interest groups to challenge the current trajectory and highlights the marginalised and powerless groups affected by climate change.
About Dr Denton’s research
As holder of the Prince Claus Chair, Fatima Denton’s goal is to democratize the debate around Just Transitions, ensuring voice and participation of those communities most affected by transition processes, in Africa in particular.
Dr. Denton informally kicked off her appointment with a keynote speech during the LERU Summer School on July 6th, with the theme ‘The University of the Future: Rethinking the role of universities worldwide in the face of the challenges of the 21st century’.
-
Chairholder 2023 – 2025: Dr Sebastián Ureta
Dr Sebastián Ureta appointed to Prince Claus Chair
As of 1 September 2023, Dr Sebastián Ureta will formally start the Prince Claus Chair at ISS in Technology and Citizen Science: Connecting Local Environments with Climate Change.
About Dr Ureta’s research
As holder of the Prince Claus Chair, Sebastián Ureta’s goal is to open the public discussion about a critical aspect of citizen science that is seldom discussed: the massive difficulties that projects focused on developing low-cost environmental assessment technologies face in moving beyond successful prototypes, especially in the global south.
Rea
Chairholder 2024 – 2026: Professor Shazly Savahl
Professor Shazly Savahl appointed to Prince Claus Chair
As of 1 September 2024, Professor Shazly Savahl has formally started the Prince Claus Chair on the well-being of children and young people.
About Professor Savahl’s research
Central to Professor Savahl’s approach is his conviction that the well-being of children and young people must be afforded the highest priority. He emphasizes that fostering their physical, emotional, and psychological health is essential for their overall development and success. His research focuses on critical aspects of children’s quality of life, such as health and education, while also striving to enhance their overall life satisfaction and happiness.
“We use subjective data to complement objective quality of life indicators, providing a more comprehensive understanding when developing programs and policies for children and young people”, Professor Savahl explains. This focus on the subjective aspect of well-being is key to his mission, as it promotes genuine participation and elevates the voices of young people.
Reflecting on his vision, he asks, “What do we envision for our children? We want them to have good objective living conditions, but we certainly also want them to be happy with their lives.”
Grounded in a social justice framework, Professor Savahl believes that advancing children’s authentic participation and ensuring that their perspectives on matters affecting their lives is respected, is a moral imperative. “Ultimately, we are striving for a child-conscious society”, he states, underscoring the importance of recognizing and prioritizing the rights and needs of children.
During his tenure, Professor Savahl aims to reshape societal perspectives on investing in young people. “Through our partnership with Utrecht University, we aim to foreground children’s voices through participatory initiatives and harness evidence-based research to develop programs and policies for children and young people,” he asserts. He is also committed to creating opportunities for emerging researchers, and advancing the field of quality of life research.
