Associate professors may now also wear gowns at doctoral thesis defence ceremonies

Until recently, wearing a gown during thesis defence ceremonies was limited to professors. In practice, however, it is often the associate professors who closely supervise students in their PhD programme.

That’s why, starting this year, they are also permitted to wear a gown during the academic ceremony. By changing its policy, EUR joins other universities, such as the University of Amsterdam, Leiden University and Utrecht University, that had already introduced this change.

Beadle Marleen van Kester notes that EUR had to follow in the footsteps of the other universities. “Because other universities had already implemented this change, the need for EUR to change grew too.” However, this was not without controversy. “The Doctorate Board was not immediately on board with the idea. Traditionally, the gown was reserved for professors only, and changes in academic traditions are always a complex matter.”

Letting go of strict traditions surrounding thesis defence ceremonies is part of the wider trend in academia to more fairly recognise and reward the work of academics. Part of this is a legislative amendment introduced a few years ago, granting ius promovendi – the right to officially award PhD students a doctorate – to academics who are not professors as well.

At EUR, this right is for now limited to associate professors, who must meet strict criteria, such as demonstrable experience in PhD supervision and acquiring research grants. Some members of the University Council argue for ius promovendi to be granted more broadly and to allow all members of the doctoral committee to wear a gown.

While the gown is traditionally considered an indication of the highest academic status, the university wants this change to show that the contribution of various supervisors is equal and essential. For other university ceremonies, such as the Opening of the Academic Year and the Dies Natalis, the gown remains reserved for professors.

Now that the policy change has been in effect for several months, Marleen van Kester has noticed a variety of responses. “Some associate professors who have been granted ius promovendi do not feel the need to wear a gown, while others love it.” The change also brings practical challenges. “More gowns are needed for people to borrow, but they are expensive, which is at odds with the budget cuts within higher education”, Van Kester says.