{"id":72033,"date":"2017-05-24T09:42:33","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T07:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/2017\/05\/24\/decaan-rsm-banden-met-shell-doorsnijden-lost-niets-op-integendeel\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:47","slug":"decaan-rsm-banden-met-shell-doorsnijden-lost-niets-op-integendeel-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/05\/24\/decaan-rsm-banden-met-shell-doorsnijden-lost-niets-op-integendeel-2\/","title":{"rendered":"RSM dean: \u2018Severing ties with Shell won\u2019t solve a thing. On the contrary.\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140316\/Decaan-Dean-Steef-van-de-Velde-RSM-1280x853.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139121\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140316\/Decaan-Dean-Steef-van-de-Velde-RSM-1280x853.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139121 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140316\/Decaan-Dean-Steef-van-de-Velde-RSM-875x583.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139121 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140316\/Decaan-Dean-Steef-van-de-Velde-RSM-300x200.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139121 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140316\/Decaan-Dean-Steef-van-de-Velde-RSM.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139121 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p><span>RSM-decaan Steef van de Velde<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Last week, the sustainability think tank Changerism <a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/05\/16\/shell-kan-opzet-rsm-curriculum-beinvloeden\/\">published a critical report<\/a> about ties between the fossil fuel industry and Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). In the researchers\u2019 view, these relations with corporations like Shell and BP legitimised a business model that is partly responsible for global warming and is taking next to no measures to prevent further climate change. The researchers call on the University to break off its relations with the fossil fuel industry (a <a href=\"http:\/\/changerism.com\/portfolio\/a-pipeline-of-ideas\/\">full version of the report<\/a> can be found on Changerism\u2019s website). RSM dean Steef van de Velde offers a detailed response.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read more about the Changerism report<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/05\/16\/shell-kan-opzet-rsm-curriculum-beinvloeden\/\">\u2018Shell able to influence design of RSM curriculum\u2019<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Were you surprised by the Changerism report?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course, we knew they were working on this study. The Executive Board had asked the researchers to map out which relations the University maintains with various actors in the energy chain and issue recommendations in this context. I enthusiastically pledged our support to this study, since this is a very important theme for us.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut it soon became clear from the authors\u2019 ideological approach that they only wanted to examine our relations with the top 100 most polluting companies. We were aware that this angle would undoubtedly lead to unfavourable conclusions for our faculty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>According to the authors of the report, RSM contributes to climate change, by working together with companies in the fossil fuel industry. What is your perspective on this conclusion?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis actually wasn\u2019t the authors\u2019 conclusion, but their premise: that any form of collaboration with a fossil fuel company is bad. RSM\u2019s mission is \u2018to be a force of positive change in the world\u2019 \u2013 precisely because we are convinced that we can and should play an important role in solving the major challenges that we face around the world. The energy transition is one such challenge. But it isn\u2019t one that can be resolved in the short term. That\u2019s why it wouldn\u2019t solve a thing if universities were to sever their ties with companies in the fossil fuel sector. On the contrary. Our position is that precisely by working together with these companies, you can help minimise their footprint, until the actual transition has come about, and step up the energy transition process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have performed studies that are critical of Shell and conducted research into renewable energy and into the transition toward electric vehicles. Unfortunately, the authors of the report have consciously ignored all these activities. They aren\u2019t interested in the substantive details of our relationship with fossil fuel industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\t\u2018It isn\u2019t a case of Shell secretly bankrolling this study\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"flex mt-6 image:rounded-full image:max-w-[4.375rem] gap-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"mt-[1px]\">&ndash;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block text-lg font-tiempos-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSteef van de Velde\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p><strong>One of the examples presented in the report is a study focussing on the Netherlands\u2019 business climate for the headquarters of major corporations. This research was paid for by Shell, but the company wasn\u2019t listed as a funding source in the publication. Why wasn\u2019t Shell named as a financer?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis study was commissioned by a committee established by the employers\u2019 organisation VNO-NCW. The committee members included five representatives from the Netherlands\u2019 private sector (AkzoNobel, DSM, Philips, Shell and Unilever) and two from VNO-NCW. This VNO-NCW committee commissioned the study and indicated which subjects were to be examined. To this end, the researchers were required to interview representatives of 50 major corporations, which were also all asked to help fund the study. The invoice could be sent to Shell. It was clear to us that the commissioning party was the VNO-NCW committee and that the invoice was to be sent to Shell \u2013 for sake of convenience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Shouldn\u2019t this have been specified more clearly in the study report?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe report clearly states that the study was commissioned by VNO-NCW. Of course, this implies that VNO-NCW also paid for the research. It isn\u2019t a case of Shell secretly bankrolling this study. Each of the associated parties participated in the study. We don\u2019t know for a fact whether they all helped fund it as well. What\u2019s more, this research was performed nine years ago, which I believe is also relevant in this context.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nine years ago, the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Scientific Practice also required external sources of funding to be explicitly named in scholarly publications.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s correct. What I meant to say is that back then, there was no reason to assume that so many years later, people would be drawing all these imputations from this case. At the time, the statement that the study was commissioned by VNO-NCW was a valid description of the actual situation: researchers had performed a study ordered by a VNO-NCW committee.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>In hindsight, don\u2019t you regret it wasn\u2019t stated a bit clearer?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes and no. I\u2019m certain that people can always find something that could put you in a very negative light. I don\u2019t think you can phrase things so \u2018water-tight\u2019 that no one ever takes offence. Looking back, you could say that the way we phrased it wasn\u2019t very elegant or fortunate, but unfortunately, this kind of thing happens every now and then.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-component=core\/image><figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20135827\/fullsizeoutput_4d2-300x300.jpeg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139117\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-71335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20135827\/fullsizeoutput_4d2-300x300.jpeg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139117 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20135827\/fullsizeoutput_4d2-900x900.jpeg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139117 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p><span>De partnership-overeenkomst hangt ingelijst aan de muur bij de roltrappen van het Mandeville-gebouw<\/span><\/p> <p data-component=\"image-credits\" class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center text-base\">\n\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M19.5 5.25H16.9012L15.6234 3.33375C15.555 3.23114 15.4623 3.147 15.3535 3.08879C15.2448 3.03057 15.1233 3.00007 15 3H9C8.87665 3.00007 8.75522 3.03057 8.64648 3.08879C8.53773 3.147 8.44502 3.23114 8.37656 3.33375L7.09781 5.25H4.5C3.90326 5.25 3.33097 5.48705 2.90901 5.90901C2.48705 6.33097 2.25 6.90326 2.25 7.5V18C2.25 18.5967 2.48705 19.169 2.90901 19.591C3.33097 20.0129 3.90326 20.25 4.5 20.25H19.5C20.0967 20.25 20.669 20.0129 21.091 19.591C21.5129 19.169 21.75 18.5967 21.75 18V7.5C21.75 6.90326 21.5129 6.33097 21.091 5.90901C20.669 5.48705 20.0967 5.25 19.5 5.25ZM15.375 12.375C15.375 13.0425 15.1771 13.695 14.8062 14.25C14.4354 14.8051 13.9083 15.2376 13.2916 15.4931C12.6749 15.7485 11.9963 15.8154 11.3416 15.6852C10.6869 15.5549 10.0855 15.2335 9.61351 14.7615C9.14151 14.2895 8.82007 13.6881 8.68985 13.0334C8.55962 12.3787 8.62646 11.7001 8.88191 11.0834C9.13735 10.4667 9.56993 9.93964 10.125 9.56879C10.68 9.19794 11.3325 9 12 9C12.8951 9 13.7535 9.35558 14.3865 9.98851C15.0194 10.6214 15.375 11.4799 15.375 12.375Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/job-zomerplaag\/\" class=\"underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2\">Job Zomerplaag<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>Another point of criticism on the part of Changerism: the partnership charter between RSM and Shell. This document states that one of the goals of the partnership agreement is \u2018for Shell to potentially influence the design of the RSM curriculum and the profile of students who attend the BSc\/MSc\/MBA programmes\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe text of this corporate partnership is free for everyone to read on the third floor of our building. That part could indeed have been phrased a bit better. What we actually mean by it is that our contacts with private companies are of major importance for the employability of our students and the practical relevance of our research. They serve as our sounding boards.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Can a corporation like Shell influence the curriculum?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wish to emphasise that a company directly influencing our curriculum is out of the question. We do however closely consult with a wide range of parties to ensure that our curriculum is and remains relevant. This relates to matters like which business skills our students need to develop to be successful on today\u2019s employment market. Shell\u2019s Chief Information Officer is a member of our Advisory Board. This gives us insight into which IT skills our graduates need to acquire. Since many of our students come from China, we also have such an agreement with Huawei, for example \u2013 for a Chinese perspective on key business skills.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"923\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140318\/Shell-RSM-Partnership-uitsnede-pagina-1.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139117\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-71608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140318\/Shell-RSM-Partnership-uitsnede-pagina-1.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139117 2000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140318\/Shell-RSM-Partnership-uitsnede-pagina-1-875x404.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139117 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140318\/Shell-RSM-Partnership-uitsnede-pagina-1-1280x591.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139117 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/06\/20140318\/Shell-RSM-Partnership-uitsnede-pagina-1-300x138.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139117 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p><span>Een deel van de overeenkomst tussen Shell en de RSM<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\t\u2018I definitely don\u2019t want to evade my responsibility, but on our part, we didn\u2019t recognise any malicious intent\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"flex mt-6 image:rounded-full image:max-w-[4.375rem] gap-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"mt-[1px]\">&ndash;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block text-lg font-tiempos-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSteef van de Velde\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p><strong>As you put it: the phrasing for that particular paragraph is highly unfortunate. So why is it in the contract?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, it simply slipped through the net. If you were to ask me who wrote that sentence: I have no idea. I signed it, but I didn\u2019t draw up the actual document. I definitely don\u2019t want to evade my responsibility, but on our part, we didn\u2019t recognise any malicious intent. We didn\u2019t put enough thought into how outsiders could interpret that specific sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you see any reason to adapt these agreements?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, of course we need to adapt them. We will be taking a close look at all our agreements. It would be far better, for example, if a charter like that states that Shell joins us in reflecting on the value of our curriculum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\t\u2018The arms industry is easier to isolate in that respect. We don\u2019t need a transition for that.\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"flex mt-6 image:rounded-full image:max-w-[4.375rem] gap-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"mt-[1px]\">&ndash;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block text-lg font-tiempos-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSteef van de Velde\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p><strong>Are there any companies that you shouldn\u2019t want to collaborate with?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t work together with the arms industry or the porn industry. The principle that you can\u2019t maintain relations with the fossil fuel industry isn\u2019t pragmatic \u2013 it\u2019s unfeasible. Our economy is so networked that unfortunately, we will continue to need fossil fuel for the time being. At present, a society without fossil fuel is inconceivable \u2013 the world would descend into chaos.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe arms industry is easier to isolate in that respect. We don\u2019t need a transition for that. And the tobacco industry is a 98% no-go area. It greatly depends on the details, but I can\u2019t imagine that kind of research would yield results that contribute toward a specific transition. I\u2019m very sceptical about that. Maybe, just maybe, they could decide to sponsor a study that determines how you can help people to quit smoking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>You will be adopting one of recommendations made in the report: to set up a public register that lists all the faculty\u2019s relations with the private sector. Why are you taking this step?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause we want to be very transparent. Making this register is a huge undertaking. We still need to think out the basic structure, how we will be collecting data, and how we will be providing access. We have a whole range of relations with the private sector; numerous individual researchers who work with corporate data. And of course, we also organise a lot of guest lectures \u2013 these need to be mapped out as well. In addition, we deal with some 2,000 final theses per year. Many of these are based on students\u2019 work as an intern at a private company. I expect we will need to structurally employ two or three people if we plan to record each of these collaborations in a register.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Should a register like that also include details on the revenue associated with specific collaborations?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAbsolutely. Which companies we\u2019ve worked with; substantive details on the programmes; who has paid for what.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\t\u2018De beweringen van Changerism zijn aantoonbaar uit de lucht gegrepen en andere zijn uit de context gehaald\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"flex mt-6 image:rounded-full image:max-w-[4.375rem] gap-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"mt-[1px]\">&ndash;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block text-lg font-tiempos-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSteef van de Velde\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p><strong>Changerism calls the scientific integrity of a number of studies into doubt. Do you believe it is necessary to hold a follow-up investigation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have nothing to hide. Changerism\u2019s positions are demonstrably plucked out of the air, and other findings are presented completely out of context [in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rsm.nl\/fileadmin\/Images_NEW\/PDF\/Report_Fossil_Fuel__Industry-_statement_RSM.pdf\">this document<\/a>, Van de Velde explains in further detail why he believes the think tank\u2019s accusations are incorrect, TF]. Our scientific integrity is of the highest standard. And sure, it\u2019s one thing for us to claim this ourselves; but it\u2019s better for this to be confirmed by external experts. That is why I have asked the Executive Board to appoint an external independent committee that can investigate the academic integrity of our relations with the private sector.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Which brief will this committee be given?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe still need to determine the exact brief in consultation with the Executive Board, but it will definitely include examining the relations put forward by Changerism. Basically, this is what the study will boil down to: it will focus on the relations that RSM maintains with the private sector, but also with civil society and public authorities. We wish to determine whether these relations stand the test of scientific integrity, and whether we have structured our procedures in a way that minimises risks.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read more about the steps RSM is taking<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/05\/18\/rsm-laat-eigen-integriteit-onderzoeken-2\/\">RSM commissions investigation into its own integrity<\/a><\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week, the sustainability think tank Changerism published a critical report about ties between the fossil fuel industry and Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). In the researchers\u2019 view, these relations with corporations like Shell and BP legitimised a business model that is partly responsible for global warming and is taking next to no measures to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[155,113],"em_content_type":[24778],"class_list":["post-72033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education","category-research","em_content_type-nieuws"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>RSM dean: \u2018Severing ties with Shell won\u2019t solve a thing. 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