Aspasia

Aspasia was launched in October 1999 as a scheme to increase the number of women senior lecturers. Women are generally less represented in the upper academic echelons. This pyramidal career structure is particularly present in the world of Dutch scientific education and research.

The Ministry of Education, the Association of Universities in the Netherlands and NWO consider it a matter of urgency to take a proactive stance towards the problem of the underrepresentation of women in this position. For that reason the Aspasia was initiated. The programme’s primary objective is to help a greater number of women lecturers in attaining positions as senior lecturers.

In 2000 NWO approved 30 applications, in 2002 another 40. As from 2005 Aspasia new-style has been linked to the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme (Vernieuwingsimpuls). Premiums will be made available for those university Boards that ensure that women Vici and Vici laureates (round 2005 and following) are promoted to senior lecturers or professors within a year after the subsidy is awarded.

Who can apply

Aspasia old-style: women lecturers wanting to qualify for the programme wrote a research proposal. Each proposal submitted to NWO had to be supported by the Board involved.

Aspasia new-style: women wanting to qualify for promotion to senior lecturer or professor via an NWO programme can submit a proposal in the Vidi or Vici round of the Vernieuwingsimpuls Scheme. The laureates will be recommended by NWO to the Boards for promotion; the universities make the decision.

What can be applied for

Aspasia old-style: the NWO grant concerned a 4-year PhD project or a 2-year postdoctoral project and additional research costs to a maximum of 11,000 euro per research trainee- or postdoc-year. The university took financial responsibility for the lecturer’s promotion to senior lecturer and for the senior lecturer candidate’s research, including facilities.

Aspasia new-style: women apply for a Vidi or Vici grant (see www.nwo.nl/vi). Premiums are made available to Boards that ensure that women Vidi and Vici laureates (round 2005 and following) are promoted to senior lecturers or professors within a year after subsidy is awarded.

When can be applied

See the deadlines of the Vidi and Vici round 2009 (www.nwo.nl/vi).

Criteria

The specific conditions for the granting of premiums to the university Boards are mentioned in the Aspasia brochure (in Dutch).

Budget

4 million euro for the Aspasia premiums on a yearly basis.

Financiers

Ministry of Education

Contacts

• Aspasia coordinator
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 05 43 / +31 (0)70 344 06 39, e-mail: aspasia@nwo.nl