Counterterrorism professor commences next academic year
A new chair has been created for the prevention of terrorism. The Dutch National Anti-Terrorism Coordinator (NCTb) and Leiden University have taken the initiative to form such a chair to promote scientific research into the subject of counter terrorism.
The special chair is to contribute to improved analysis quality at the various government authorities concerned with the prevention of terrorism.
The new Professor will carry out research at a campus of Leiden University in The Hague known as Campus The Hague. The appointment of the professor is expected to take place soon. The chair will be part of the Public Administration Department of the University’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.
On 24 January, a foundation was set up by deed drawn up by a civil-law notary to create the chair. The Chairman of the Executive Board of the foundation is former Defence Minister Joris Voorhoeve. Other board members include National Counterterrorism Coordinator Tjibbe Joustra and Rolf Ooosterloo of Leiden University.
The foundation’s objects include the promotion of scientific research and education in the field of counterterrorism; a theme Dutch Universities have so far not given much attention to. It also intends to promote the interaction between science and policies relating to terrorism and counterterrorism.
This objective meets the Government’s drive of obtaining intelligence on such phenomenon as radicalisation, recruitment and terrorism, and of improving the quality of the analysis in these areas.
Source: Ministry of Justice, 24 March 2006
