Imrat Verhoeven new professor by special appointment

Who are you?

I am Imrat Verhoeven, assistant professor of Governance and Public Policy in the Political Science department at the University of Amsterdam. I have been collaborating with the AUAS for several years through the Centre for Urban Studies at the UvA, working with the research group Coordination of Urban Issues and the Centre of Expertise Just City. Currently, we are conducting joint research on the energy transition in the NWO project Just Prepare. My background is in sociology. As a postdoctoral researcher, I became interested in the conflicting interests of residents and professionals when studying community initiatives in the ‘Vogelaarwijken’or ‘Vogelaar districts’. With funding from the government, residents created facilities for the elderly or projects to improve the livability of the neighbourhood. Sometimes this led to conflicts with professionals. That's where my interest in democratic professionalism actually began.

Rather than saying ‘I am the professional, so listen to me’ or pandering to the residents’ every whim, causing them to lose their autonomy, instead, they should say: ‘Let's work together’.

What is democratic professionalism?

Democratic professionalism refers to the willingness of professionals to partly relinquish their professional control over issues. My research takes a normative approach. When professionals collaborate with residents and other organizations, I believe they should act democratically by sharing their own power position. Rather than saying ‘I am the professional, so listen to me’ or pandering to the residents’ every whim, causing them to lose their autonomy, instead, they should say: ‘Let's work together’. What knowledge do you bring from your community, what are your skills, and how do they complement mine?

What will you research as Professor by Special Appointment of Democratic Professionalism?

I will conduct action research on the energy transition and the master plans of Nieuw-West and Zuidoost. The energy transition is not only a technical process, but also a social one. When homes are transitioned away from gas, it affects people's lives. This triggers resistance. Maybe you and your family are in a debt restructuring process and cannot afford to make the switch. Maybe your house has so much mould that it has caused health problems. Recognition is crucial in such interactions. Do you, as a professional, see people? Or do you operate solely from your perspective when implementing the energy transition? Similarly, with the master plans, professionals are expected to collaborate extensively with residents and various organisations. How can you ensure that those other groups are given space, while you bring in your professional knowledge and skills?

What are you looking forward to?

I have found the AUAS to be an organisation that offers a bit more stability. I am eager to learn together with practical professionals and develop intervention forms. Additionally, I am very much looking forward to collaborating with (senior) researchers from various research groups.