's-Hertogenbosch, 1 October 2020 - Dick Pouwels (1969), will be leaving his position as Chairman of the Board of Governors at HAS University of Applied Sciences on 1 January 2021. On Tuesday, 29 September, Dick Pouwels tendered his resignation to the Board of Trustees, which they accepted. This follows his appointment as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, which he will take up on 1 January 2021.
Dick Pouwels has been Chairman at HAS University of Applied Sciences for almost 10 years. The Board of Trustees truly appreciates his work and is grateful for all he has done during this time. “We very much regret that Dick Pouwels has decided to leave HAS University of Applied Sciences,” explains Hans Huijbers, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “Dick has devoted his energy to the further development of HAS University of Applied Sciences for 10 years. Under his leadership, HAS University of Applied Sciences has developed from a small university of applied sciences into a high-quality green centre of knowledge and expertise for education, research and valorisation. Following the opening of a second HAS University of Applied Sciences site in Venlo in 2013, the number of students and lectureships has grown significantly, and we have developed a solid offering for the professional market. We are delighted for Dick, and congratulate him on his appointment to his challenging position at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. With his departure, we are losing a people-oriented and inspiring director, with a passion for working together with colleagues and students, as well as with professionals and stakeholders, to come up with solutions to issues across the agrifood and the living environment sectors.”
Dick looks back on his years at HAS University of Applied Sciences with gratitude. “Over recent months, I have been weighing up for myself whether staying would be wise for the HAS and for me personally. My conclusion is that, with the new strategic framework and the redesign of the organisation, the HAS is facing a new phase in its development. A development phase that requires leadership from someone who wants to shape this for a longer period of time. I have concluded for myself that I am ready for a new environment and for the challenges that come with it.
I am fully aware that my departure in the middle of corona comes at a difficult moment. These are challenging times not only for us at HAS University of Applied Sciences, but for all universities of applied sciences and other academic institutions. Over the past months, all of our employees have succeeded in shaping our education provision with a great deal of quality and energy. As the Board of Governors, we have often indicated that we are extremely impressed and grateful for this. I am confident that the HAS is perfectly capable of shaping the bright future, as outlined in our strategic framework, without me.”
Dick Pouwels will continue working at HAS University of Applied Sciences until January. At the moment, it is not yet known who will succeed Dick. It is now the task of the Board of Trustees to appoint a successor. Until the date of his departure, Dick will continue to fulfil his responsibilities together with fellow board members, Liz Chermin and Erwin van Geenen. The Board of Governors will continue to further realise the ambitions of HAS University of Applied Sciences.