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University of Humanistic Studies awards honorary doctorates to Kristján Kristjánsson and Sheila Sitalsing


The University of Humanistic Studies celebrates its 35th anniversary on 29 January 2024, with the awarding of two honorary doctorates. Professor  Kristján Kristjánsson is awarded an honorary doctorate for his scientific research and societal impact at the intersection between moral education , moral psychology and philosophy.  Economist and journalist Sheila Sitalsing is awarded an honorary doctorate for her contribution to the public debate. 


The honorary doctorates will be awarded during the celebration of the Dies Natalis on 29 January in the Geertekerk church in Utrecht. This celebration marks the start of the University’s lustrum year. On 30 January, a symposium will be held titled: ‘What to do if you don’t know what to do. On dilemmas of educators, chaplains and public officials’, with honorary doctor Kristján Kristjánsson as principal guest. This is followed by the first edition of the conversation series ‘In gesprek: weten en doen’ , with honorary doctor Sheila Sitalsing. This first conversation is devoted to the research and public debate on Dutch colonial history.

Honorary doctorate for Kristján Kristjánsson

Kristján Kristjánsson is Professor of Character Education and Virtue Ethics at the University of Birmingham and deputy director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues. He also serves as a part-time professor at the University of Iceland and Boston College. He sees himself as a “bridge-builder between philosophy and social science”. 


Kristján Kristjánsson is awarded the honorary doctorate because his scientific research is of exceptional significance for the University of Humanistic Studies and for science in general, but also because of the societal impact of his work. As Doret de Ruyter, honorary promoter and Professor of Education at the University of Humanistic Studies, explains: “Kristján Kristjánsson’s impressive scientific work comprises the academic fields of moral education, moral psychology, moral philosophy and philosophy of education. Thanks to his ability to combine these disciplines in a fruitful manner, his work is always surprising and innovative. His research themes all have some bearing on the main humanist values such as empathy, justice, friendship, moral emotions, wisdom and education.”


Doret de Ruyter continues: “In addition, Kristján Kristjánsson has successfully drawn public attention to the importance of virtues, character building and flourishing as an aim of education. With his colleagues at the Jubilee Centre, he has published practical guidelines for professionals and parents and he gives lectures to professionals and the general public. They recently developed a free online course on practical wisdom for professionals. His work has huge added value for education and research at the University of Humanistic Studies, and we therefore hugely appreciate our collaborative relationship.”

 Honorary doctorate for Sheila Sitalsing 

Sheila Sitalsing is an economist, journalist, and member of the Netherlands Press Council (Raad voor de Journalistiek). She currently writes for  platforms including De Volkskrant, Het Oog op Morgen and One World. She won the Heldring award for political reporting in 2013. 


Sheila Sitalsing is awarded the honorary doctorate for the exceptional social significance of her work. As such, she is an inspiration to the scientific education and research at the University of Humanistic Studies. As Menno Hurenkamp, honorary promoter and Professor of Democracy at the University, explains: “Sheila Sitalsing is a visible and audible figure in the public debate, as a very well informed critic of bureaucratic excesses as demonstrated for instance in the childcare benefits scandal, and the  complacent culture surrounding issues such as diversity and integration. She can switch effortlessly between detailed criticism of the decision making at the Tax and Customs Authority to the problematic treatment of Dutch colonial history. Through her combination of tone of voice and content, she has managed to carve out a role in public debate for various societal groups that otherwise tend to get overlooked. She focuses on interrogating the powers that be, without getting caught up in criticising fringe phenomena. At the same time, she is very good at avoiding alienating people, despite her sharp criticism.”  


Menno Hurenkamp continues: “The topics that Sitalsing addresses are important for the research by the University of Humanistic Studies on the theme of ‘a meaningful life in a just and caring society’. Themes like (failures in)  the implementation of policy and the cultural and emotional debates that precede (new) policy are relevant to issues of recognition and social justice, which play an important role in research at the University. She is a social critic who stands out for her style, tone and phrasing, and her focus on what exactly you wish to understand. This makes her a source of inspiration for education and research at the University of Humanistic Studies.” 


photo Sheila Sitalsing: Najib Nafid

The University of Humanistic Studies celebrates its 35th anniversary on 29 January 2024, with the awarding of two honorary doctorates, to Professor Kristján Kristjánsson and journalist Sheila Sitalsing.