UU President Anton Pijpers stepping down in November

Pijpers was appointed to the position of UU President in 2017. It was a surprising succession to Marjan Oudeman as that was the first time someone who already worked at the university became its highest boss. The seven predecessors who had led Utrecht University since the introduction of the Executive Board in 1971 all came from outside.

Anton Pijpers had already served as the Vice-President of the Executive Board for three years before his appointment. Prior to that role, he had been associated with UU for almost his entire career. Pijpers was reappointed as UU President in 2021. He will turn 67 in April, at which point he will also retire.

Work pressure
As president of the Executive Board, Pijpers guided UU through the pandemic. He also focused on strengthening research consortia studying social issues, including collaborations with the universities in Eindhoven and Wageningen.

He also used 50 million euros, the so-called incentive funds, to persuade faculties to hire more permanent staff and thus reduce the workload for everyone. The Recognition & Rewards programme also overhauled the rigid career policy for scientists.

One of the issues he had to deal with during his presidency was the complicated housing assignment for the university. This involved discussing the future of the Kruyt building, the Van Unnik building and the University College site. In the coming years, UU will have to continue investing heavily in upgrading its ageing buildings.

He was also closely involved in the development plans for Utrecht Science Park, such as when he helped draft an environmental vision for the campus, which required a great deal of attention. Some of the main points in this document include making the campus greener, increasing the student housing offer, and offering more room for business activity at USP.

Expense claims
In 2018, Pijpers came under fire for the high costs he claimed for travel expenses. He lived near Zutphen at the time and later moved to Utrecht. The Education Inspectorate concluded that his travel costs were not unlawful or inefficient, though the issue continued to haunt Pijpers.

In recent years, he has been criticised by students and staff committed to breaking ties with Israeli universities and the fossil fuel industry. He is also said to have done too little to oppose the budget cuts that the Dick Schoof cabinet has imposed on universities.

Karin Laglas, Chair of the Supervisory Board, says she will miss Pijpers: 'His unique blend of academic insight, business acumen, results-driven focus, managerial skill, and pleasant demeanor were important ingredients to the success of his tenure on the board.'

Forty years
Pijpers studied Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University. In a recent conversation with DUB about this time as a student, he said he used to spend many hours on the skating rink. 

Pijpers became a teacher after working for several years as a vet. He obtained his doctorate in 1990, specialising in poultry, and was appointed Professor three years later. He became the dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2009.

Pijpers has been affiliated with UU for almost forty years. He only took a break from UU between 2000 and 2009, when he worked as the General Director of the Animal Health Service in Deventer.

Pijpers says it is ‘weird’ that this chapter of his life is coming to an end. ‘At the same time, I am also looking forward to my retirement and having more time for my family and hobbies, such as cycling. I will never completely let go of the university in my heart, and I will keep following the organisation with interest.’

Meanwhile, the search for Pijpers' successor has begun. Candidates have three weeks to apply to the vacancy.