The Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) sectorplans were launched in 2022 with the aim of creating stability and space within the SSH domain, reducing workload, and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and societal impact. An interim evaluation (June 2026) by the SSH-sectorplan Commission shows that this annual investment of €70 million is already bearing fruit. The sectorplans have proven to be an effective instrument for renewal, impact, and innovation within and from the domain.
Sectorplans SSH: a successful instrument for renewal
The sectorplans have provided a unique boost to the SSH-domain. With 464 FTEs allocated to new assistant professor positions—82% of which are permanent contracts—there is now greater stability and impact within the domain. The student-staff ratio has improved from 21 students per staff member in 2020/2021 to 18–19 in 2022–2024. Additionally, interdisciplinary collaboration has increased significantly, both at the faculty level and between universities. New networks have been formed, and cross-university connections have been established, creating a flywheel effect: researchers not appointed under the sectorplan also benefit from the new dynamics.
The commission concludes in its report: “The investment is yielding results, and in the second phase, the efforts can be capitalized on.” (p. 10)
Impact per sectorplan
The SSH-sectorplans comprise three components: Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, and the Cross-Cutting Theme.
Sectorplan Social and Behavioral Sciences
With an annual budget of €28.8 million, 212.9 FTE assistant professors have been appointed, 97% of whom hold permanent contracts. The sector is developing innovative research lines on themes such as resilience in youth, mental disorders, the human factor in new technologies, societal transitions and behavioral change, and societal inequality and diversity.
Sectorplan Humanities
With an annual budget of €23.8 million, 147.6 FTE assistant professors have been appointed, 95% of whom hold permanent contracts. The sector is strengthening collaboration on themes such as humane AI and the datafied society, cultural heritage and identity, and languages and cultures.
Sectorplan Cross-Cutting Theme
With an annual budget of €17.3 million, 119.9 FTE assistant professors have been appointed, 77% of whom hold permanent contracts. This sectorplan, to which all SSH sectors contribute, focuses on digital themes such as prosperity, work and entrepreneurship, education, citizenship and democracy, communication, information and social inequality, law, privacy and security, and well-being and health.
Cross-Cutting Theme: Prosperity, participation and citizenship in a digital world
Digitalization is a major driver of economic growth and competitiveness. The Netherlands has high ambitions in this area, but technology alone does not create prosperity. Converting digital innovation into earning capacity requires insight into societal effects and the embedding of digitalization. The SSH-sectorplan plays a crucial role in this.
Research into digital entrepreneurship, platformization, and labor market developments helps understand the conditions under which technological investments pay off. New knowledge about the extent to which employees and entrepreneurs effectively utilize digital technology—such as through digital skills, learning behavior, and inclusion—enhances the contribution to our earning capacity.
Future challenges
While the sectorplans have already achieved a great deal, future challenges remain. Perceived workload remains high, and the impact of the sectorplans on this is difficult to measure unambiguously. Additionally, interdisciplinary work sometimes still faces practical barriers and insufficient institutional attention. There is also room for improvement in infrastructure, particularly regarding national coordination and strategic investments.
The commission emphasizes in its report the importance of strong administrative embedding, especially for the Cross-Cutting Theme, and calls for further interdisciplinary collaboration between sectors and domains.
Conclusion
The interim evaluation shows that the SSH-sectorplans have laid an important foundation for a stronger, better-organized, and more impactful SSH domain. The investment is yielding results, and according to the commission: “…in the second phase, the efforts can be capitalized on.”