The SSH-council of The Netherlands (Social Sciences & Humanities) meets several times a year to work on achieving the following goals:

✔️ Structurally increasing the level of organization of the SSH-domain. ✔️ Improving university profiling and complementarity within the SSH-domain and finding national coordination within sectors where appropriate. ✔️ Promoting and helping to expand SSH-expertise and making it available to science and society. ✔️ Creating stronger involvement of the SSH-domain in major social issues.

Important topics

A number of topics are central to the work of the SSH-council.

Firstly, we are working on demonstrating the added value of the SSH-domain more clearly. In addition, the SSH sectorplans are high on the agenda. These are concrete plans by universities to collaborate on crucial themes. We are also working on a national digital infrastructure for the SSH-domain, which should contribute to interdisciplinary cooperation and effectiveness.

Vision

Knowledge and talent are the raw materials for a resilient and prosperous Holland and the SSH-domain (social sciences, humanities, law and economics & business) is indispensable in this process. Firstly, because the domain makes the largest contribution to the dominant and growing Dutch service sector – the engine of the Dutch economy. Secondly, because the quality of public institutions, such as education, the judiciary and mental health care, depends on the quality of SSH-disciplines; these institutions form the foundation for well-being and prosperity in a country.

That is why the SSH-council is working on a strong and coherent Dutch SSH-domain. To further utilize the potential of the domain, we encourage collaboration across the boundaries of disciplines, with a focus on socially relevant research, without losing sight of a strong disciplinary basis. SSH-research provides insight into complex social issues, but it is still underutilized. Solid funding for education, research and impact is a requirement to realize these plans.

The SSH-domain can and wants to contribute to major social issues, including:

1. Youth resilience
2. Mental health
3. The human factor in digitalization
4. Sustainability and behavior
5. Social inequality, poverty, and diversity

Mission

We do this by promoting collaboration between the four SSH-sectors: economics & business, humanities, law and social sciences. Additionally, in collaboration with universities and partners, we ensure that SSH-research is more effectively involved in addressing societal challenges. To guarantee the quality of the domain, we are building a situation in which solid financing is available.

The SSH-council strengthens the position of the SSH-domain, so that it can make a major contribution to prosperity and well-being in the Netherlands.