Research Group Changing Role of Europe

Chris Aalberts has written books on right wing populist parties, the European Union, social media, media relations and young people's political engagement. Chris is a political reporter for ThePostOnline and a columnist at Noordhollands Dagblad, Haarlems Dagblad en de Gooi- en Eemlander (e.a.). He also writes for De Kanttekening. He is senior lecturer at THUAS Graduate School. 

The objective of Chris’ research work is to develop a study book that can be used in parallel to introductory books about the EU for students and professionals so as to illustrate what happens within European political structures - organizations and institutions whose tasks and powers are explained in detail elsewhere - with stories from those involved in European politics. What do they do every day, what are their experiences, insights and lessons during their careers in Brussels? Research focuses on everyday work processes as they occur around certain political issues.

Dr Éva Mária Földes is lecturer in the International and European Law Programme. She earned her PhD degree at the Central European University, Budapest, Hungary. Prior to joining the THUAS LAW programme, she worked as post-doctoral researcher at Tilburg University, Department of European and International Public Law and TILEC – Tilburg Law and Economics Center. She also worked as assistant professor at the University of Vienna, Institute for European Integration Research. She is currently teaching diverse courses in the field of EU law.

Éva Mária’s research project explores the very timely topic of ‘Healthcare governance in times of the Corona pandemic: new actors, new solutions, long-term impact?’. Cross-country differences in responses to the pandemic illustrate that health is largely about the political choices that determine regulatory action. Efforts to fight the pandemic have also shown that non-state actors (professional networks, corporations, civil society) can influence healthcare governance and promote novel solutions with possible long-term impact. The research will have apply a two-fold focus: on the one hand, it will focus on EU law perspective and, on the other, on human rights and technology perspective.

Rosa Groen is a PhD candidate at Leiden University and lecturer at the Dutch Bedrijfskunde (Business Administration) programme of the Faculty of Management and Organisation at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She is currently finishing her PhD project on the policy process of attracting International Organisations by four Western European medium-sized cities: The Hague, Geneva, Vienna and Copenhagen. At Bedrijfskunde she teaches public management, international relations, qualitative and quantitative research skills, and projects in The Hague. Rosa also takes part in the graduate school of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs and the Dual PhD Center at Leiden University. She has earned a scholarship of the NWO for teachers, the Promotiebeurs voor Leraren, in 2015. Rosa is the Secretary of the Participation Council of her programme and Country Tutor of Spain. Furthermore, she is the founder of the Research Community of her Faculty and invites everyone to pitch ideas on combining education and research!

Tolgan Raben is a lecturer at the European Studies programme at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Tolgan researches the drivers for cooperation between entities (public authorities – private businesses – educational institutions) that participate in European cross-border collaboration. Through his research he intends to deliver practical tools for cross-border cooperation. Tolgan has always been fascinated by Dutch-German cross-border relations. Tolgan studied German Studies at the University of Groningen. Besides that, he worked in Dutch-German relations. Tolgan was a trade advisor at the Dutch Consulate-General in Hamburg and a market advisor to Germany for the Dutch foreign trade agency. In both capacities Tolgan supported and facilitated Dutch and German SME's to conduct cross-border business.