Tilburg University's weekly periodical, Univers, has won the 2009 Gouden Luis in de Pels, an award for the best journalistic medium on Dutch higher education. During a festive event on Wednesday 18 November the Univers editorial team was presented with the award by jury chairman Frits van Oostrom.

The award, an initiative of the University of Amsterdam and Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences, was awarded by an independent jury consisting of Frits van Oostrom (former president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and University Professor at Utrecht University), Doekle Terpstra (chairman of the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences), Frank van Vree (professor of Journalism and Culture at the University of Amsterdam) and Gerard Oosterwijk (chairman of the LSVb, the national students' union). According to the jury report, Univers is a well-written, broadly-oriented and discerning publication, with a host of excellent articles based on own research. The magazine focuses on the triumvirate of science, culture and society and student life. As a result, Univers is also of interest to staff members. Univers meets the jury's criteria in nearly every area, with the exception of its design. The jury called on the Tilburg University Board to provide the magazine with the necessary financial means to lend the publication the visual flair it deserves.

Assessment procedure

The entries were assessed on the basis of several criteria: journalistic quality, in-house productions, design, varied subject matter and critical attitude. Obviously, the assessments took into account differences in terms of institutional embedment. The selection procedure consisted of two phases. Firstly, a group of UvA journalism Master's students (mainly educated at other universities) drew up a shortlist. This list featured five publications: Atrium, a publication of The Hague University of Applied Sciences, the University of Amsterdam's Folia, Resource from Wageningen University, Utrecht University's U-blad and Univers by Tilburg University. The jury, headed by Frits van Oostrom, then appointed Univers the winner.

About the Gouden Luis in de Pels award

The Gouden Luis in de Pels award was initiated last year by the University of Amsterdam and Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences. The initiative marked the 60th anniversary of Folia, the University of Amsterdam's weekly periodical. The Board initiated the award in an attempt to emphasise the importance of high quality, independent journalism on events and developments in the area of higher education.