Prof. dr. Koen Becking MPA
Chair University Board & Rector Magnificus
‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’
- Nelson Mandela -
Since 2020, Prof Dr Koen Becking, MPA, is the Rector Magnificus and Chairman of the Executive Board of Nyenrode Business University.
Koen Becking was Chief Executive Officer of Tilburg University from 2012 to 2019. During his chairmanship, Becking managed a transition at Tilburg University, in which a new course was set for the academic identity organization with a full focus on growth and innovation. As part of this, he also started various initiatives such as the Virtual Reality Lab Tilburg University and Mindlabs Tilburg, the European network of research universities for Business and Economics and the Heronimus Academy of Data Sciences in collaboration with Eindhoven University of Technology.
From 2007 to 2012, Becking was Chairman of the Board at broadcasting station KRO. Prior to that, he was director of the privatized Rijksopleidingsinstituut ROI (Dutch Training Institute).
Becking obtained his PhD in 2001 at Utrecht University on the subject of industrial relations. In 1992 he graduated as a political scientist from the University of Amsterdam and in 1999 he obtained his Master of Public Administration at the Netherlands School of Public Administration.
Secondary positions
Becking is chair of the Supervisory Board of the National Museum of World Cultures (Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen), which includes the Museum of Ethnology (Museum Volkenkunde), Tropenmuseum the Africa Museum and the Wereldmuseum. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Press Center Nieuwspoort. He also holds the following additional positions:
- Honorary professor at Stellenbosch University;
- Member Economic Board Utrecht.