Research

In addition to breadth of scope and mass, a flourishing research environment also requires specialisation and focus, according to the UvA's strategic plan entitled ‘Learning to excel' (‘Leren excelleren'). In order to translate this basic principle into concrete measures, 15 research priority areas were formulated across the full breadth of the organisation. The objective is to promote scientific excellence and help the UvA play a leading international role in various academic disciplines.
A maximum of three research priorities were selected for each faculty; in the case of the Faculty of Humanities, one of these priorities transcends the faculty's scope.

Cultural Transformations and Globalization

Cultural Transformations and Globalisation

Both cultural and geographical boundaries are disappearing at great speed. As a result, we are seeing the emergence of new spaces, new encounters and new reasons to communicate. Digitisation and globalisation form the dynamic core of this rapid and drastic cultural transformation. How will this affect the existence of various identities? What sort of cultural shifts is globalisation causing in areas such as migration, European identity, the nation state, the ethnicity of minorities and religion?

Cultural Heritage and Identity

How does today's and yesterday’s culture shape the identity of people, groups or nations? This research priority area revolves around the key concepts of cultural dynamics, appropriation processes, tradition, comparativeness, the transfer of culture, imagology, war heritage, museification, restoration and conservation.

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Brain and Cognitive Sciences

The term cognition essentially refers to the mental skills we need in order to interact with our environment and learn how to improve ourselves. The priority area is based on collaboration between physicians, psychologists, neurologists, economists, behavioural scientists, biologists, linguists and logicians and transcends faculty boundaries.

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