On 1 September 2008 Frans Pennings was appointed Professor of Labour Law and Social Security Law at Utrecht University.
After obtaining his doctoral degree in Dutch Language and Literature (Modern Linguistics) Frans Pennings received his degree in Dutch law in 1985, specialization Social Law. In 1990 he won his doctorate from Utrecht University with the thesis ‘Benefits of Doubt. A Comparative Study of the Legal Aspects of Employment and Unemployment Schemes in Great-Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands’. Subsequently he was successively assistant professor, associate professor and full professor at the University of Tilburg. In 2003 he was also appointed Professor of European and Comparative Social Security Law at this university.
Together with Professor Janneke Plantenga he is currently programme leader of the academic research programme regarding life course arrangements that is funded by the Stichting Instituut Gak (Foundation Institute Gak). This programme looks into questions regarding the need for life course arrangements and life course arrangements in relation to mobility and the labour market. These themes are also studied from a European and international perspective. Frans Pennings is also programme leader of the research programme Europe and Social Security of the Institute Gak at the University of Tilburg.
Europa Institute
Frans Pennings is one of the board members of the Europa Institute. The Institute consists of three research departments: European Law, Public Economic law and Social Security law and has expertise in several areas of European Law. On the basis of this broad expertise, the Europa Institute specializes in two subjects: Market Regulation and Citizenship. In addition, the institute functions as a platform to bring expertise in European Law together. The institute collaborates with other research departments within the Law department and with researchers from other disciplines (e.g. Utrecht University School of Governance, Utrecht University School of Economics, Social and Behavourial Science and Humanities). Furthermore, the Europa Institute participates in several international academic networks in the field of European Law.
The Europa Institute carries out contract research for companies, various organizations, the Dutch government and European institutions. The Europa Institute uses its expertise to provide in-company courses to professionals on the request of private and public parties. The Institute has developed into a leading centre of knowledge and expertise with regard to European Law, both in the Netherlands and internationally.
Periodically, the Europa Institute organizes Europa lectures, a series of lectures and conferences in which European law is linked to governmental, business and societal practice. These Europa Lectures are eventually published as Working Papers and are available on the website of the Europa Institute.
Department of labour law
Frans Pennings (chair)
Albertine Veldman (associate professor)
Ivo van der Helm (assistant professor)
Christianne Kramer (assistant professor)
Susanne Heeger (assistant professor)
Teun Jaspers (emiritus professor)
Caroline de Groot (Ph D student)
CV Frans Pennings
Education
1982 Master’s degree in Dutch language and literature
1985 Master’s degree in law 1990 PhD defense at Utrecht University: Benefits of Doubt. A comparative study of the legal aspects of employment and unemployment schemes in Great-Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands (published by Kluwer Law International). 2014 Honorary doctorate Gotenburg University
Work
1985 - 1987 central coordinator of science shops of Utrecht University
1985- 1990 PhD research at Utrecht University
1990 - 1995 assistant professor at Tilburg University
1995 - 2008 associate professor at Tilburg University
2003 - 2012 professor of international social security law at Tilburg University
2002- 2008 professor of European and Comparative social security at Utrecht University
2008 - professor of Labour Law and Social Security Law at Utrecht University
