Digital sovereignty based on public values

What does digital sovereignty mean in practice? Within your institution, how do you get a better grip on your digital environment and that of the sector? Which components deserve priority, and how do you deal with the challenges you face as a board member or director? These questions are at the heart of SURF's new course.

The learning course is part of the Innovation Zone Common Digital Sovereignty that we have started together with our members.

Who are the learning courses for?

The learning courses are divided into a half-day session for board members of universities, universities of applied sciences, UMCs, libraries, MBO and research institutions and a half-day session for directors, CSCs and CIOs of these institutions.

Both learning courses consist of six meetings including lunch and can accommodate up to 25 participants.

No specific prior knowledge is required to participate in the courses. We warmly invite previous participants of the SURF learning course 'Working on values in digitisation' (2022) and the seminar series 'Values, what are they worth?' (2021) to participate in the 2025 edition.

Why participate?

Digitisation poses major challenges for organisations. How do you maintain control over technologies from dominant market players such as Microsoft, OpenAI or Adobe? What alternatives are there? And how do you integrate digital sovereignty into your strategy? That is what we address in this learning course.

During the course you will gain:

• insights into geopolitical and technological developments
• practical solutions for bottlenecks
• tools to conduct discussions with stakeholders inside and outside the organisation.

Topics and speakers

Topics covered include:

• geopolitics and data autonomy
• the role of big tech and open source
• laws and regulations, such as the AI Act
• security, sustainability and procurement strategies

Speakers for the learning course directors:

• Kees Verhoeven (a.o. Bureau Digitale Zaken, Tech expert and former Member of Parliament).
• Maaike Okano-Heijmans (a.o. Lead 'Geopolitics of Tech & Digital' at the Clingendael Institute)
• Andre Dekker (a.o. Professor of Clinical Data Science and Scientific Director MAASTRO clinic)
• Frank Karlitcheck (CEO NextCloud)
• Saskia Lensink (a.o. TNO, GPT-NL, Big Data Value Association and language and speech technology expert)
• Bob van Graft (a.o. CIO CBR)
• Kor de Groot (a.o. Director SSO-North at Ministry of OCW)
• Peter van Burgel (a.o. Chairman of the Board of AMS-IX)
• Erik Huizer (a.o. CEO GÉANT and inducted as Global Connector into the Internet Hall of Fame)
• Bas Dunnebier (Chief Science and Technology Officer at the AIVD, among others)
• Arnoud Engelfriet (a.o. Computer scientist and IT lawyer specialising in AI, data and software, Chief Knowledge Officer ICTRecht)

Speakers for the learning board members:

• Inge Bryan (a.o. Board Chairman DIVD, interim director Sopra Steria, formerly Ordina)
• Eelco Stofbergen (Director Cybersecurity, Sopra Steria)
• José van Dijck (a.o. Professor of Media and Digital Society and recipient of NWO-Spinoza Prize)
• Lokke Moerel (a.o. Professor of Global IT and Senior of Counsel at Morrison & Foerster)
• Kees Verhoeven (a.o. Bureau of Digital Affairs, Tech expert and former Member of Parliament).
• Geert-Jan Bogaerts (a.o. Chairman PublicSpaces and Head of Innovation and Digital Media VPRO)
• Frank Karlitscheck (CEO NextCloud)
• Willem Jonker (a.o. Chairman of the Board AINed)
• Reijer Passchier (a.o. Professor of Digitalisation and the democratic constitutional state, Open University)
• Peter van Burgel (a.o. Chairman of the Board of AMS-IX)
• Jan-Paul van Staalduinen (a.o. CIO of the UU and director of Information and Technology Services (ITS))
• Leo Stoelinga (Lecturer purchasing management HR and purchasing management specialist)

Practical information

Cost

750 euro for the full series

Dates

Session 1 - Friday 31 Jan 2025
Session 2 - Friday 28 Feb 2025
Session 3 - Friday 21 Mar 2025
Session 4 - Friday 25 Apr 2025
Session 5 - Friday 23 May 2025
Session 6 - Friday 20 Jun 2025

• Half-day session for directors: 9:30 to 12:30
• Half-day session for board members: 13:30 to 16:30
• Joint closing session on 20 June 2025

Location

SURF office in Utrecht, Moreelsepark 48, walking distance from Central Station.

Register

You can register via the link below.

More information

If you have additional questions, please contact Wladimir Mufty.