SMEs in the Northern part of the Netherlands are key in the Professorship of Financial Economics Management (FEM). Despite the fact that SMEs with 50 – 250 employees play a crucial role in keeping the regional economy going, the role of SMEs often heavily underestimated. In literature SMEs are often referred to as the ‘hidden champions’, but who are these SMEs in the northern of the Netherlands actually?
The Professorship “FEM in SME” was established in September 2007 and aims at being a centre of expertise for SMEs in the northern part of the Netherlands. The Professorship wants to achieve this by combining research, education and practical experience whilst focussing on the questions that a Financial Economic Manager faces. Research shows that a Financial Economic Manager in a SME is kept busy with the following:
• Risk Management
• The role of e-finance
• Non-financial management information
Together with various stakeholders, the Professorship researches the above along with some additional themes. After having done research, suggestions are made which can easily be applied by SMEs. The results of the research carried out become available to SMEs so that they can gain knowledge. These results are also used for the curricula of the study programmes belonging of the School of FEM in order to keep them up-to-date and practice oriented.
In addition to the above research areas, the Professorship will also focus on subjects related to financial economic management. To support this, a database with SMEs in the northern part of the Netherlands needs to be set up.
The Professorship of Financial Economics Management in SMEs is a cooperation of IJsselvliet Ltd. and the School of Financial Economic Management (FEM).
Professor: Hidde van der Wal (directeur IJselvliet B.V.) MA
h.van.der.wal@pl.hanze.nl
Associate Professor: Ed Jansen
(050) 595 2986
e.w.jansen@pl.hanze.nl