New ICO membership classifications

Traditionally, ICO has known three types of membership. Besides the ICO PhD-membership, there is an ICO postdoc-membership (for a maximum duration of 3 years), and an ICO staff-membership, including emeritus staff-members. A few years ago an ICO alumni category was added, for former PhD-members with a research position outside of ICO’s universities. These alumni are not ICO members, but stay connected to the ICO network through the ICO newsletter.

Why change?

These current membership types and requirements do not fit all potential ICO members as the requirements emphasise research output. For some junior researchers with small research appointments or a different focus (e.g., teaching) this could mean that they cannot meet the requirements. In addition, the current designations are not always clear.

New classification of ICO’s memberships

We rearrange ICO membership after the PhD-phase as follows: (1) associate fellow, (2) fellow, (3) senior fellow (4) emeritus fellow and (5) alumnus. So including the PhD membership, these are ICO’s new membership options:

1) PhD member (full time or part time): A PhD member is a PhD candidate that is employed by one of the ICO universities, and working on his or her research project in a faculty or institute participating in ICO on educational sciences, pedagogy or related disciplines. To obtain an ICO PhD membership, at least one member of the supervision team has to be an ICO (senior) fellow.

2) Associate fellow: An associate fellow holds an appointment at one of the ICO universities (for at least 0.1 FTE), is employed in a faculty or institute participating in ICO, and should hold a doctorate. The associate fellow is nominated to become ICO member by a senior fellow. From the associate fellowship, one can progress to fellow and senior fellow. Associate fellows are welcome to participate in or to organise ICO Courses. Also they are welcome to take part in ICO events.

3) Fellow: A fellow holds an appointment at one of the ICO universities, is employed in a faculty or institute participating in ICO, and should hold a doctorate. A fellow meets the publication requirement set by ICO (i.e., six publications over the last five years in peer reviewed SSCI journals or ICO journals). ICO also expects them to play an active role within ICO: once every four years they attend the NSS as discussant or chair, or have a role in the organisation of ICO education in either the regular ICO programme or the Spring Schools.

4) Senior fellow: this type of member meets the same requirements as a fellow member, supplemented by participation as a (co)promotor in at least three successfully completed PhD trajectories.

5) Emeritus fellow: a former (senior) fellow with emeritus status and a 0 appointment or hospitality appointment at an ICO-affiliated university.

6) ICO alumnus: these are former ICO PhDs without a research appointment at an ICO affiliated university. They remain connected to the network through the ICO newsletter, and have access to the National Spring School, or share their expertise with current ICO PhDs as tutor in the ICO courses.

Implementation

We will start the implementation of this new classification by updating your membership status. All ICO postdoc-members will automatically become associate fellows. All ICO staff-members will become ICO fellows. In the upcoming year we will do our periodical membership check in connection with the national research accreditation. At that time you will have the opportunity to upgrade your membership status to either to fellow or senior fellow, if applicable. At the same time we intent to do a small inventory of all available expertise, this will help us in the organisation of future ICO Courses and events.