معرفی
Dr. Paul van der Aa is a Lecturer in Inclusive Employment at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, where he has been affiliated with the Knowledge Center for Talent Development since 2015. He manages the research program of the professorship and serves as a member of the Knowledge Center's management team, responsible for research quality. He is also a member of the Knowledge Center for the Urban Labor Market.
Dr. van der Aa holds a doctorate in Cultural Anthropology from Utrecht University, which he received in 2012 for his work on the implementation of activation work. He graduated as a cultural anthropologist from Utrecht University in 1993.
With over 25 years of experience, Dr. van der Aa specializes in researching the meanings of work and unemployment for citizens, the development and outcomes of local reintegration and activation policies, and the activation role that professionals can play. His primary research area focuses on the city of Rotterdam, where he examines how to improve prospects for sustainable, meaningful work for people in vulnerable positions in the labor market.
His research explores how social professionals can support vulnerable citizens in their careers or toward employment, often involving support across multiple life domains and social issues. He also investigates how employment organizations can become more inclusive and how social professionals can support employers in this process. His work shows that despite numerous studies indicating labor participation as a key route to social inclusion and well-being, the labor market exhibits exclusionary mechanisms that disadvantage vulnerable groups, a significant portion of work offers little security, and activation policies have barely lived up to expectations.
- Labor Market Inclusion: Research on improving employment opportunities for vulnerable groups
- Activation Policies: Studies on municipal reintegration and activation policies
- Professional Development: Focus on reflective practices for activation workers
- Urban Labor Market: Specialized research on Rotterdam's labor market dynamics
- Disability Employment: Work on inclusive employment practices for people with disabilities
Dr. van der Aa's publications consistently address the challenges of creating inclusive labor markets and improving professional practices in social work. His recent work has focused on tailored employer services for workers with disabilities, professional implementation of activation policies, and the development of inclusive labor markets in digital times. His research directly connects with social sciences and teacher training programs at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, where students work on related thesis topics.
