Prof. Albertjan Tollenaar is a Professor of Empirical Legal Studies and Local Governance in the Department of Administrative Law and Public Administration at the University of Groningen. He also serves as the Director of the Groningen Graduate School of Law.
His academic journey began as a PhD candidate at the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Law, where he earned his doctorate with a dissertation titled Gemeentelijk beleid en beleidsregels (Municipal Policy and Policy Rules). Following his PhD, he joined a research project focused on safeguarding public interests within private social security systems, during which he was affiliated as a fellow with the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy in Munich.
Professor Tollenaar has significant international experience and has engaged in collaborative research projects with colleagues from Mzumbe University in Tanzania and several institutions in Indonesia, including Sebelas Maret University, Universitas Islam Indonesia, and Universitas Gadjah Mada, where he also holds visiting professorships.
Beyond academia, he contributes to local governance as a member of the Advisory Committees for Objections in the municipalities of Groningen, Eemsdelta, Het Hogeland, and Borger-Odoorn.
