Apply now: Family Business Thesis Award

Family businesses are the most common form of business in the world, and the family is the driving force behind them. Yet we notice that it is precisely this family factor that receives little attention in research into or in family businesses. This award encourages students to develop and share relevant knowledge and insights about family businesses.

The Family Business Thesis Award is a thesis award for the best bachelor's and master's theses from a university (of applied sciences) in the field of family businesses. Winners receive:

• Bachelor's Award € 1,500
• Master's Award € 1,500

Powered by Windesheim'sExpertisecentrum Familiebedrijven(opens in new tab).

Who can participate?

• Anyone who has written a Dutch or English thesis about family businesses or a family business in which attention has been paid to the family factor;
• The thesis was graded with at least a 7 (B- or 70% or higher);
• Theses from all educational backgrounds and perspectives are welcome.

Important dates

• Deadline: Monday, 1 September 2025
• Assessment period: Theses must be assessed between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025.

How to participate

To have a chance to win the award and the cash prize and share your research results with our network of family businesses, you must send the following information to familybusinessthesis@windesheim.nl(opens in new tab):

• Complete thesis (including title, table of contents, bibliography and sources list and appendices)
• Summary of your thesis (maximum 2 A4).
  The following should be included in the summary:
  - research question
  - relevance of the research
  - recommendations and/or results
  A pre-selection will be made based on this summary.
• Name and email address of the first supervisor
• CV
• Signed participation agreement (pdf)

Selection process

Based on the submitted summary of your thesis, a pre-selection will be made by members of The Centre of Expertise in Family Businesses at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences. We can contact your thesis supervisors for a proper assessment. The five best theses are then presented to a jury consisting of an entrepreneur, a lecturer or professor, and a business advisor. They will assess the theses on:

• Social and practical value
• Theoretical foundation
• Well-written and structured report
• Originality

Award ceremony

The winners will be announced during a special event in November 2025. Nominees will receive an invitation for this. If you have been invited for this, you can receive a travel reimbursement based on a declaration (maximum €50,- for national students and €250,- for international students).

We require a minimum number of submitted theses to make a proper assessment. So, challenge your fellow students to submit their theses as well.

Questions?

Mail us via familybusinessthesis@windesheim.nl(opens in new tab).

Previous winners

2023

• Best Bachelor's Thesis: Unfortunately, no winner was named this year due to a lack of submissions.

• Best Master's Thesis: Tessa Dijkkamp (UvA & VU Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: Family Learning in Next Generation Preparation

Read the jury report(opens in new tab)

2022

• Best Bachelor's Thesis: Isabeau Jonkers (Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: Social Sustainability in Transport – A Family Business. An exploratory study on how family businesses in international road transport can ensure employee welfare and social sustainability.

• Best Master's Thesis: Roel Jansen (Tilburg University, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: The European Business Succession Facilities Regarding the Acquisition of Shares: Necessary and Efficient?

Read the jury report(opens in new tab)

2021

• Best Bachelor's Thesis: Francesco Frontani (ESCP Business School, Paris, France)
  Thesis Title: Renovating Capitalism through Corporate Purpose in Organizations. A study on the Italian cases of Brunello Cucinelli and Lavazza, compared to academic perspectives.
• Honourable Mention: Thereso Grillo (WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Vallendar, Germany)
  Thesis Title: Innovation in Family Firms. A qualitative analysis of how family businesses engage with internal and external sources of innovation.

• Best Master's Thesis: Andrea Buratti (University of Bergamo, Italy)
  Thesis Title: The Effect of Family Member Identification with the Firm on Entrepreneurial Orientation and Performance
• Honourable Mention: Liesbeth Rompelberg (Tilburg University, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: The Familial Character of Business Succession Facilities in Western Europe

2020

• Best Bachelor's Thesis: Ronald Moerman (Aeres University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: Non-Successors of an Agricultural Family Business
• Honourable Mention: Julian van den Akker (Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: Shared Ownership: Shared Concerns?

• Best Master's Thesis: Marc Kuijken (Tilburg University, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: Supervisory Board Effectiveness in Family Businesses
• Honourable Mention: Michiel Heerkens (AOG School of Management, University of Groningen, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: Research into the Perception of Freedom in the Family Business

2019

• Best Bachelor's Thesis: Barbara Cornelissen (Inholland University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: Investment Calculation De Kleine Schorre B.V.
• Honourable Mention: Julian Elias Lessing (WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany)
  Thesis Title: Open Innovation in Family Firms

• Best Master's Thesis: Shelley Beck Saunders (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)
  Thesis Title: Parental Influences on the Next Generation's Intention to Join the Family Business
• Honourable Mention: Desiree Westland (Nyenrode Business University, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: Governance and Values in Family Business

2018

• Best Bachelor's Thesis: Geurt van Assen (Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: The Influence of Subsidies and Stewardship Behaviour on Sustainability

• Best Master's Thesis: Klara Selling & Gabriella Gustafsson (Jönköping International Business School, Sweden)
  Thesis Title: Trust in Family Business – A Study of Employees’ Trust for the New CEO Post-Succession

2017

• Best Bachelor's Thesis: Paulina Grillo (WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany)
  Thesis Title: Non-Economic Goals and Family Firm Financing
• Honourable Mention: Franziska Holle (WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany)
  Thesis Title: Influence of Transgenerational Knowledge Transfer and Preservation on the Innovation Outcome in Family Firms

• Best Master's Thesis: Katharina Hubmann (Maastricht University, The Netherlands)
  Thesis Title: Multiple Identities in Family Firms: Exploring the Effect of Actual and Communicated Identity on Performance
• Honourable Mention: Lutz Stoffels (Universität Witten/Herdecke, Germany)
  Thesis Title: Keeping the Knowledge Inside the Family Business at Transgenerational Change