The University is sad to announce the passing away of our colleague Didier van den HOVE d’ERTSENRYCK on 15/11/2019, professeur emeritus of ESPO/IAG, born on 15/10/1936.
Joining the Center for Management Studies (CPDE) directed by Philippe DE WOOT as research assistant in 1962, he starts a seminal doctoral thesis on experimental social psychology, applied to the role of arbitration and observation in conflict resolution. The experimental work brings him to Purdue University for his thesis 1966-68, returning to defend his PhD in psychology late 1968. The year after, he is appointed assistant professor (chargé de cours) at the then department of applied economics within the faculty ESPO (later merged with the center CPDE to form the IAG, predecessor of LSM within ESPO). Didier van den HOVE lead an academic career within the University of Louvain from 1962 to his retirement in 1997.
The research of Didier van den HOVE was focused at the concept of power in the organisation: its emergence, exercise and political-ethical consequences. Concerned with the prospects of management as an activity with a clear social and environmental responsibility, his early work combined with the impetus of Philippe DE WOOT put the basis for the revisited and enlightened view of management that we today incorporate in CSR.
His scientific approach as a social psychologist made him close to the applied organisational problems, but also to the reality and the personal development of his students. He produced a number of highly original publications, like the work "Le travail d’exister" (1996) joint with the French psychosociologist Max PAGES, in which the creation of thought based on the individual trajectory and the social context is treated in the form of an "epistomological novel". Our colleague Thomas PERILLEUX, one of his former doctoral students, is one of many that can testify about the inspiration and devotion for the teaching and organisational analysis that Didier van den HOVE shared. The openness and interest of Didier to listen and accommodate personal relationships have given warm memories among both students and colleagues. In particular, he was interested in general pedagogical issues, resulting among other works in the innovative joint work "L’Université sans toge" (1978).
Didier van den HOVE had several mandates within the faculty, his last being Secrétaire Académique (today: vice-dean) in ESPO 1994-97 under the deanship of Robert PEETERS (also former management professor).
The faculty mourns a precursor in the organisational critical analysis of management and organisation with a deeply humanistic approach to the role of the university for society. His contribution to our current state of thinking cannot be underestimated.
Please join with me in offering our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
Per Agrell, Dean of the faculty