M. Levels

Prof. dr. Mark Levels (1977) is a Dutch sociologist and professor at both Maastricht University and the Netherlands Defence Academy. Levels uses quantitative, qualitative and experimental sociological methods to study how we can best solve pressing societal challenges. He works with governments, corporations, social partners, and other scientists to create evidence informed policies that instigate social change necessary to address these challenges. 

Levels conducts (and has conducted) empirical research on the following societal issues:

• How can we make our society resilient to threats and disasters?
• How can governments, employers, and employees best prepare for automation and AI?
• How can we ensure that children and young people grow up healthy, receive a good education, and are well prepared for their future?
• How can we promote the social integration of immigrants and their children?
• What are the effects of legal regulation of birth control on women?

Professor Levels previously served, among other roles, as University Dean for Lifelong Learning (LLO) at Maastricht University (2022–2025), founder and scientific head of UM Academy (2022–2025), Programme Director and member of the Management Team of the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (2018–2026), Coordinator and Scientific Lead of the Technequality consortium (2016–2020), and National Coordinator and architect of the National Cohort Study on Education. He was also one of the initiators and designers of the National LLO Catalyst.

Levels has held visiting positions at the European University Institute in Florence (2005), Nuffield College, University of Oxford (2008, 2014–2020), Harvard Kennedy School (2013), and the German Institute for Interdisciplinary Educational Research (2013–2015).

Before beginning his academic career, Levels served in an infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army. He is a veteran.