Tom Van Caneghem associate professor

Research Tom Van Caneghem

Research team

Expertise

Empirical research based on accounting data (with a focus on nonprofit organisations).

Creating a vision for the future organization of residential care in Flanders and the role and uniqueness of the social profit sector within it. 01/04/2025 - 30/09/2026

Abstract

In recent years (cf. COVID-19 and the aging population), residential care has received more attention. For a long time, it was, along with mental health care, the orphaned child in the healthcare landscape. It is now increasingly a policy focus (e.g., attention to quality care). However, this is often accompanied by excessive (too much?) regulation, which also threatens to restrict social entrepreneurship. This study will be conducted by an interdisciplinary team of academics from both the Faculty of Social Sciences (social governance, administrative landscape, local and Flemish) and the Faculty of Business and Economics (social profit, finance & accounting). In-depth analyses will be conducted into the financial health, the financial structures behind these residential care centers, and entrepreneurship within the residential care sector (private, social profit, and public). This will map out, among other things, the consequences of privatization/commercialization, the unique nature of the social profit sector, reserve formation and financial instruments, and the level playing field/value creation in public care.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Navigating Big Data: Essential Infrastructure for Business and Economics Fields. 01/05/2024 - 30/04/2028

Abstract

There has been a growing emphasis on the significance of big data and business analytics. Academic institutions use large volumes of data to effectively address research questions that generate and capture value for individuals, businesses, communities, and governments. The Orbis Global and Belfirst data warehouses, encompassing financial, accounting, social balance and governance data, allow scholars to explore the promise and opportunities for new theories and practices resulting in topnotch research. The Orbis Global and Bel-first databases are used as the primary data in our field. When investigating firm behaviors and actions, scholars always need basic knowledge about their financial figures (profitability, growth, assets, liabilities, etc.). Therefore, these Orbis Global and Belfirst databases are always used as the primary data source to which scholars add more specific data (survey-based data, data collected from more specific databases such as investors data). The funding proposal seeks to address an urgent issue: the significant price hikes of these data warehouses. The requested funding would serve as a bridging budget, providing a temporary solution while a more sustainable long-term financing strategy is being developed. Several research groups in the field of business and economics cannot continue doing the research they are currently doing if they no longer have access to these databases. These databases function as essential tools and instruments.

Researcher(s)

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Project type(s)

  • Research Project

External certification in the nonprofit sector: An examination of drivers and consequences. 01/09/2023 - 31/08/2027

Abstract

Research on external certification in the nonprofit sector is extremely scant. The aim of this project is to make a significant contribution to the literature on external certification in the nonprofit context by considering three unexplored research objectives and by doing so we will be able to paint a full picture of NPO certification (i.e., identify drivers of certification (objective 1); assess economic consequences of certification (objective 2); and assess quality effects of certification (objective 3)). Because charity ratings are not really common outside the US, examining external certification as a quality signal in the nonprofit context is an extremely relevant issue in non-US settings. Besides academic relevance, findings are extremely useful for practice (e.g., for NPOs in deciding on whether or not to opt for external certification, for donors when making their donation decisions, etc.).

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project