The universities of Delft, Eindhoven and Twente are working to form one federative technological university of the Netherlands by 2010. The basis for this has been created in the Sector Plan Science and Technology, announced last spring. Until now, the management structure was a controversial issue in the further development of the plans. The UT administrators never made a secret of favoring a merger. Delft and Eindhoven were not as easily convinced.
The choice for forming an agreement - a legal, very light form of cooperation - signifies `some sort of creeping federalization,' Rector Frans van Vught explained at a meeting of Executive Board and University Council. According to the document that was presented, the agreement will be evaluated after two years. `Based on this evaluation, a step-by-step plan will be formed in order to form a federation of technological universities in the Netherlands by 2010.' This plan will also specify the legal form, the management form and the type of decision-making at a federal level.
For now - in the proposed agreement - one of the three chairmen of the Executive Boards will take turns chairing the future `Federation of Technological Universities.'
If the three chairmen `cannot reach a unanimous decision on an important matter,' the text of the agreement specifies that `an independent mediator will be appointed.' The concept of agreement will be discussed by the chairmen of the University Councils and the Executive Boards at their October 14 meeting.
The (virtual) Graduate School of the three TUs is already planning a series of projects which should lead to a `considerable increase' of the student inflow in technological programs. For executing the projects, the three TUs are to receive 1.7 million euros from the government funds `Clear the way for talent' and `Delta plan science and technology.' One of the projects concerns investigating the founding of a `3TU College of Engineering.' This college will offer highly talented students - both Dutch and international - an attractive learning concept that challenges them `to turn in a top performance.'
Other projects are related to improving study efficiency, tutoring and the connection to high schools. For example, the University of Eindhoven wants to develop a pilot for a study selection assessment: an online questionnaire with assignments that will allow prospective students to estimate their chances of graduating from the desired educational program. The TUs also want to invest extensively in training science teachers. Two part-time professors, to be appointed at a 3TU level, are expected to spark some innovation in that area.
