The cracks are showing in the proposed co-operation between the TUs of Delft, Eindhoven, and Twente. Eindhoven and Delft mistrust the Twente decisiveness and do not feel like relinquishing powers. Steering group committee chairman Hermans and the UT do want that.
At the presentation of the second concept version of the plan, end of October, Hermans was optimistic about the success of his mission. But while happiness reigns in the Twente management team, the criticism from Delft and Eindhoven is increasing.
Eindhoven chemistry dean professor Hans Niemantsverdriet says that taking away all the overlap in research at the three universities, therefore banning the 'healthy mutual competition', will be the end of research at the three TUs.
Professor de Jonge, dean of technical physics notices the Twente model in the plans. Research is conducted in institutes and education concentrated in faculties 'This is not what we want in Eindhoven.'
Delft is also unfavourably disposed towards relinquishing powers, something that is the wish of steering committee chairman Hermans and the UT. Delft Executive Board chairman Hans van Luijk: 'Delft does not want any structures that result in a de facto merger.Æ Luijk also does not want to limit the reinvestment of 12 % of government funding, to which the TUs will commit themselves, to mutual exchange of research fields. The money can also be spend on the æinternal renovationÆ of TUD research, and there should be room for æmore guestsÆ. For example Leiden, with whom Delft co-operates on four (soon to be eight) educational programmes. æThe co-operation with Leiden goes a lot further at this moment than the one with Twente and EindhovenÆ, according to Luijk.
