The faculty Science and Technology (S&T) is considering expanding the so-called technical life sciences in S&T-education and research. A strategic committee is investigating the possibilities. Co-operation with the University of Groningen is imminent.
To strengthen the profile of the S&T technical life sciences the faculty is even considering changing its name. 'We do have this idea under discussion,' dean Alfred Bliek confirms. When the name is changing, he does not yet know, 'but I am sure that it is going to happen.' The number of biomedical engineering and clinical technology students amounts to 130 out of 210 first-year students at S&T at this moment.
The name change still has to be discussed with the executive board, but possible names are already circulating, like 'faculty for medical and technical sciences' and 'faculty for technical natural and life sciences'. Whether there is room for a third educational programme in the technical life sciences, including - in a few years - a matching research cluster, is checked by a strategic committee set up by S&T. Co-operation with the University of Groningen belongs to the possibilities in this. Bliek expects to be able to take the 'go/no-go' decision in approximately half a year, on the basis of the findings of the committee.
The investigations fit the aim of S&T to increase the student intake substantially in the coming years. The explanation of the faculty budget 2004 shows that the funds allocated 'are absolutely insufficient for our faculty'. Bliek: 'Considerable cutbacks remain essential. And as long as the student intake does not increase, the problem remains.'
The next increase in student numbers Bliek expects from the programme clinical technology. This programme started this year as a bachelor's study, but expansion with a number of master's variants is under development.
In addition, S&T is working hard on the recruitment from outside the university of foreign master's students and students from higher professional education (HBO). Also, the new master's programme nanotechnology started last month; this can also be developed further in co-operation with Groningen.
'The University of Groningen has a master's programme nanoscience and we have nanotechnology. Perhaps we can exchange parts of these. If we can combine the best from Twente with the best from Groningne, we both win quality.' How far this Twente-Groningen co-operation should lead, will become clear 'after the summer' according to Bliek, who sees no obstacle in the concurrent co-operation consultations with the other technical universities within the framework of the sector plan. 'In the 3TU-consultation we are discussing the removal of overlap. In the meetings with Groningen we are looking for areas in which we are complementary. This is not possible with Delft or Eindhoven, because they do not have these fields.'
transl. DvA
