Flierman spoke of `setting a course,' which `results from asking two questions: where do we want to go and what are the conditions en route or at our destination?' He mentioned the never-ending battle for students among universities. `This year, we were quite successful, with over 1300 freshman students.' However, he warned, `Ensuring and expanding on this inflow will be quite a job.'
Flierman emphasized that the board sees internationalization as a high priority. `Eventually, a larger number of paying foreign students will strengthen our financial position and make us more independent of the national government.' Example? `In Maastricht, a quarter of all students and forty percent of the freshman students are from outside the Netherlands. The UT should initially focus on partner institutes in Münster, Dortmund and Osnabrück, but also in the Far East,' according to the chairman. How? `By recruiting students in a more focused manner and by forming international alumni organizations.'
A day later, the chairman clarified his position in an interview with this paper: `No concrete recruitment activities are planned; it is about launching ideas currently on the academic agenda. We want to increase our foreign inflow in 2007. In Maastricht, for example, staff members travel annually to China to conduct interviews with potential students. That works better than making them come to us. The Far East is a very interesting market: the economic growth is remarkable. That could make us financially stronger. Also, the people there speak English reasonably well. Lately, Asians tend to go to Europe more easily than to America, as 9/11 has made that country less accessible.'
Flierman stressed the UT should do more with its alumni. `They are not yet contacted actively. That has to change, for example by founding international organizations for alumni. Personally, if I hadn't moved to the UT, I would have been scheduled to go to New York to visit Maastricht alumni clubs.'
Flierman conceded that his speech contained some subtle criticism of the government: `The tendency of politicians to direct research with policy agendas is increasing. What I'm most concerned about is the inconsistency of the national government.' Has the chairman started lobbying in The Hague? `Yes, we are doing that in a number of ways, including through the association of Dutch universities. Also, Member of Parliament Aniie Schreijer, who was present at the opening, has said she will try to submit my criticism to the ministry.'
Trans. Jeroen Latour
