University of Twente
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Motto | De ondernemende universiteit (The entrepreneurial university) |
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Type | Public |
Established | 1961 |
Endowment | €279.4M[1] |
Rector | Prof. dr. H. (Ed) Brinksma |
Students | 7,059 |
Location | , |
Website | www.utwente.nl/en |
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University of Twente (or Twente University) is a university located in Enschede, Netherlands. It offers research and degree programmes in technology, and in the social and behavioural sciences. In keeping with its enterprising spirit, the University is committed to making an economic and social contribution to the region of the Netherlands where it is based. The UT collaborates with Delft University of Technology and Eindhoven University of Technology under the umbrella of the 3TU.Federation, and is also a partner in the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).
History
The University was founded in 1961 as the Technische Hogeschool Twente, the Netherlands’ third higher vocational institute of technology later to become a university (the other two being Delft and Eindhoven). The Dutch government’s decision to locate the new institute in Enschede, the main city of Twente, had much to do with the north-eastern province’s rich industrial history. Another important consideration was the fact that the local economy needed a boost to compensate for the dwindling textile industry.
Campus
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The University of Twente was built on the former country estate of Drienerlo, situated between Hengelo and Enschede. On this beautifully landscaped 140 hectare estate, comprising woodland, meadows and water, architects Van Tijen and Van Embden designed the Netherlands’ first - and so far the only - campus university along American lines. Students and staff live, work and pursue their leisure activities on campus. Through the years, several other important architects and artists have made their own contributions to the design of the campus.
Students and staff at the University of Twente continue to form an active academic community. The campus enjoys excellent sports and cultural facilities that have stimulated the development of a rich mix of student societies, student social events, and a constant flow of new initiatives. The Student Union, which is run entirely by students, promotes the interests of all student societies and also manages several premises, including the student social centre in the heart of Enschede.
Programmes
The degree programmes at the University of Twente range from business studies and applied physics, to biomedical technology and psychology. The curriculum is broad, flexible and relevant to the labour market. Most students combine coursework in their major subject with a coherent set of minors in another discipline. A growing number of foreign students are finding their way to the UT. Almost all postgraduate programmes are taught in English, and half of all PhD students now come from outside the Netherlands.
The University of Twente has a world class research programme. In the applied sciences, the emphasis is on nanotechnology, process technology, engineering, information & communication technology, and the biomedical sciences. The University also has a strong track record in business studies and the behavioural sciences. UT research programmes are organised in six research institutes: • Institute for Nanotechnology (MESA+)
- BioMedical Technological Institute (BMTI)
- Centre for Telematics and Informationtechnology (CTIT)
- Institute for Behavioral Research (IBR)
- Institute for Governance Studies (IGS)
- Institute of Mechanics, Processes and Control Twente (IMPACT)
The University of Twente sets great store by the useful application of knowledge in society. Patents, life-long learning programmes, and spin-off companies testify to this commitment, as does UT’s intensive involvement in research programmes that enhance knowledge infrastructure in the Netherlands. So far, the UT has produced 600 spin-off companies; more than any other Dutch university.
From the outset, the University of Twente has sought to put the applied sciences in a wider social context. Students and researchers are always challenged to look beyond the boundaries of their own subject area and to establish links between different disciplines. The University of Twente believes that a multidisciplinary approach will stimulate innovation in science and society alike.
Mission statement
The University of Twente is an enterprising research university with special focus on technological developments in the knowledge society. The university needs to be responsive to the requirements of the knowledge society and also has a special responsibility to develop and implement a broad knowledge potential in science and technology. In order to meet these challenges, the University of Twente advocates the establishment of a single Federation of Technical Universities in the Netherlands in 2010. The three technical universities agreed to join forces in 2005 and on 7 February 2007 the 3TU Federation was launched. The 3TU Federation aims to operate effectively at both national and international level. Within the 3TU framework the University of Twente promotes outstanding educational standards and world class research that leads the way in a number of specific areas. In pursuit of these goals, the University of Twente also wants to stimulate economic and social development regionally: in Twente, the north-east of the Netherlands, and in the Gronau-Twente Euregio
A focus on the interdependent relationship between social and technological innovation is a distinguishing feature of the University of Twente and this is reflected in the way it carries out its core activities. Strategic networks of public and private partners are encouraged. On campus academic training occupies a central position and the University’s special character is reflected in the organisation of its degree programmes. Teaching is of the highest standard and the University is committed to:
- an educational programme that is in tune with the latest international research developments;
- an approach that allows students to seek challenges in the study programmes they are being offered;
- Bachelor’s programmes that are broad-based, with ample opportunity for excellent students to be put on the international honours track, and to adapt their study programme to fit their personal profiles;
- providing a limited number of selective Master’s profiles that reflect the University’s core research activities, in addition to the standard Master’s programmes that follow on from the Bachelor’s;
- ensuring that the research Master’s programmes, whenever possible and desirable, lead to a fast-track PhD programme;
- giving academic training a central place in both the Bachelor’s and the Master’s degree programmes;
- the application of modern educational insights across all teaching programmes;
- an explicit and continuous orientation towards the requirements of the labour market;
- the application of internationally agreed quality norms.
The University of Twente conducts world class research that:
- contributes to fundamental technological and social innovation by carrying out experimental and design-oriented technological research in unique combination with social and behavioural science research;
- is underpinned by a strong focus on the implications of technological innovation and the development of the knowledge society;
- is multidisciplinary in character, and rooted in the knowledge base of the underlying disciplines;
- is organised in a limited number of authoritative, distinctive and internationally acclaimed research institutes;
- is carried out in a context of intensive interaction with the public and the private sectors;
- creates opportunities for new areas of development, rich in potential.
This mission is being accomplished by a highly motivated, outstanding academic community with the full support of a Student Union charged with the tasks of promoting an active student community and a specific range of high-quality services. Financial prudence, modern human resource management, and adequate housing and facilities are important preconditions to ensure its success.
Research
Institutes
- Institute for Nanotechnology (MESA+)
- BioMedical Technological Institute (BMTI)
- Centre for Telematics and Informationtechnology (CTIT)
- Institute for Behavioral Research (IBR)
- Institute for Governance Studies (IGS)
- Institute of Mechanics, Processes and Control Twente (IMPACT)
Knowledge and research centres
- CEPTES - Center for Philosophy of Technology and Engineering Science (CEPTES+)
- CES - Center for European Studies (CES+)
- CHEPS - Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS+)
- CHOIR - Center for healthcare operations improvement & research (CHOIR+)
- CIPV - Centre for integrated manufacturing and development (CIPV+)
- CSSTS - Center for Studies of Science, Technology and Society (CSSTS+)
- CSTM - Center for clean technology and environmental policy (CSTM+)
- Drebbel - Drebbel institute for Mechatronics (Drebbel +)
- Institute for Sport & Leisure (sport en leisure+)
- IPIT - Instituut voor maatschappelijke veiligheidsvraagstukken (IPIT+)
- ITM - Institute of Technical Medicine (ITM+)
- Nikos - Dutch institute for knowledge intensive entrepreneurship (Nikos+)
- STeHPS - Science, Technology, Health and Policy Studies (STePHS+)
- TESI - Twente Embedded Systems Initiative (TESI+)
- TWC - Twente Water Centre (TWC+)
- TwiCor - Twente institute for Communication research
- VRINT - Virtual Reality Initiative Twente (VRINT+)
Twente Student Review
In 2006 a unique student initiative emerged at the University of Twente: Twente Student Review ([1]). The Review publishes work done by University of Twente students from all disciplines. The journal is edited and peer-reviewed by students. It appears quarterly.
Graduate studies
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Universiteit_Twente_Horsttoren_in_avondlicht.jpg/220px-Universiteit_Twente_Horsttoren_in_avondlicht.jpg)
Technical and Engineering Sciences
- Advanced Technology
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Business Information Technology
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering and Management
- Creative Technology
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Embedded Systems
- Environmental and Energy Management
- Geoinformatics
- Human Media Interaction
- Industrial Design Engineering
- Industrial Engineering and Management
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Nanotechnology
- Sustainable Energy Technology
- Technical Medicine
- Telematics
Business and social sciences
- Business Administration
- Chinese International MBA Programme
- Environmental and Energy Management
- European Studies
- Health Sciences
- Industrial Engineering and Management
- Public Administration
- Public Management
Behavioural sciences
- Communication Studies
- Educational Science and Technology
- Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society
- Psychology
- Social Systems Evaluation and Survey Research
University presidents
- 1963 - 1967: Professor Gerrit Berkhoff
- 1967 - 1971: Professor Jo Vlugter
- 1971 - 1974: Professor Pieter Zandbergen
- 1974 - 1976: Professor Jan Kreiken
- 1976 - 1979: Professor Willem van Spiegel
- 1979 - 1982: Professor Harry van den Kroonenberg
- 1982 - 1985: Professor Wiebe Draijer
- 1985 - 1988: Professor Harry van den Kroonenberg (Second term)
- 1988 - 1992: Professor Jos de Smit
- 1992 - 1997: Professor Theo Popma
- 1997 - 2004: Professor Frans van Vught
- 2005 - 2009: Professor Henk Zijm
- 2009 - present: Professor Ed Brinksma
External links
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- Official Website
- Master of science degrees at the University of Twente
- International Office
- Campuswiki, the Dutch wiki for the campus community of the UT.
- The university's student journal: Twente Student Review
52°14′33.85″N 6°51′11.75″E / 52.2427361°N 6.8532639°E
- ^ Jaarverslag UT 2007 [Year report 2007], University of Twente