Universities open doors to new forms of teaching, research and collaboration
Â
Climate change, pressure on the healthcare system, and tight labor markets. Society faces major challenges. Universities need to think about their changing position.
âOur situation is turbulent. The new government is more skeptical about science and plans to cut part of our budget. Yet, universities actually make an essential contribution to finding solutions to current social problems,â says Frank van der Hoeven, scientific director of 4TU.Built Environment. So universities need to think about their own role in society, he argues.
Accessibility and impact on society are recurring topics. âHow are we going to keep global warming below 1.5 °C? We ask such an extensive question to Ph.D. students. How are we going to lower energy bills? That's more of a question you discuss with your neighbors,â Van der Hoeven cites as an example. âAs a university, we have to engage in both approaches.â
The fourth generation
But how will universities actually integrate this new mindset into their way of working? That's what it's about at the annual Meet-up of 4TU.Built Environment, last October in Utrecht. 4TU.Built Environment is the partnership of the four technical universities in the Netherlands regarding the built environment. During the gathering, they engaged in a discussion about a relevant topic: the fourth-generation university. In addition to the previous linear approach to education and research - the first generations - universities today operate in a society with major social challenges.
âThe pillar of social impact and the awareness of exponential development and breakthroughs of technology force a new position. Fourth-generation university is an option that should be considered. In it, we assume more decentralized, autonomous networks,â says Maaike Riemersma, coordinator of 4TU.Built Environment.
Open and accessible
Mixel Kiemen, a postdoc at Eindhoven Engine, gave a keynote on integrating research and education in the fourth-generation university. He emphasizes the difference between valorization in the third generation and impact in the fourth generation. âValorization made us think from inside the university to outside (for example, by seeking cooperation with companies, ed.) With the fourth generation, we work from outside to inside. Organizations and society can knock on our door with challenges, to see how we can best help them. Of course, we see what societal problems are going on and are working on them. It's an interaction.â
In the near future, scientists will continue to examine other collaborations and stronger tiesâwith other organizations and between peopleâmeans for research and development within universities.
One of the new perspectives possibly impacting the built environment that he highlights is the CityDAO. This is a decentralized system in which people act completely autonomously. Kiemen: âThese times call for radical system changes. Of course, we don't know the outcome of the experiments yet; the future will tell. But it is important to take steps and experiment now.â
Setting the course
4TU.Built Environment has organized its research in so-called Domain Acceleration Teams (DATs). Each team focuses on a specific theme around innovation in construction, from energy transition and circularity & sustainability to digitalization and health. During the meetup, each team had its own brainstorming session to evaluate and make new plans. This also created cross-connections between the DATs.
An overview of the DATs' key observations and plans:
- DAT Digitalization
The DAT Digitalization is going to focus much more on the digitization ambitions in the built environment and will therefore leave the current (restrictive) classification by technology.
Also in 2025, the Research Day on Digitalization in the Built Environment will be organized by the national Lectorenplatform Gebouwde Omgeving (NL-GO) in collaboration with the DAT Digitalization. This will already be the fourth year! - DAT Infrastructure
The DAT Infrastructure team members foresee a disaster in slow motion if innovative steps are not taken to rejuvenate, renew, and make the Dutch infrastructure sustainable. This task is too big to leave unfinished. The DAT is working on a position paper highlighting the 4TUs' vision.
DAT Infrastructure is also going to examine how it can position itself within the fourth generation of universities and where its distinctiveness from other organizations engaged in the renewal and improvement of infrastructure lies. - DAT Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
There is almost no topic more integral and comprehensive than climate adaptation and mitigation. The focus throughout the day was therefore on the role of Lifelong Learning and training employees in the topics related to climate adaptation and mitigation. This will also include collaboration with the DAT Health in the Built Environment on specific topics - such as heat stress. Important collaborations with potential stakeholders will be further developed. - DAT Health in the Built Environment
Finding a solution to heat stress in cities - both in the indoor and outdoor environments - is an important theme within both the DAT Climate Adaptation and Mitigation and the DAT Health in the Built Environment. For example, more greenery in the residential environment provides both cooling and better mental health.
This requires an integrated approach. This is one of the key features of the fourth-generation university. Cooperation throughout the education chain and with the broader ecosystem (businesses, organizations, and residents) are also important here. - DAT Energy Transition
The DAT Energy Transition aims to create a book that delves into various themes of the ongoing energy transition. This book will be authored by researchers from a range of educational institutions. Plans include adapting the content of the book for diverse audiences such as students and industry professionals. The first step in this initiative is to establish a network of researchers interested in collaborating on the project. - DAT Circularity and Sustainability
The DAT Circularity and Sustainability has launched its White Paper in March 2024 setting out first ideas for a vision for Circularity and Sustainability in the built environment for the next 10 years. They will further discuss the white paper with Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RvO), TKI Bouw en Techniek, NWO, and the Lectorenplatform Gebouwde Omgeving of the Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences and explore current and emerging funding opportunities for research collaborations between the 4 Technical Universities and societal partners.
Involving the entire education chain
In addressing societal challenges and issues, such as the labor market shortage caused by an aging population, involving the whole education system, is critical, according to 4TU.Built Environment academics. This includes education for students but also retraining and continuous learning for professionals. One of the reasons is the chronic personnel shortage in various sectors and the increasing digitalization of society. Several DATs are pleased with the way universities of applied science and secondary vocational education institutes (mbos) are hooking up with universities to do research together and also close the chain into implementation. In the coming period, it will be explored how to expand this cooperation further.
Important role for citizens
Bram de Vos, president of 4TU.Built Environment notes that he was educated at a third-generation university and is now working on the transition to a fourth-generation university. This not only involves the government and companies in the ecosystem but also involves citizens, for example, in health and climate adaptation and mitigation. For example, the researchers are looking for ways to create more awareness and include people in the results of their research in an understandable way. The contributions of involved citizens in the form of 'citizen science'' are also mentioned as an important pillar in the new generation university.
Planting new seeds
âWe don't have all the answers right away, nor can we. Sessions like this are vital for taking the time to meet and exchange ideas. This is where planning starts, and seeds are planted to develop new ways of teaching and research. Gradually, team members get to work on making the plans a reality,â Riemersma said.
The transition to a fourth-generation university is in full swing, but it takes time. On the other hand, urgency is needed to bring about change. Bringing about change takes a long time within an institution like the university. It is important to take that into account as well. Kiemen: âIt's ultimately about balance.â