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Last year, elections were organised both nationally and by individual universities for the best educator of the year. 4TU interviewed the winners of the Educator of the Year Award and was curious to know why students are so enthusiastic about them and how they see the future of engineering education.

28 startups of the four technical universities went to Helsinki, Finland, from the 28th of November until the 2nd of December to experience Slush: the most founder-friendly startup conference in the world. This is what they got out of it.

Recently, the Danish education minister called for more international students to be admitted. This was just two years after the Danish government had drastically reduced the number of English-language courses. This U-turn stems from significant labour market shortages Denmark is now facing, costing the country billions of euros, according to the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

On November 2nd, the Innovation Attaché Network of RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency) visited the province of Gelderland. The delegation consisted of 80 representatives (Innovation and Agriculture councils) from over 15 countries around the world.

The Netherlands Academy of Engineering is about to start and has appointed 62 top experts as fellow (NAE members). These experts, originating from the realms of engineering, applied research and innovation, will play an active roll in fulfilling NAE's mission. They share the conviction that engineering-based innovation is the key to create and deploy solutions that address pressing societal issues and transitions. 

The final of the 4TU Impact Challenge took place on Thursday 12th of October for the fifth time and was hosted by Eindhoven University of Technology. The professional jury selected Afterlife from Wageningen as the winner.

Since this autumn, the teams of the four new High Tech for a Sustainable Future (HTSF) programmes are at full strength and will be able to start their high-tech research on themes such as the heat-free city, personalised healthcare, green sensors and the food system of the future.

International students key in engineers' gap

Thursday 31 August the second edition of the national Techniekdecanendag took place at TU Eindhoven. The day consisted of a full programme, ranging from updates on developments in the engineering domain to pitches on educational innovation. With a high attendance of engineering deans from all four universities of technology and the RUG.

The Dutch elections for parliament are scheduled for 22 November 2023.

How can academic research find its way to society? By collaborating with societal actors from early on in your research, and seeking ways to actively communicate your results to the stakeholders they are relevant for, conclude 4TU researchers Florence Metz and Simona Turco from their own experience.

In the 4-part series Brightful Minds, science editor Sonja Knols and photographer Dieuwertje Bravenboer are taking a tour along the tenure trackers involved in the 4TU High Tech for a Sustainable Future (HTSF) programs. These talented, often young, scientists explain what drives them, what high-tech research they are working on, and how they organize their careers. 

The major societal problems of our time require an approach that transcends scientific disciplines. This often means that people from one discipline collaborate with colleagues from other disciplines. Femke van Beek (TU/e), Guido Camps (WUR) and Caroline Figueroa (TUD) take a different approach: they unite multiple disciplines within themselves, forming bridges between robots and nature, food and artificial intelligence, and mental health and digital technology.

As of 1 July 2023, Remon Rooij (TUD) will succeed Perry den Brok (WUR) as chairman of 4TU.CEE - the 4TU Centre for Engineering Education. 4TU spoke to Remon and Perry.

Last Friday 9 June, 4TU secretary Marjolein Dohmen-Janssen, together with the rectors of the 4TU (Arthur Mol, WUR; Tim van der Hagen, TUD; Sylvia Lenaerts, TU/e and Tom Veldkamp, UT), kicked off round two of the 'High Tech for a Sustainable Future' (HTSF) programmes during the HTSF Crossover Event. In HTSF round 2, with 20 million euros of funding, scientists from the four technical universities will work on personalised healthcare (RECENTRE), the heatless green city (HERITAGE), green, biodegradable sensors (Green Sensors) and a local, personalised food system  (REDESIGN).