As of today, the 4TU.Federation’s Annual Report 2019 is available online. Browsing through it, you will get a picture of the broad palette of activities the universities of technology are undertaking together in terms of research, education and valorisation.
Research
Substantively, the universities of technology are getting together ever more often. The joint five-year research programme High Tech for a Sustainable Future (HTSF) got going in 2019. In this programme, 44 tenure track candidates and 29 post-doctoral researchers are working on solutions to the societal challenges we will be facing in the near future – from plants fitted with sensors for monitoring the climate (Plantenna) to a tool that maps our eating and exercise behaviour (Pride & Prejudice).
Education
Sharing knowledge and facilities ensures that government funds are applied efficiently, something the 4TU.Federation is constantly aware of. In 2019, the 4TU.Centre for Engineering Education renewed its Innovation Map with educational innovations. It includes 215 projects and innovations for professionals in science education and other fields to use.
Impact and entrepreneurship
Part of the valorisation activities by the universities of technology have been concentrated in 4TU.Impact. In 2019, they organised the 4TU.Impact Challenge, an innovation competition between the four universities of technology in which they give students the opportunity to improve their idea or prototype with the help of coaches from the business community. Besides the final during which the finalists pitched their ideas, the highlights of the 2019 edition included a visit by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and a contribution by Prince Constantijn fromTechleap.
Eventful year
Politically, 2019 was an eventful year for the universities. In line with its coalition agreement, the government decided on a structural increase in funding for the universities of technology. However, by choosing to redistribute rather than increase funding, the cabinet caused a deep and unwelcome rift between general universities and universities of technology.
At the same time, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science asked the 4TU.Federation to draw up a sector plan for science and technology education. This plan is being drawn up and implemented in collaboration with the general universities, universities of applied sciences, the business community and student organisations.
The highlights above give only a limited picture of the activities of the 4TU.Federation. For a more comprehensive overview, read the full Annual Report 2019 (PDF).
Also available in Dutch here.