On Monday 15 February, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Jet Bussemaker, paid a working visit to ASML. Discussions were held with representatives of the 3TU.Federation on the importance of a continuous influx of highly-qualified technicians such as those educated at the three universities of technology. ASML indicated that the level of the graduates in the Netherlands matched the needs of the company, but added that there are too few students in the Netherlands graduating in subjects such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science. And software engineering is the greatest sticking point.
Moreover, the number of women available in these fields is lower than in neighbouring countries. The participants in the discussions, ASML, 3TU and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, concluded that choosing studies in the field of science and technology should be made more attractive to girls. This would solve two problems at the same time. It would contribute to increasing the intake of new students and to realising a better balance between men and women in technology. ASML and 3TU also expressed the desire to pool and structurally fund the information activities needed for this. Attention will be paid to this as part of the ‘Technologie Pact’ (technology pact).
The Technology 2011-2015 sector plan reports that the intake of new students at the universities of technology has increased substantially. This increase is so great that the universities are encountering problems under current funding levels. At Eindhoven University of Technology, for example, the number of students has doubled in the previous decade, whereas funding has only seen a 20% increase, as stated by the university. This has created a situation in which it is practically impossible to introduce students to state-of-the-art technology and therefore prepare them adequately for a career with a company like ASML. The Minister demonstrated understanding for this problem and indicated that any discussions on additional funding would have to wait until the new governmental term of office.
The meeting was concluded with a discussion on the way in which the universities of technology and industry collaborate on research. Each of these three universities has a programme in which a company and research groups from the university address and try to solve issues. Such programmes are jointly funded by the university and the company, making use of grant opportunities, such as the Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation supplement. ASML indicated it was very satisfied with this form of collaboration, which provides the possibility to act quickly and avoids drawn out procedures with multiple assessment committees.
The picture shows f.l.t.r. Peter Wennink (CEO ASML), Jet Bussemaker en Victor van der Chijs (chairman 3TU.Federation)