University of Twente
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Motto | High Tech, Human Touch |
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Type | Public |
Established | 1961 |
Endowment | €304.5M[1] |
Rector | Thom Palstra |
Administrative staff | 2,602 (2016) |
Students | 9,645 (2016) |
Location | Enschede, Netherlands |
Website | www.utwente.nl/en |
University of Twente (Dutch: Universiteit Twente; Dutch pronunciation: [ynivɛrsiˈtɛit ˈtʋɛntə]) is a university located in Enschede, Netherlands. It offers research and degree programmes in the social and behavioral sciences and in engineering. The University is committed to making economic and social contributions to the region of the Netherlands where it is based. Therefore, the entrepreneurial spirit is one of the core values of the institution. The UT collaborates with Delft University of Technology and Eindhoven University of Technology under the umbrella of 3TU and is also a partner in the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).
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History
The University was founded in 1961 as the Technische Hogeschool Twente. After Delft and Eindhoven, it was the third higher vocational institute of technology in the Netherlands to become a university. The institution was named Universiteit Twente (University of Twente) in 1986. The Dutch government’s decision to locate the university 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.[2]
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 Dutch first - and so far 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 beautiful campus of the University has 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.[3] Besides, over hundred sports, cultural, international, social and business associations are part of the student life in the University of Twente.
Organization
Administration
The current rector of the university is Prof.dr. Thom Palstra. The other two members of the executive board are Mr. V. van der Chijs (President Executive Board) and dr. W.D. Built-Spiering (Vice-President) [4]
Faculties
There are five Faculties at the University of Twente:
- Behavioural Sciences, Management and Social Sciences (BMS+)
- Engineering Technology (CTW)
- Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS+)
- Science and Technology (TNW+)
- Faculty of Geo-information Sciences and Earth Observation (formerly known as ITC Enschede) (ITC+)
Each Faculty is in turn organized into several departments.[5]
Academics
Research
Institutes
- MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology (MESA+)
- MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine (MIRA)
- Center for Telematics and Information technology (CTIT)
- Institute for Innovation and Governance Studies (IGS)
- Faculty of Geo Information Science and Earth Observation ([null ITC])
- Programme for Science Based Engineering (SBE)
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+)
- CSTM - Center for clean technology and environmental policy (CSTM+)
- Nikos - Dutch institute for knowledge intensive entrepreneurship (Nikos+)
- STePS - Science, Technology, and Policy Studies (STePS) (+)
- TWC - Twente Water Centre (TWC+)
Education
The degree programmes at the University of Twente range from business administration, psychology to applied physics, engineering and biomedical technology. 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 (and several undergraduate programmes) are taught in English. Half of all PhD students at the UT 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 management and behavioural sciences.
The University of Twente sets great importance on the useful application of knowledge in the society. Patents, lifelong 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 over 1,000 spin-off companies; more than any other Dutch university.[6]
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.
Rankings
University rankings | |
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Global | |
ARWU[7] | 301-400 |
Times[8] | 153= |
QS[9] | 177 |
Europe | |
Times[10] | 69 |
The Leiden Ranking (2016) ranked the University of Twente 127 in Europe.[11]
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (2016) ranked the University of Twente 215 overall in the world and 75 in Europe.[12]
The 2016 QS World University Rankings ranked the University of Twente 177 overall in the world.[13]
The 2017 Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked the University of Twente 153 overall in the world.[14] Also, the University was ranked 82 overall in the world in the field of Engineering and technology and 61 in the field of Computer Science.[15]
In 2016 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranked the University of Twente 301-400 overall in the world.[16]
University of Twente also holds the title of the most entrepreneurial university in Netherlands and was voted the best Dutch university in the area of valorization.[17]
Timeline of rectors
- 1963 - 1967: Gerrit Berkhoff (died in 1996)
- 1967 - 1971: Jo Vlugter
- 1971 - 1974: Pieter Zandbergen
- 1974 - 1976: Jan Kreiken (d. 2001)
- 1976 - 1979: Izak Willem van Spiegell (d. 2005)
- 1979 - 1982: Harry van den Kroonenberg (d. 1996)
- 1982 - 1985: Wiebe Draijer (d. 2007)
- 1985 - 1988: Harry van den Kroonenberg (second term)
- 1988 - 1992: Jos de Smit
- 1992 - 1997: Theo Popma (d. 2013)
- 1997 - 2004: Frans van Vught
- 2005 - 2009: Henk Zijm
- 2009 - 2016: Ed Brinksma
- 2016–present: Thom Palstra
Notable alumni
- Iain Baikie, Professor of Physics, Winner of the Swan Medal
- Rob Bats Dutch politician
- Albert van den Berg (physicist) Professor of Physics, 2009 winner of the Spinoza Prize
- Ank Bijleveld Dutch politician
- Yasemin Çegerek MP of the Labour Party
- Peter Flach Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bristol
- Henry Franken Co-founder and managing director of BiZZdesign
- Dirk-Willem van Gulik Founder of the Apache Software Foundation
- Jaap Haartsen, Inventor of Bluetooth
- Bas Lansdorp Co-founder and CEO of Mars One
- Han Polman Dutch politician
- Gom van Strien Dutch politician
- Fred Teeven State Secretary for Security and Justice
Notes and references
- ↑ [Facts and Figures 2015-2016], University of Twente.
- ↑ "History of the University of Twente". Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ↑ "The Student Union". Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ↑ "Members of the Executive Board". Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ↑ "University of Twente, Faculties". Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ↑ "University of Twente Top universities".
- ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities: Global". Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ↑ "World University Rankings 2016-2017". Times Higher Education. 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
- ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2016/17". Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Best universities in Europe 2017". The Times Higher Education. 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Leiden Ranking 2016". Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ↑ "Webometrics Ranking of World Universities". www.webometrics.info. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2016".
- ↑ "Times Higher Education World University Rankings". Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ↑ "Times Higher Education World University Rankings - Overview University of Twente".
- ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2016". Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ↑ "University of Twente again voted the most entrepreneurial university in the Netherlands".
External links
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Coordinates: 52°14′33.85″N 6°51′11.75″E / 52.2427361°N 6.8532639°E