PHOTO: REYER BOXEM
PROPOSITION
Fieke Rosenberg – Medische Wetenschappen
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor – John Ray’s
PHOTO: REYER BOXEM
This spring, the future is looking a little different. On 23 February, a new government team took office:
a cabinet that believes in the importance of education and research. In Rianne Letschert,
we have a Minister of Education who knows the academic world very well. I know her as a true connector, and I wish her every success.
RECORDED BY MARJAN BROUWERS
At first glance, the new cabinet's education plans look promising. They want to reverse the austerity measures of the previous cabinet, but whether that will happen remains to be seen. To do so, the new cabinet must first secure a majority, which makes the outcome uncertain. The findings of the Wennink Committee at the end of last year clearly underline the importance of investing heavily in knowledge, innovation, and talent. As a university, we can, for example, contribute substantially to scientific innovations that strengthen the societal resilience and critical infrastructure of the Netherlands and improve our security. Given the unrest in the world, this is sorely needed, but these processes take time.
I am delighted that the new cabinet values international cooperation. This is in line with our own policy. We are currently working hard to make agreements with new strategic partners on matters such as student exchange programmes, graduation projects, and double degrees. In this context, I visited Brazil and Indonesia last year, and we strengthened our ties with universities in India, Japan, and Singapore. As far as we are concerned, we are not turning inward, but working together with our international partners, which benefits the progress of science.
Unfortunately, we can no longer count on the US in this regard. As a result of current policy, America is no longer our academic guide. In fact, we are doing everything in our power to end our dependence on non-European tech companies such as Google and Microsoft as soon as possible. This is not easy, but our goal is to be digitally sovereign in four years’ time – or sooner still if possible. We have already taken the first steps in this direction by starting to work with the French company Mistral, a European alternative for ChatGPT, and we hope to take further steps soon.
Jacquelien Scherpen
Rector magnificus
PHOTO: REYER BOXEM
PHOTO: REYER BOXEM
At first glance, the new cabinet's education plans look promising. They want to reverse the austerity measures of the previous cabinet, but whether that will happen remains to be seen. To do so, the new cabinet must first secure a majority, which makes the outcome uncertain. The findings of the Wennink Committee at the end of last year clearly underline the importance of investing heavily in knowledge, innovation, and talent. As a university, we can, for example, contribute substantially to scientific innovations that strengthen the societal resilience and critical infrastructure of the Netherlands and improve our security. Given the unrest in the world, this is sorely needed, but these processes take time.
I am delighted that the new cabinet values international cooperation. This is in line with our own policy. We are currently working hard to make agreements with new strategic partners on matters such as student exchange programmes, graduation projects, and double degrees. In this context, I visited Brazil and Indonesia last year, and we strengthened our ties with universities in India, Japan, and Singapore. As far as we are concerned, we are not turning inward, but working together with our international partners, which benefits the progress of science.
Unfortunately, we can no longer count on the US in this regard. As a result of current policy, America is no longer our academic guide. In fact, we are doing everything in our power to end our dependence on non-European tech companies such as Google and Microsoft as soon as possible. This is not easy, but our goal is to be digitally sovereign in four years’ time – or sooner still if possible. We have already taken the first steps in this direction by starting to work with the French company Mistral, a European alternative for ChatGPT, and we hope to take further steps soon.
Jacquelien Scherpen
Rector magnificus
This spring, the future is looking
a little different. On 23 February,
a new government team took office: a cabinet that believes in the importance of education and research. In Rianne Letschert,
we have a Minister of Education who knows the academic world very well. I know her as a true connector, and I wish her every success.
RECORDED BY MARJAN BROUWERS
PROPOSITION
Fieke Rosenberg – Medische Wetenschappen
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor –
John Ray’s
