Technical universities achieve their tax – De Stentor

The four universities achieve their tax. They got there in recent years as many students bulge in the lecture halls and laboratories, and there are too few teachers. A student stop for more technical studies in danger.

have received almost twice as many students four universities (TU Delft, University of Twente, TU Eindhoven and Wageningen University). In ten years they grew from over 32,000 to around 53,000 young scientists.

millions of euros that government, business and education spent in recent years to attract more technical pupils begin to reach their goal.

Two in ten
Now where two in ten of the students choose a technical study must Up to four in ten. Dutch companies are desperate for well-trained staff, but technicians is a serious shortage. The universities, however, now have difficulties to cope with the influx.

They complain about too little money. ,, The influx is so great that we have to curtail possible. That means we are going to look to stricter quality, for example, only take the best foreign students. Unless we get more money, ” said Victor van der Chijs, president of the federation of the four universities.

Unacceptable
Entrepreneurs FME, which represents thousands of companies in the engineering industry, says enrollment quota – Latin for “fixed number” – unacceptable. ,, This is the world upside down. The industry is desperate for well-trained technicians and the inflow finally getting better, ” responds president Ineke Dezentje.

She fears that companies go abroad if they can get enough highly trained personnel here. Dezentje: ,, That is the death knell for the innovation climate in the Netherlands’

gouge
For a number of studies already applies fixed quota, for example, mechanical engineering, industrial design. and technical medicine. Van der Chijs: ,, alone of the latter study could put three times as many students in companies. They already have a job before their studies are completed. ”

According to the FME universities have done too little to cope with the growth. But universities say behind the scenes have long been trying to pry more money from the Ministry of Education (OCW).

33 million
So far, Minister however did not come across the bridge Bussemaker. OCW calls it “absolutely incorrect” that the universities receive less money. In 2005, she received 5,500 euros per student per year for the last academic year was 6,700 euros. On top of the three universities were allowed to split a few years ago, another 33 million.

,, I can not imagine that they are surprised by the rising student numbers. They knew years ago that this was coming, ” said Bussemaker. ,, But the quality of education is paramount, so if they can not really influx and good education can not guarantee a fixed quota is in everyone’s interest. “

Enrolment quota
the minister believes that the FME shall likewise ensure that graduate engineers get a job. 40 percent opt ​​for a job in another sector and says half of engineering students that they want to work abroad after graduation.

Meanwhile, the universities hope to attract a new cabinet wallet. To avoid fixed quota, industrial companies have offered classrooms and teachers. Dezentje: ,, But the universities have not made use of our offer ”

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