University of Twente

For other universities that use the UT mnemonic, see UT.
University of Twente
Motto High Tech, Human Touch
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).

University of Twente

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

Drienerlo tower on the campus.

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:

Each Faculty is in turn organized into several departments.[5]

Academics

Research

"Het Ding" "(The Thing)", by Jasper Latté and Jaap Hos

Institutes

Knowledge and research centres

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

As of September 2016
University rankings
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

Notable alumni

Notes and references

  1. ↑ [Facts and Figures 2015-2016], University of Twente.
  2. ↑ "History of the University of Twente". Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Student Union". Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  4. ↑ "Members of the Executive Board". Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "University of Twente, Faculties". Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "University of Twente Top universities".
  7. ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities: Global". Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  8. ↑ "World University Rankings 2016-2017". Times Higher Education. 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  9. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2016/17". Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Best universities in Europe 2017". The Times Higher Education. 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Leiden Ranking 2016". Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  12. ↑ "Webometrics Ranking of World Universities". www.webometrics.info. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2016".
  14. ↑ "Times Higher Education World University Rankings". Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  15. ↑ "Times Higher Education World University Rankings - Overview University of Twente".
  16. ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2016". Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  17. ↑ "University of Twente again voted the most entrepreneurial university in the Netherlands".
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Coordinates: 52°14′33.85″N 6°51′11.75″E / 52.2427361°N 6.8532639°E / 52.2427361; 6.8532639

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