Following the opening address by Flierman, Dr. Martien Molenaar, the rector of ITC took to the floor. His lecture on development and capacity focused on the need for the integration of knowledge. He said, `International agendas should cut through cultures, religions, everything. Worldwide we need to be on the same level of understanding in order to address global issues.' He went on to explain that ITC, through earth observation and geo-information science, contributes to capacity building in less developed countries. `We not only need to deal with the huge mass of accumulated data, we also need to address issues of biodiversity, water access, climate change, governmental processes, and we need to use our information responsibly.'
According to Molenaar, the rapid advancement of technology has forced organizations to shrink their technical horizons from 25 years to five, thereby encouraging new business strategies. `Where in the past organizations had the whole process in-house, we now have distributed product and service supply chains. This means co-operating with partners abroad. Technical education should have an international outlook. We need to facilitate information exchange not only at an academic level, but also at a business and human level.'
During the panel discussion led by Tom Mulder, head of policy staff at the UT, Zijm discussed the importance of unity. `Learning and working together helps to build bridges, to overcome differences in opinion, to lead to mutual understanding. Even when we are facing problems, like what has happened in India, we should always keep the door open.' He went on to talk about the minority of female students applying to study technical disciplines in the Netherlands. `We need people, particularly in technical sciences and engineering disciplines. Developing countries represent an enormous market, but again, the economy is global. During our financial crisis, Chinese institutions are supporting western economies. These are all indications of changing roles, changing positions, which once more indicates it is in our own interest to keep lines, not only open, but to open them wider and to work together as much as we can.'
Molenaar stressed the need for Dutch students to be part of the international community. `I've been working on this issue for a long time. We think we're international, but we're self-centered. It's the same with the economy. Roles are changing. Developing countries have the same rights we have in a global economy. We're not use to that.' The question about how to strive for better integration between international and Dutch students is one that Zijm admits to have agonized over, and he claims to be disappointed by the lack of uniformity between the student associations.
When a member of the Student Union was asked to respond on the issue of integration, her reply of better communication sparked a language debate. Pramod Agrawal argued that English at the UT was superficial. He said, `On the surface, yes, it's English, but if you go a little bit deeper, no.' Molenaar advocated communication in English at top levels, and he also said, `the results of our surveys tell us that students are more comfortable with non-native English speakers because our English is fluent but at a level they can understand.' Zijm thought it was not something to shy away from. He mentioned the University of Utrecht where disciplines are taught in English from day one. He said, `In Groningen at the bachelor level, the first year is in Dutch, the second year is a mix, and by the third year it is almost completely in English. If we change to English in Twente it might affect the regional inflow, but we'll gain an international environment. Some disciplines won't be afraid to start to the experiment.' Mingliang Jin offered his views on the subject, saying that the lack of English at the bachelor level prevented Chinese students from applying to study at the UT. There was however, support among foreign students to preserve the Dutch language and repeated requests for more courses. One professor also argued that the UT was educating students for a global environment where the common business language is English.
In his closing, Zijm said he would continue to encourage the merging of scholarships and support internationalization with the role models provided by international academic staff. He said, `The things I've experienced have been a kind of free gift. Despite all our differences, people are more or less the same. It is in the best interest of the world, and certainly the Netherlands to become as international as possible. The centers of power are changing. We need alliances with countries that come to the stage. If we want to be a part of that we need to act.' The symposium closed with a performance by the Persatuan Pelajar Indonesian Enschede (PPIE) Dance Club. Zijm hangs up his hat as Rector Magnificus on the last day of 2008.
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| Rector Henk Zijm (center) in conversation with students at an international lunch following a symposium held in his honor, last Friday, at the Vrijhof Cultural Centre. |
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| Panelists at symposium (left to right): Mingliang Jin, Dr. Martien Molenaar (rector of ITC), Dr. Henk Zijm (rector of UT) and Elske Olthof. |
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| Tom Mulder, head of policy staff at the UT, presented Henk Zijm with a world map. He will step down as rector in by the end of year. |
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| Members of the Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia Enschede (PPIE) Dance Club captured the attention of their audience in a performance at the symposium in honor of Rector Henk Zijm on November 28 in the Vrijhof Cultural Centre. |
