The new, in office since 1 February, board of governors (CvB) has made its policy outlook known to personnel and students of this university in a memo, titled Heartbeat, which sets out their plans for the coming four years.
Comments accompanying the memo emphasise that this is a starting-memorandum with a strong innovative character, yet completely in line with the Institutional Plan 2000-2005. Among other things Hearbeat stresses shaping programmes in primary processes, education, and research. 'The academic heart beats within that. We want to have that heart beat stronger', according to rector Frans van Vught, 'and grow towards even more consistency of our educational and research programmes. Everything is connected. Consider Heartbeat as the co-ordination of all innovative activities set in motion within the UT.'
The possibility of a shift from 'collections of programmes' to a 'governmental model of schools and institutes' will be examined. A task force set up specifically will have devised a plan of approach to give the operation of Heartbeat hands and feet before 1 May.
In Heartbeat the CvB refers to the American scientist B. Clark, who has helped a number of times in the past. Clark concludes that enterpreneurial universities, like the UT, have to meet five success-conditions. The UT is doing well on a number of fronts, but the CvB recognises that other success-factors can be improved.
'A new competitive landscape is emerging, in which universities are trying to find their niche. Enterprising institutes like the UT who have an eye for the chances and threats of ICT have an advantage.'
An on-going strengthening of the 'academic heart' demands, according to the CvB an atmosphere of academic fellowship in which the interests of the part are made subject to the interests of the institutional plan. 'We see getting to such a fellowship as one of the most important challenges of the coming years'. The task force is led by Pieter Binsbergen, until this week head of the policy bureau. The intention is that Pim Fij, manager operations of the faculty of Computer Science, will succeed him in this function.
