The VU-UT visit to the University of Twente on 3 October 2024 was a day to remember. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Vinod Subramaniam, President of the UT Executive Board, who set the tone with his enthusiasm and vision for our partnership. He also highlighted upcoming budget cuts in education, emphasising how essential it is to keep innovating and to unite our strengths.
Marketers Sijanda de Boer (VU) and Arianne Colenbrander (UT) shared their insights on how we can further enhance our collaboration from a marketing perspective. Jurnan Schilder, UT’s Mechanical Engineering site director, reflected on the growth and successes of our joint bachelor’s program over the past five years. Finally, Majed Chahwan and Nathan Jacques, the current and former team managers of Student Team RISE, offered a fascinating look at their innovative approach to reusable rockets and what it means for the future of space exploration.
After the presentations, we had the opportunity to connect and explore the beautiful, green UT campus. The woodland cabins, where VU students often stay as part of their Mechanical Engineering and Creative Technology studies, left a lasting impression. The idea that students find inspiration here in the heart of nature, working together to tackle societal challenges, highlights what makes our collaboration so unique.
The visit provided an excellent chance to strengthen existing relationships and forge new connections. It was a perfect blend of networking, knowledge sharing and inspiration. With new insights and fresh enthusiasm, everyone left looking forward to the next visit at the VU, where we can continue to build a bright future together for the Alliance VU-UT!
