Renewal

This issue puts the spotlight on education, a topic that is probably close to your hearts. A lot has changed over the years, as you will read in an interview with a current student and his grandparents. In these times of technological progress, in which many of today’s workers can never stop learning and developing, educational renewal is more urgent than ever. Fortunately, the same technology also makes lifelong learning possible. We are sharing our knowledge with the world through our Extension School, which is about to enter a new phase. This renewal is also visible on campus. Although chalk may never completely disappear, digital smart boards are gaining ground. This is a step towards the lecture hall of the future, where online and campus students may soon be following the same degree programme.

At the moment, though, teacher workload is putting pressure on primary and secondary schools. Through our Master’s degree in Science Education, we are playing our part to address the shortage of science teachers. Water levels are also a cause for concern. In the Delta Futures Lab,  students from various programmes learn how they can work together to solve the complex problem of rising sea levels.

And this brings us to the biggest challenge of this century: climate change. This is an important theme in our education and research, and by making our own campus more sustainable, we want to put our money where our mouth is. When it comes to such topics, we live in a glass house; society scrutinises what we do. Fortunately, these glass houses are now very safe and comfortable, thanks to glass “bricks” made of waste glass. You can’t get much more sustainable than that.

Professor Tim van der Hagen,
President Executive Board