Guus Schreiber (VU Amsterdam), former dean of the faculty of Science, is the new chair of the Steering Committee of the partnership between VU Amsterdam and the UT. Schreiber will fulfil this role for a year and has stepped down as leader of the Talent and Creating Smart Societies coalitions. 'I have taken off my VU Amsterdam cap and I am now fully in a combined VU-UT role.'
'The collaboration between the two universities is entering a new phase: from special to regular. I have the fine task of guiding and smoothing that transition and shaping the strategic ambition for the coming years. In doing so, I am confident of a good outcome, because we have already achieved a lot in recent years. Mechanical Engineering is running well, Creative Technology will start next year and we are also working hard and well together within the coalitions. We are growing and developing steadily and the main thing now is to embed the collaboration within existing systems and structures. This will also create more peace and quiet.
Ambitious and realistic
I like the fact that I get to play a role in this. It also does feel natural because I have been involved in the collaboration from the very beginning in 2017 and have always believed in it. In the coming year, I will be working on a strategic ambition document, together with the Executive Boards and the faculties. Ambition remains important but from a realistic perspective. This means we will look at what we do want and can do, but also at what we cannot do. For example, what educational offerings do we want to have on both campuses in five years' time? And what can we do with the need of some municipalities on the Amsterdam-Enschede line to also play a role in this?
Win-win situation
In the near future, it will mainly be a matter of getting to know a lot of people, talking and bringing people and topics together. In the fields of education, research and valorisation. For example, I will soon be talking to people from Earth and Environment, Advanced Technology and people from the Biomedical industry. In all this, the starting point will remain to go for a win-win situation. I have taken off my VU cap and I am now fully in a combined VU-UT role. And that doesn't cost me any effort. My bond with the UT subjects and people has always been good. Our similar ways of working and our shared spirit ensures that I also feel perfectly at home in Twente.'
