Technological research pays off – IRI expands – Fast internet still possible – China and TPM rule – Espionage Fine – Fewer star prizes
Technological research pays off
The financial profits generated by technological research are still meagre, but they will rise, according to the annual ‘utilisation report’ of the technology corporation, STW. STW, which distributes government funds among Dutch universities, demands that research be fundamental and also directed at applications. STW also annually investigates how successful the projects that have are funded for five- and ten-years have been. 1995 appears to have been a peak year: STW invested 63.4 million guilders in 87 projects. These projects resulted in 27 patents, of which half of them were also supported by trade and industry. Until now, the yield of these projects is 70 million guilders, which represents a small profit compared with STW’s initial investments. The year 1990 was less successful: STW invested 53.8 million guilders, resulting in 12 patents, 29 agreements with trade and industry, and a yield of only 4.25 million guilders.
IRI expands .
Finally, after being delayed for almost thirty years, the Interfaculty Reactor Institute (IRI) has been given the green light to expand. Last Tuesday the first pile was driven into the ground, witnessed by TU Rector Wakker and IRI President Ad Verkooijen. Ever since the Minister of Education stopped the plans for a new building in the 1970%s, IRI has used barracks as a temporary solution. They barracks will now be demolished or sold. The new L-shaped building, covering some 4,500 square meters, will have an austere design and will cost 16 million guilders, of which the TU is paying 11.5 million. The completion of the new building in 2003 will coincide with the institute’s 40th anniversary
Fast internet still possible
The TU has found another Adsl-provider to replace Cistron, although the contract has not yet been signed. Since September 21, about four hundred TU employees and students have had to do without their fast internet facilities because of an argument between Cistron and KPN, the Dutch telephone company. A few technical alterations will be necessary, however, such as a link between BaByXLs and the TU’s networks. Also, a regular KPN telephone connection is required.
China and TPM rule
The TU’s MSc courses are very popular in China. Of the estimated 134 new MSc students this year, 45 are Chinese. Last year, Indonesia still ruled with 21 students (now 28), while China had only 13. Ambitious newcomer: Iran, delivering five MSc students. The 2001-2002 MSc students come from all over the world, including Ethiopia, Lithuania, Iceland, Nepal, South Korea, Venezuela, Portugal. In total they represent 37 nationalities. Technology, Policy and Management (TPM) remains the most popular course with 30 new attendants, followed by Electrical Engineering (28), Architecture (20) and Technical Informatics (16). Only Marine technology failed to attract a single MSc student this year.
Espionage Fine .
Prospective members of certain student societies in Utrecht and Groningen must sign a contract before they start the ragging (initiation) rituals, declaring they aren’t journalists. If they are in fact journalists and publish their initiation experiences, as happened last year in Utrecht, they must pay a fl. 25,000 fine. However, unlike Groningen, Delft student societies aren’t following Utrecht’s example. ”It’s an exaggerated measure,” Sint Jansbrugs Broer Duursma says. He isn’t afraid of spies, because there is no reason for negative publicity, he claims.
Fewer star prizes
148 first-year students – three fewer than last year – have been granted special TU scholarships that are aimed at attracting clever graduates to Delft. This year 33 students have been deemed truly brilliant (excelling in mathematics, physics, Dutch and English),earning them star prizes worth ten thousand guilders. The other bright, but not brilliant, students must be satisfied with five thousand guilder grants. Aerospace engineering students seem to be especially clever: 12 of the 33 star grants were awarded to Aerospace students. However, both of TU’s student parties disapprove of the scholarships, complaining that ”students should be attracted by the high quality of courses, not by money.”
(The last three articles were published in Delta 28, 2001.)
Technological research pays off
The financial profits generated by technological research are still meagre, but they will rise, according to the annual ‘utilisation report’ of the technology corporation, STW. STW, which distributes government funds among Dutch universities, demands that research be fundamental and also directed at applications. STW also annually investigates how successful the projects that have are funded for five- and ten-years have been. 1995 appears to have been a peak year: STW invested 63.4 million guilders in 87 projects. These projects resulted in 27 patents, of which half of them were also supported by trade and industry. Until now, the yield of these projects is 70 million guilders, which represents a small profit compared with STW’s initial investments. The year 1990 was less successful: STW invested 53.8 million guilders, resulting in 12 patents, 29 agreements with trade and industry, and a yield of only 4.25 million guilders.
IRI expands .
Finally, after being delayed for almost thirty years, the Interfaculty Reactor Institute (IRI) has been given the green light to expand. Last Tuesday the first pile was driven into the ground, witnessed by TU Rector Wakker and IRI President Ad Verkooijen. Ever since the Minister of Education stopped the plans for a new building in the 1970%s, IRI has used barracks as a temporary solution. They barracks will now be demolished or sold. The new L-shaped building, covering some 4,500 square meters, will have an austere design and will cost 16 million guilders, of which the TU is paying 11.5 million. The completion of the new building in 2003 will coincide with the institute’s 40th anniversary
Fast internet still possible
The TU has found another Adsl-provider to replace Cistron, although the contract has not yet been signed. Since September 21, about four hundred TU employees and students have had to do without their fast internet facilities because of an argument between Cistron and KPN, the Dutch telephone company. A few technical alterations will be necessary, however, such as a link between BaByXLs and the TU’s networks. Also, a regular KPN telephone connection is required.
China and TPM rule
The TU’s MSc courses are very popular in China. Of the estimated 134 new MSc students this year, 45 are Chinese. Last year, Indonesia still ruled with 21 students (now 28), while China had only 13. Ambitious newcomer: Iran, delivering five MSc students. The 2001-2002 MSc students come from all over the world, including Ethiopia, Lithuania, Iceland, Nepal, South Korea, Venezuela, Portugal. In total they represent 37 nationalities. Technology, Policy and Management (TPM) remains the most popular course with 30 new attendants, followed by Electrical Engineering (28), Architecture (20) and Technical Informatics (16). Only Marine technology failed to attract a single MSc student this year.
Espionage Fine .
Prospective members of certain student societies in Utrecht and Groningen must sign a contract before they start the ragging (initiation) rituals, declaring they aren’t journalists. If they are in fact journalists and publish their initiation experiences, as happened last year in Utrecht, they must pay a fl. 25,000 fine. However, unlike Groningen, Delft student societies aren’t following Utrecht’s example. ”It’s an exaggerated measure,” Sint Jansbrugs Broer Duursma says. He isn’t afraid of spies, because there is no reason for negative publicity, he claims.
Fewer star prizes
148 first-year students – three fewer than last year – have been granted special TU scholarships that are aimed at attracting clever graduates to Delft. This year 33 students have been deemed truly brilliant (excelling in mathematics, physics, Dutch and English),earning them star prizes worth ten thousand guilders. The other bright, but not brilliant, students must be satisfied with five thousand guilder grants. Aerospace engineering students seem to be especially clever: 12 of the 33 star grants were awarded to Aerospace students. However, both of TU’s student parties disapprove of the scholarships, complaining that ”students should be attracted by the high quality of courses, not by money.”
(The last three articles were published in Delta 28, 2001.)
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