With growing dissatisfaction, I read Page Four of Delta 6. It concerns Short Stay Housing and, more specifically, the DuWo’s involvement in it. It really is a ridiculous story.
DuWo has made a tremendous effort to support the TU Delft’s internationalisation ambitions. The number of students on exchange and MSc programmes has increased by hundreds per year. The DuWo has continually stuck its neck out, also politically, to be able to provide accommodation on time. This has required a lot of extra effort from the DuWo. This year, a contract was signed for 600 students, to be exceeded by ten percent at the most. This month, the number of 660 has already been reached, whilst the year isn%t nearly over yet, this year’s total is likely to reach 750 housing units for exchange students. Furthermore, nearly 200 accommodations are provided for MSc students. Residents of the Roland Holstlaan are regularly consulted during residents meetings. They know why they don’t have freezer compartments and why the internet connections took so long. Within a month of the first mention of break-ins, a contract was signed with a security company. I don’t want to go into every point made in the article, but a study carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that the rents for furnished student accommodations in Delft for international students are below the Dutch average. A rent of Hfl 575 per month for a furnished room including energy, interior and maintenance is very reasonable, but of course higher than the accommodation rates in many of the students native countries. We try to make that clear on the students’ arrival. Besides, all students, both exchange students and MSc students, are free to terminate their contract with the DuWo and to look for cheaper accommodation. The comparison with sleeping under a bridge is ridiculous, the accommodations are usually good. Of course, things are not always perfect, but many guests and students are satisfied with the offered housing. The DuWo tries to think along with the TU Delft’s wishes by developing new concepts such as an International University House on campus. The members of staff at the DuWo and the TU Delft concerned with housing for international students, due to their involvement with the Student Service Centre and the MSc-programme, do not deserve this article.
The Delta’s negative representation of TU issues has bothered me before on several occasions, but for me this is the last straw. Unfortunately, I cannot cancel my subscription to the Delta, so I am withdrawing my cooperation with the Delta. To the Delta this may not be a significant gesture, but for my own credibility and the enjoyment of my job it is.
Annemarie Rima,
Director International Office
With growing dissatisfaction, I read Page Four of Delta 6. It concerns Short Stay Housing and, more specifically, the DuWo’s involvement in it. It really is a ridiculous story. DuWo has made a tremendous effort to support the TU Delft’s internationalisation ambitions. The number of students on exchange and MSc programmes has increased by hundreds per year. The DuWo has continually stuck its neck out, also politically, to be able to provide accommodation on time. This has required a lot of extra effort from the DuWo. This year, a contract was signed for 600 students, to be exceeded by ten percent at the most. This month, the number of 660 has already been reached, whilst the year isn%t nearly over yet, this year’s total is likely to reach 750 housing units for exchange students. Furthermore, nearly 200 accommodations are provided for MSc students. Residents of the Roland Holstlaan are regularly consulted during residents meetings. They know why they don’t have freezer compartments and why the internet connections took so long. Within a month of the first mention of break-ins, a contract was signed with a security company. I don’t want to go into every point made in the article, but a study carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that the rents for furnished student accommodations in Delft for international students are below the Dutch average. A rent of Hfl 575 per month for a furnished room including energy, interior and maintenance is very reasonable, but of course higher than the accommodation rates in many of the students native countries. We try to make that clear on the students’ arrival. Besides, all students, both exchange students and MSc students, are free to terminate their contract with the DuWo and to look for cheaper accommodation. The comparison with sleeping under a bridge is ridiculous, the accommodations are usually good. Of course, things are not always perfect, but many guests and students are satisfied with the offered housing. The DuWo tries to think along with the TU Delft’s wishes by developing new concepts such as an International University House on campus. The members of staff at the DuWo and the TU Delft concerned with housing for international students, due to their involvement with the Student Service Centre and the MSc-programme, do not deserve this article.
The Delta’s negative representation of TU issues has bothered me before on several occasions, but for me this is the last straw. Unfortunately, I cannot cancel my subscription to the Delta, so I am withdrawing my cooperation with the Delta. To the Delta this may not be a significant gesture, but for my own credibility and the enjoyment of my job it is.
Annemarie Rima,
Director International Office
Comments are closed.