Education

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Not dumberThis week Dutch Premier Balkenende opened the academic year with a speech at Leiden University in which he stated that the Netherlands isn’t a dumber country than other countries, but the nation must learn better ”how to use its head”.

Universities must do more to spread and exploit knowledge. Balkenende, an entrepreneur-turned-politician, said researchers and entrepreneurs now operate in two separate work environments and have unsatisfactory contact with each other, and this must change because it’s costing the Netherlands in terms of lost opportunities for innovation. He also plans to stimulate young people to study technological subjects. Currently, 14% of Netherlanders study technology-related subjects, compared to a 21% average in the rest of the EU.

Competing universities

Minister of Education Maria van der Hoeven said the universities that deliver the best research results should also receive the most money from the government, during a speech at Tilburg University. The National Science Union (NOW) will oversee this move to performance-based financing. Van der Hoeven plans to create more competition among universities. Performance-related rewards will also apply to individual researchers.

Not dumber

This week Dutch Premier Balkenende opened the academic year with a speech at Leiden University in which he stated that the Netherlands isn’t a dumber country than other countries, but the nation must learn better ”how to use its head”. Universities must do more to spread and exploit knowledge. Balkenende, an entrepreneur-turned-politician, said researchers and entrepreneurs now operate in two separate work environments and have unsatisfactory contact with each other, and this must change because it’s costing the Netherlands in terms of lost opportunities for innovation. He also plans to stimulate young people to study technological subjects. Currently, 14% of Netherlanders study technology-related subjects, compared to a 21% average in the rest of the EU.

Competing universities

Minister of Education Maria van der Hoeven said the universities that deliver the best research results should also receive the most money from the government, during a speech at Tilburg University. The National Science Union (NOW) will oversee this move to performance-based financing. Van der Hoeven plans to create more competition among universities. Performance-related rewards will also apply to individual researchers.

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