‘We will not take one single step without financing’

The Participatory Value Evaluation (PVE) that was run this spring shows that staff and students are divided about the Campus Rotterdam plans: 35% of the respondents is against, 27% for, and 38% only for a campus in Rotterdam ‘under certain conditions’.

This last group believes that the expansion needs to be financially responsible. In a time of cutbacks, TU Delft must not take any unjustifiable risks. Furthermore, the Campus Rotterdam must offer a demonstrable added value for education and research, and the expansion must not come at the cost of the campus in Delft in any way.

This does not sound like a firm basis on which to build. Yet, the programme team is continuing steadily. In collaboration with the Erasmus MC and Erasmus University, the Health and Technology bachelor is due to start in 2027. “But we will not take a single step without financing,” stress Maaike Kleinsmann and Han Derkx, Chair and Vice Chair of the programme team respectively.

Were you surprised by the findings of the Participatory Value Evaluation (PVE)?

Maaike Kleinsmann: “No, we had already heard them. The PVE confirms this and gives us useful information. The ‘yes, but’ camp in particular came up with concrete suggestions which we can use.”

What suggestions will you use?

Kleinsmann: “We will use the feedback to refine the course of action. The respondents see the content as the most important criterion and they see the collaboration with Rotterdam as an added value. This motivates us further to define the goals and preferences with our Rotterdam partners. It is a confirmation of the direction we are heading in.”

Derkx: “We will work with our partners in Rotterdam on what the education, research, and the practical application of knowledge – valorisation – will entail. We are also working more on the financial front. We are actively working on realistic business cases that will make the programme affordable. For example, for the new Health and Technology bachelor, we are working with teams from the Erasmus MC and Erasmus University regarding education, research and valorisation.”

How do these insights relate to the concerns of opponents who are scared of financial risks and overly rapid growth?

Kleinsmann: “A lot of the concerns are linked to the broader context of cutbacks and uncertainty. We cannot see them as separate from this project.”

Derkx: “The large long term amounts can be scary. This is why we are dividing the expansion to Rotterdam in small, substantive steps.”

‘We will not start any degree programme without financing’

But some respondents still believe that irreversible steps have already been taken.

Kleinsmann: “I get that. The fact that we are continuing to work on developing the learning can give the impression that the decision has already been taken. But we will not start any degree programme without financing.”

Is the Municipality of Rotterdam the biggest investor?

Kleinsmann: “Probably. But there are other potential investors too. There are more fish in the sea. We are working with several public and private entities.”

There will be municipal council elections in 2026. What will happen to Rotterdam Campus if a new coalition government revokes the municipal support?

Kleinsmann: “This is an unlikely scenario. There is a lot of support in the Rotterdam political arena. We have good relations with the civil service apparatus there. But you can’t predict what may happen.”

What is the role of the new strategic board and who has a seat?

Kleinsmann: “The strategic board is the drive behind the shared goal of making Rotterdam the leader in the area of societal transition. We do this by grouping knowledge and by training people who can give shape to these changes. TU Delft plays an important role here. The board is led by Mayor Carola Schouten. Other involved entities include Erasmus University, Erasmus MC, universities of applied sciences, vocational study institutions, the Port Authority, and of course TU Delft.”

‘We will bring our own qualities and identity. We will not lose them’

Who is the decision-maker should there be conflicting interests, for example if TU Delft wants something different to the Municipality?

Derkx: “Nobody will be forced to join in and do something they do not stand by. The set-up is comparable to partnerships like the Convergence (the academic partnership between TU Delft, Erasmus MC and Erasmus University, Eds.) and the Leiden-TU Delft-Erasmus connection.”

Is Campus Rotterdam still a TU Delft project?

Kleinsmann: “TU Delft Campus Rotterdam is and will remain a joint programme. We will bring our own qualities and identity. We will not lose them.”

What is the added value of a separate campus?

Kleinsmann: “Convergence is a good partnership in research. Campus Rotterdam adds to this. In the end, research and education need to reach out to and connect with each other. In one example, we have found accommodation for the Health and Technology bachelor, that may start in 2027, at Erasmus MC. The students will have lessons in their lecture halls and use their existing labs. This will create synergy between students and teachers. It will also enable us to keep the costs low.”

‘We do not want to say that Rotterdam will be the solution for downsizing issues. This will not be a relocation project’

What is the financing and rental contract duration situation?

Kleinsmann: “We will not enter into any long term rental contracts. We stick to a pay-per-use model. This means that we rent flexibly and can stop if it turns out to be financially unviable.”

Rector Magnificus and Executive Board Chair Tim van der Hagen called Rotterdam Campus a lifeline during the cutbacks period. To his mind, Rotterdam could play a role in any redundancies that TU Delft may incur. What is your view on this?

Kleinsmann: “Campus Rotterdam is not a direct solution for the reduction. Opportunities may arise, particularly in support services, but that is not the objective. Moreover, if activities in Delft are discontinued, it is unlikely they will align well with what we are building in Rotterdam.”

Derkx: “We do not want to create any expectations. This will not be a relocation project. There may be employment opportunities at the macro level, but whether these will be useful at the micro level – so in terms of individual positions – needs to be seen. There may be opportunities, but we do not want to say that Rotterdam will be the solution for the reduction plans, because that’s not the intention.”

When will there be clarity about any additional financing?
Derkx: “The programme budget of up to EUR 8 million will be used up in 2026, so new financing will be needed before then, together with our partners. We are working hard on this now.”

And if the financing is not found? Will the programme stop?

Derkx: “That would be the most extreme situation. Postponement is also an option. But (external) funding will also be needed for that part, even if it is limited.”