The chairmen of Fontys Hogescholen and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) signed a cooperation covenant today, in the presence of the Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ingrid van Engelshoven. The TU/e and the Fontys technical study programs are already together on the TU/e campus, now the institutions will also coordinate and optimise student recruitment and the switching options. The aim is to offer students the best possible education, with a minimum loss of STEM talent, and to provide the Brainport region with the highly trained engineers that are so urgently needed.
In this way, the two institutions respond to the ambitions of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science’s recent Strategic Agenda for Higher Education. For example, the university and Fontys will coordinate course information and support for students ‘at the gate’, so that they start their higher education at the right place. ‘After the gate’, Fontys and the TU/e will harmonize the study programs, so that students will be able to switch smoothly from one institution to another, especially in the first year.
The cooperation is strongly rooted in the needs of the Brainport Region Eindhoven. For example the two institutions will facilitate even better that their students can work together on issues of partners in the region, partners such as industry and hospitals. Furthermore, they will work together to deploy hybrid lecturers; knowledge workers from the high-tech industry. In addition, TU/e and Fontys will align their study portfolios, especially in terms of master courses, so that the joint output of engineers meets the needs of the region. The two parties will also cooperate more closely in the field of research, in innovation accelerator the Eindhoven Engine.
Robert-Jan Smits, chairman of the Executive Board of the TU/e: “With this cooperation we optimize both the offer and the attractiveness of higher engineering education in the Brainport region. Together we have over 17,500 students on our campus. We are now going to make sure that each student gets the most optimal education”.
Joep Houterman, chairman of the Executive Board of Fontys University of Applied Sciences: “We are good neighbours and also important partners in higher technical education. Our current but also future students will benefit from this. At the same time, in the field of research and innovation, we will continue to work together on challenges in society”.
“This cooperation between Fontys and the TU/e, with an important role for industry, is of enormous importance for the region”, said Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven. “It contributes to lowering the shortage of higher educated technical staff, and it means more opportunities for students”.
