Delft student satellite launched

The Delfi-C3 is the fourth Dutch satellite to be launched and also the smallest – about the size of a pack of milk.On the 28th of April at 03:53 UTC the Delfi-C3 was successfully launched with a PSLV launch vehicle. At 06:45 UTC the first signal was received from a radio amateur in California. At 11:55 UTC the satellite signal was acquired and decoded at the TU Delft groundstation, initial analysis showed the craft to be in excellent condition, all solar panels and antennas were deployed and the internal temperatures and voltages were within the ranges expected. The team is thrilled with this accomplishment and will continue operations after tonight celebratory barbeque!//Delfi-C3

Holland: Abolish right to move onto master's degree

The unconditional access to a master's degree should be abolished, in the view of the Association of Universities in The Netherlands, VSNU. It hopes that bachelor's students will work harder when they lose the right to automatically move on to a contiguous master's programme. Every Dutch bachelor's programme has a so-called doorstroommaster. A graduate of the bachelor's programme Organisation Studies can continue directly on to the master's programme Organisation Studies. Bachelor's students of Fiscal Law are given unconditional access to the master's programme Fiscal Law after having completed the 'attached' bachelor's programme. According to the VSNU, this right to continue in a contiguous master's should be abolished in order to intensify education in the bachelor's phase. Without this right, bachelor's students would be stimulated to get more out of their studies. After all, the VSNU argues, students do more when they have to 'apply for' a master's programme place. A strange argument, in the opinion of Peter Essers, who is programme coordinator of both the bachelor's and the master's programmes in Fiscal Law. "The bachelor's diploma is a condition to move on to a master's programme", he says. "If you have problems with the level of bachelor's students, than you should do something about the exam requirements of that study programme. This is unrelated to whether or not you can move on automatically." Tilburg University's rector Frank van der Duyn Schouten shares the VSNU's point of view. He does not expect, however, that abolishing the right to continue in a contiguous master's programme would mean that students at Tilburg University could be refused for such a programme. Only students who graduated by the skin of their teeth should be strongly advised against taking a master's programme. The VSNU sees more advantages in a complete separation between bachelor's and master's programmes. This way, a university can make clear choices about the package of master's programmes it offers, and it will bring more diversity to master's programmes. Students, on the other hand, might need to have a good think about a specific master's programme before choosing it. [MF/transl.YV]//Univers. Tilburg University

Non-EEA students face tuition fees hike in 2008/09 study year

Students from outside the European Economic Area (EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) studying in the Netherlands face a rise in tuition fees from the 2008-2009 academic year. The move will affect all non-EEA students following profession-oriented programmes (HBO). Non-EEA students following academic study programmes (WO) are already paying the increased tuition fees. Full cost tuition For Dutch students, tuition fees are around €1,500 a year. After the last increase, the tuition fees paid by non-EEA nationals for profession-oriented programmes were already €3,500. Most higher education institutions in the Netherlands offering profession-oriented study programmes have said they intend to start charging the full cost of tuition, an amount that could top €7,000 a year according to the NRC Next newspaper. Alternatives for the most talented students The Netherlands has the ambition to strengthen its knowledge economy by attracting highly talented academics from overseas. Drastic increases in tuition fees for international students is not going to help the cause, of course. The problem will be solved by awarding ‘knowledge scholarships’. According to NRC Next, the first of these scholarships will be awarded in 2009, although this has not been officially confirmed. Also unclear is how many knowledge scholarships will be available. Why the increase in tuition fees? The Dutch government has decided to stop directly subsidizing international students. The institutions offering profession-oriented programmes will receive the same level of funding, but will now be able to spend it as they wish. Many institutions have therefore decided to charge non-EEA students the full cost of tuition. NRC Next reports that many institutions are claiming that they have no choice. However, this is disputed by the Ministry of Education, Culture & Science.//Nuffic.nl

Holland: Job seeker total hits record low

The number of people actively looking for work is at a record low, reports news agency ANP.Figures from the CWI job centres show a drop of 12,000 in March, bringing the total to 441,000. This is 5.8% of the working population, the lowest ever figure.The number of unemployed dropped in all age groups, says ANP, with the largest decline in the under-27s.//DutchNews.nl

Holland: 90% of Students in Holland can get by well

Ninety per cent of students report that they can get by fine. One-third even manages to put money aside. Eleven per cent of students can barely scratch a living. This is the outcome of a survey conducted among 300 participants of the Dutch National Union of Students (LSVB) student panel. Three-quarters of students have a monthly budget between €400 and €1000; 15% have less than €400 to spend each month. The remaining 11% have an income above €1000 per month. Students who are short of money are creative in finding solutions. They mention options like living soberly, borrowing money or looking for extra work. Of the students questioned, 80% reported having a job on the side. For about one-quarter of this group a maximum of four hours' work per week is enough, the rest work more. Quite a large group spends sixteen to twenty hours per week on paid jobs. Students are careful with their money when it comes to drinking, food and clothing. Twenty per cent spend less than €100 per month on these; 40% spend less than €200 per month. Students spend most of their money on rent, tuition fees and study materials. [RA/transl.YV]//Univers.Tilburg University

Holland: 'Second master's year unnecessary'

Employers and graduates have no need for a second year in the master's programmes, which now take one year, the Dutch schools inspectorate concluded last week. In the report Masterjaren tellen, the schools inspectorate concludes that master's graduates of one-year programmes, and their employers, have no complaints about the duration of these programmes. This is the concern of several master's providers. They are of the opinion that one year is too short to guide students to the desired level. For this kind of bottleneck, an extra year is not the best solution, states the inspectorate. Instead of one extra master's year, universities can better raise the level of their bachelor's programmes. In addition, the inspectorate suggests that master's programmes should set their goals clearer. The inspectorate's conclusions fit the view of Tilburg University's rector, Frank van der Duyn Schouten. For years already he, unlike many other rectors, has disputed the necessity for a standard second year. During the academic year's opening ceremony, Van der Duyn Schouten stated that he would rather use the money to give further training to secondary school teachers. The rector makes an exception for students who 'have the courage' to switch to another master's programme, or students who enter the university from higher professional education (hbo) study programmes. [SD/transl.YV] //Univers.Tilburg University

Dutch research universities on YouTube

Dutch research universities are European leaders in research and education. All of the 14 Dutch research based universities are members of the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (Vereniging van Universiteiten - VSNU). University education and research in the Netherlands has traditionally been characterised by high quality and has always been internationally oriented. The universities of the Netherlands possess a good infrastructure which facilitates internationally oriented education and research. They continue to build on a long academic tradition, nationally and internationally, and have networks at their disposal comprising the oldest and most prominent universities in Europe and beyond. In 1575, the first university in the Netherlands was founded in Leiden. The newest university was founded in Maastricht in 1976.

Twente University: Full MTEC scholarships

After a tender procedure, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed the University of Twente as the university where some 40 students from central and eastern Europe will complete a Master programme in Public Administration for a period of two years. The Dutch government will be refunding the costs as part of the MATRA Training for European Cooperation (MTEC) programme. This programme has been devised to support the transition from totalitarianism to multiform democracies in central and eastern Europe. 15 Scholarships are awarded in the academic year 2008/2009. The scholarships are intended primarily for recent college graduates and young officials from new European Union member states and pre-accession states. In addition to attending the master’s programme, students will take part in a social programme – which includes an introduction to the Netherlands – and will follow a personal development programme. Enrolment is open until 1 July 2008.//Matra Scholarships of Twente University

Saxion university: European Master Facility Management

Three Dutch institutes of higher education offer the opportunity to obtain a Masters in Facility Management, in collaboration with the University of Greenwich in London. The Facility Management faculties offer students a one calendar-year full-time course, studying together with Dutch and international students. This exceptional opportunity gives students the chance to acquire a UK MSc title, while studying in the Netherlands. The course even offers some students the possibility of taking certain modules at the University of Greenwich in London. The Masters degree in Facility Management takes the above characteristics into account, using an integrated approach of policy, management, facilities and information technology. The main theme of the course is strategic management. You will follow classes in an international setting; students from several parts of the world, teachers from the Netherlands and abroad and the possibility of following classes in the UK. //Saxion university

Leiden University: MA in International Relations and Diplomacy

This master’s programme offers a unique blend of academic education in international relations and political science with graduate education and training in international negotiation and diplomacy. The programme is offered jointly by the Department of Political Science of Leiden University and the prestigious Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ in The Hague, which aims to promote the understanding of international affairs and devotes special attention to European cooperation, international security, and diplomacy. In the current era of global interdependence, collaborative efforts are needed in order to meet the most important challenges in international politics, security and economics. Increased trans-national channels of communication, global trade and capital flows characterise an increasingly interconnected world of nation states and non-state actors. Challenges to global governance can be met most effectively by patterns of international and transnational cooperation and diplomacy. Objectives The Master’s programme prepares students specifically for careers in international diplomacy, international governmental and non-governmental organisations, national or international public administrations, ‘think tanks’ and research institutions, international interest associations or international business. It also aims to prepare students for possible continued academic training within the framework of a doctoral programme. Teaching Methods Teaching in this programme is highly interactive. Most classes are taught in a seminar format. Students are expected to actively prepare for and participate in classes. Because this programme involves classroom work, individual research, and written assignments, there is close consultation between students and staff. Duration The duration of the programme is two years Students attend several core courses in political science and international relations. Furthermore students are provided with specialised knowledge and hands-on experience in the area of diplomacy and international organisation, and insights into the actual practice of international negotiation and diplomacy. In the second year of the programme students also have the possibility of either completing an internship at an international organisation or attend an additional specialised course. Both Leiden University and Clingendael have contacts with international and Dutch organisations, including the European Union and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The programme’s internship coordinator can assist students in finding internships. The programme is concluded with the submission of a Master’s thesis on a topic in international relations, international organisation or diplomacy. Academic requirements A Bachelor degree (or equivalent) from a recognised university in political science, international relations, international law, public administration, economics, sociology or history. In exceptional cases, applicants with prior education in other fields, but with outstanding academic qualities, or with excellent professional training in the area of international relations and diplomacy, may be admitted to the programme. The number of students admitted to this programme is limited. Demonstrated excellence in prior academic education. Demonstrated proficiency in spoken and written English as evidenced by a TOEFL score of at least 570(paper based)/230(computer based)/89(internet based) or an IELTS test level of at least 6.5).//Leiden University

UN simulation attracts hundreds of students to Maastricht

In April over 400 students from all over the world will be participating in the European Model United Nations (EuroMUN) in Maastricht. Simulation The conference is a precise simulation of a session of the UN General Assembly, with the same committees meeting and negotiating on typical UN issues such as the situation in Kosovo, climate change and the accession of the Western Balkan countries to the European Union. The conference also has an impact on the real UN. The EuroMUN will feature exchanges with officials at the UN Headquarters in New York via a live video chat link. In addition, there is a parallel programme for UN Youth Delegates, who attend sessions of the General Assembly as official members of their country’s delegation, speaking on behalf of their governments and taking part in negotiations on youth-related themes. The number of registrations has already exceeded all expectations and the participants represent over 40 nationalities. Setup The programme mainly consists of meetings of the different UN committees in various buildings belonging to Maastricht University, preceded by an opening ceremony in the town hall/Spaans Gouvernement Museum/Theater aan het Vrijthof. New Zealand’s ambassador Rachel Fry will speak at the ceremony, as will a senior representative of the Slovenian Permanent Mission and a senior official of the European Parliament. To bring the conference even closer to reality, there is also a parallel programme for students of journalism. Like the participants, they come from all over the world and will take on the role of the media, publishing a daily newspaper and interviewing delegates at press conferences. And last but not least, there is a lively social programme, the highlights being the EuroMUN Global Village and Global Party on 17 and 19 April. Goal The organiser of EuroMUN 2008 is UNSA (University Maastricht United Nations Student Association), an interfaculty, non-profit organisation whose aims are to improve knowledge of the United Nations and international diplomacy, and raise awareness of important global issues. To this end it organises training courses and MUNs, and advises and supports students wishing to attend conferences in other parts of the world. The conference is supported by the Executive Board of Maastricht University. Other major partners include UNRIC (United Nations Regional Information Centre) in Brussels and UN DPI (United Nations Department of Public Information). //Nuffic

Tilburg University: faculty of Economics & Business focuses on students

The master's programmes of faculty of Economics & Business Administration will be reorganised. "At the moment the faculty has seventeen different master's, which is very complicated for an outsider", says Koedijk. By making the package of master's programmes more transparent and their names clearer, the faculty aims to become more attractive to international students. At the moment, about 15% of Economics students are from abroad. The faculty is aiming for 25 to 30%. "The market is enormous, and Tilburg University offers students something special: American quality for a European price." By American quality, Koedijk means the leading position of 'his' faculty in particular. He is convinced that students strongly benefit from a good research climate, for instance, by having lectures from good researchers, but also in a broader sense: they benefit from the university's good reputation. It is, therefore, important to join the global research top a little faster, which includes having top scientists. Two top researchers were appointed recently. These positions led to the financially troubled Economics department being given priority. As a result, most professors of the new European Banking Center will be placed on the payroll of Economics. [Ries Agterberg & Stijn Dunk/transl.YV]//Univers of Tilburg University

Corpus Human body museum: games online

In March in Holland was opened an unique museum of humand body - CORPUS. Corpus is a 'journey through the human body'. During this journey the visitor can observe, experience and hear how the human body works. It is possible to take a thrilling journey in the 5D-heart theatre as a red blood cell, and discover the spectacular operation of the human brain in the brain show. How do your intestines respond to a cheese sandwich? What happens when you sneeze? Where on your tongue do you taste sugar, or salt for that matter? One can find out the answers to these and thousands of other questions on the amazing voyage of discovery for young and old during CORPUS 'journey through the human body'! In the medical center of the CORPUS is offered a lot of range of information about human body. The museum also becomes an education and entertainment center. For instance, for children are offered several educative Corpus games on line and take tests.//Corpus. Museum of Human Body from Holland

Holland: Good network is key to good job

People who are active in an association or for an organisation more often have a job with a higher salary and social status. The main reason for this is the network they have built up. This is the conclusion sociologist Stijn Ruiter draws in his PhD thesis, which he defended at theat the Radboud Univeristy Nijmegen. "It looks good on my CV", is the view of many students who are active in a student or study association. But are they right? "Participation in society leads to better jobs, but the most important explanation for it lies in the network you build up, and probably less in the fact that the employer looks at your CV", says Ruiter. Only for a first job is having had work experience with an association likely to be important, because for a person without any experience it is a unique selling point." For his thesis Ruiter used information from the 'Familie Enquete Nederlandse Bevolking 2000' (Family Survey of the Dutch Population 2000), a research conducted by the Sociology department of the Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen. In this survey more than 1500 Dutch people were questioned about, among other things, their job histories and participation behaviour. Using this information, Ruiter was able to show a causal connection between participation and getting a better job. Members of social organisations are likely to get better jobs than people with a similar education, background and job history who are not members of an organisation. Ruiter: "People with a good network have more access to relevant information. Networks tell you 'what is for sale' and increase your chances of meeting people with connections who can help you with your career." A remarkable thing is that it does not matter whether you are an active or passive association member. Active volunteers do not have better chances than ordinary members. "But it is wise to become a member of an association where people have a higher social status. Members of such organisations find better help than do members of other associations." [SB/transl.YV]//Univers.Tilburg University

Stenden University: story about Russian student Starkova

Elena Starkova is a 23-year-old Master student of International Leisure and Tourism Studies. She comes from the Russian city of Perm, which lies in the Western part of the Ural Mountains and is considered to be the most Eastern city of Europe. During the last year of her studies at Perm State University, from which she graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor degree in Socio-Economic Geography, Elena started to work in her uncle’s company, which is one of the biggest tour operators in Perm. There she had to do a lot of different jobs, starting from administrative work and assisting various managers in their duties, to organization of events and working as a snowboard instructor in a winter camp for kids. All these tasks, together with her 5 years of experience in skiing and snowboarding, as well as parachute jumping, horse riding and skating were supposed to prepare her to become a manager at the newly opened department of Active Tourism. However, instead, Elena decided to concentrate on her education for a bit longer,which is why she came to Leeuwarden to do her Masters here. “I have been dreaming of studying in The Netherlands since I was 14 or 15. This country attracted me by its freedom, people and history. I have always been fascinated by how people manage to live below sea level and strive with water to survive,” explained Elena. As Elena already had a bachelor degree and some experience in Tourism,MAILTS was a logical choice for her. “So I was searching online for a university in the Netherlands that offered a Master programme in Tourism. The educational bureau "Eurogates" that I contacted directed me towards CHN (now Stenden) University, which also attracted me with an opportunity of getting a scholarship.” “I like the international environment here and that people are friendly and smiling and ready to help you. I enjoy the interactivity of the learning process and that students are also involved in it… It is very different from Russia,” remarks Elena. At the same time, she finds studying in a foreign language challenging and is surprised that students call teachers by their first name. For her dissertation Elena is planning to research the application of the Learning Region project to the Tourism sector in the Perm Region. “After the graduation, I want to work in tourism on a management level, making planning and policies as well as researching and promoting sustainable development in tourism. But before I do that, I would like to have a broader understanding of the service industry on the whole, which is why I have already applied for the second Master programme in International Service Management. It’s a two year part-time programme, but I will try to finish it in only one year as I have already been working as a Problem Based Learning (PBL) tutor at Tourism Management department. During my second education, I also want to improve my Dutch and get more practical experience,” concluded Elena.Konstantin Gridnevsky// Stenden University

Holland: Tuition fee increase will hurt students

One third of university students will quit their studies if tuition fees are raised sharply over the next few years, according to research by the students’ union LSVb, quoted in Friday’s AD. The fees for Dutch and EU students, currently €1565, are being increased by €22 a year for the next 10 years. It is expected that tuition fees will reach €2100 by 2018. The money will be used to increase teachers’ pay. The LSVb polled 300 students. Of them, 75% said they had no money left at the end of the month and one in 10 did not have enough cash to live on. Students currently have to repay their study loans within 15 years, but education minister Ronald Plasterk is considering increasing that to 25 years, news agency ANP reported.//DutchNews.nl

University Twente: why don't Dutch women get depressed?

In the Vrijhof Amphitheater at the UT, Ellen de Bruin, psychologist and journalist for the science section of the NRC Handelsblad, amused her audience with her portrayal of the modern-day, Dutch biking goddess, who handles life's small obstacles with her efficient practicality through rain, hail and wind. On its first reprint, de Bruin's book, `Dutch Women Don't Get Depressed,' is the Dutch retort to the worldwide bestseller, `Why Don't French Women Get Fat,' and the Asian equivalent, `Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat.' In a search for an answer to her title, de Bruin conducted interviews with psychologist, historians, world travelers and experts. Her final conclusion was that Dutch women, though not completely immune to depression, are happier then most women in the world. In a study to discover levels of happiness, conducted by professor Rutt Veenhoven from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Dutch women ranked number 15 on a world chart, scoring a 7.4, a result that placed the Dutch higher then most countries. Based on her research, she discovered certain characteristics of Dutch women as being: bossy with their husbands, great cyclist, lousy at hospitality, sometimes naïve, and possessing natural beauty. One example, says de Bruin, `If you come around a Dutch family at dinner time, you get sent away. They say, we're going to eat in 5 minutes and it's not an invitation. It's go away, come back later.' `This is because Dutch women are very assertive and very self confident and they can say anything they like,' says de Bruin. The Netherlands remains an open society, a land where marijuana is legally sold, euthanasia is permitted, and one of the few countries in the world to legalize and tax prostitution. `Equality is really a determinate for happiness,' says de Bruin. She believes in the freedom of personal choices, `In the Netherlands, we are free to choose our own life. We are free to choose our religion, our own sexual orientation, and who we marry' and she concludes, `All these freedoms make us happy.'//UT Nieuws

Holland: Prince 'not the most water efficient'

Crown prince Willem Alexander, who is the figurehead of the UN’s efforts to provide clean water and proper sanitation worldwide, sometimes showers twice a day - even three times if he has been doing sport. However, the prince said in the AD newspaper that he always turns the tap off while cleaning his teeth and that the toilets at his home in Wassenaar have water-saving flushes. The prince also said he was able to get up, washed, dressed and in his car within seven minutes.// DutchNews.nl