'2012 - the year of major construction work'

Pauline van der Meer Mohr’s New Year’s address

‘2012 is going to be the year of major construction work’ according to Pauline van der Meer Mohr, president of the Executive Board, in her New Year’s speech. By ‘major construction work’ she was referring to the redevelopment of the campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), educational reforms and improvements in the quality of the support services. The date was Monday, 9 January 2012; the event was Erasmus University’s traditional New Year’s gathering.

“It looks as if all of us are embarking on the New Year with our sleeves rolled up. That’s Rotterdam for you”, said Ms van der Meer Mohr. A first example of ‘major construction work’ she said was the renovation of Woudestein campus. By the same time next year the parking garage would have been erected, the basic construction of a new International House completed and the large lecture rooms’ hall operational again. “The campus will be looking splendid again for the opening of our centenary year 2013-2014.” In Hoboken a lot of hard work was going to be done to ensure that the new education building would be ready by 1 September.

‘Building work’ would also continue on the Rotterdam education model. “2012 is the year to sharply define our profile. For Erasmus University that means opting for quality. We want to offer our students an extremely challenging climate to study in. Studying at Erasmus means getting down to serious work from the word go and preferably graduating in the allotted timespan for the study as well.”
The Social Sciences Faculty (FSW) had already started working with the annual study duration deadlines. Once more was known about experiences with the new model a decision would be taken on the follow-up.

More work was also going to be done in the coming year on the support services, for one thing in the form of improvements to administrative processes. Ms van der Meer Mohr went on to say that the university’s finances were sound. She also said that it was vital to keep the intake of students up to scratch given the falling revenue being provided by central government.

Lastly, preparations for a new strategic plan (up to 2020) would also be embarked on in 2012. A major aspect was the partnership with Delft University of Technology and the University of Leiden. All universities had to submit their plans to the education ministry by 1 May. “Erasmus University hopes that it can submit a joint plan with Delft and Leiden which sets forth the goals and ambitions of our strategic alliance.”

See for more information:

Press information Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), (010) 408 1216 or press@remove-this.eur.nl