‘2015: a productive yet challenging year’

In her speech, Van der Meer Mohr noted that 2014 had been a great year – one that included highlights like the celebration and close of EUR’s 100-year anniversary. The President presented the 21 student volunteers of the Student Centennial Network with a certificate in acknowledgement of their valued contributions.

What’s more: according to the President, Erasmus University is well on its way to achieving the performance commitments agreed with the Dutch government. The University’s partnership with Leiden University and Delft University of Technology are also bearing fruit, in the shape of joint master programmes and honours classes among other things. And recently, the partners were treated to even more great news: both Medical Delta and LDE Centre for Sustainability will be receiving European funding for the development of a ‘Knowledge and Innovation Centre’. Finally, last month, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Municipality, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Rotterdam Partners launched the new joint pay-off ‘Make it Happen’.

Positive energy

Van der Meer Mohr is confident that 2015 would once again prove a good year for Erasmus University Rotterdam. In her view, we should now focus on maintaining the current positive energy. Plans are presently starting to bear fruit. For example, the University has started implementing a number of strategic programmes – in the field of internationalisation, among other things. In addition, Van der Meer Mohr referred to EUR’s progress in the area of campus innovation. Among other milestones, this year’s calendar will include the completion of the new multi-purpose Polak Building.

In addition, 2015 will see the launch of the new University Support Centre, which will offer top support to students and staff. In the view of Van der Meer Mohr, it’s all about running a financially sound and responsible university that will remain solid for many generations to come. “We need to make sure that our prominent curricula and research domains remain firmly and sustainably anchored in the profile of Erasmus University.”
In her speech, Van der Meer Mohr acknowledged that the University is occasionally forced to make tough decisions in connection with the various reorganisations. However, she stressed that in this process, the University strives to keep uncertainty for its members of staff to an absolute minimum.

Philosophy
With regard to the upcoming reorganisation at EUR’s Faculty of Philosophy, Van der Meer Mohr stated that while the University needs to reach a number of decisions in the year ahead, nothing definite has yet been decided with respect to the Faculty’s future. With the full support of the EUR Executive Board, Dean Jack Vromen is currently working on a sustainable future for the Faculty. According to the President, there can be no doubt as to Philosophy’s importance for the University in general. Van der Meer Mohr: “But in order to achieve financial solidity over time, choices will have to be made about focus areas and how this will translate in terms of organisation. I have full confidence in the outcome of the debate.”