2017: a year of cooperation

According to Kristel Baele, President of the Executive Board, 2017 is going to be a year of cooperation. During the New Year's reception for staff and students in the hall of Theil Building, she mentioned that the university is working on a new agreement with the municipality of Rotterdam. “We will work closely on finding solution to the complex urban issues, and enhancing international profile and branding of city and university.” 
 
In addition, during the upcoming edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam the five year partnership between this festival and Erasmus University will be celebrated. 2017 is also the year for the three new Erasmus Initiatives to shine and become visible. “Through these Initiatives we’ll be meeting the challenges of our changing society, building bridges between disciplines, between researchers, between people.”

University library
Looking ahead to 2017 Baele also mentioned the reopening of the renovated University Library and Sanders Building, resulting in an increase in the number of study places for students. In addition, ten new MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), new international masters and more diversity are work in progress. The latter will be promoted by a network of diversity officers in the university.

Looking back Baele referred to 2016 as a successful year, including better digital services for students, meeting the performance agreements, innovative research, the growth in the number of international students and a new double degree with Willem de Kooning Academy and Codarts.

Baele: “It is going to be a year of opportunities and possibilities. It won’t be easy to realize all of our plans and ambitions, and there are certainly tons of things to do, but I know that with the right attitude and through cooperation we can overcome every hurdle. (..) Only by working together, all of us - students and staff - can make this university better every day.”