It will be the third liberal arts and sciences programme at the UM, after University College Maastricht and the Science Programme. Again, professor Louis Boon is the initiator of a study with the familiar broad perspective and great freedom of choice for students to put together their own programme. What makes UCV different, is the focus on disciplines that are already important in Venlo as they are intimately linked with specific activities in the area. Venlo is one of the six Greenports in the Netherlands, with an emphasis on agriculture and related food industries. In addition, transport and logistics are spearheads. There is already a master’s in Global Supply Chain Management and Change by SBE, and a second by FHML, Health Food Innovation Management.
A remarkable characteristic is the practical orientation. Students will even do traineeships, and “traineeship is a phrase that wouldn’t go down very well at University College in Maastricht,” Boon said to the University Council last week. Another aim is collaboration with higher vocational education, but these plans are still somewhat vague. An option is to share laboratories, for example, says Boon. For research-based education but possibly for staff as well. Plans focus explicitly on campus-based scientific research. Boon: “To do one’s own research is necessary in order to create a viable academic climate, and to be able to appoint good staff.”
Living in Venlo was a topic that made the student section of the University Council wonder whether it was desirable. “What is student life like there? Are there any facilities? Sufficient accommodation?”
The latter is not the case, Boon said, “the market is bad but the city council really wants us and in time it will improve.” And the city itself, the students wanted to know. “Have you ever been to Venlo? How do you think that Maastricht was in 1976 [when the university started; ed.]? Well, I can tell you, Maastricht then was less than Venlo now!”
The UCV bachelor graduates are able to continue to do these master’s programmes, but that is not a must. UM Executive President Martin Paul revealed at the University Council meeting last week that he, as it happens, had spoken with colleagues from TUE and from Tilburg in Eindhoven that very morning: “They are interested, as University College could also mean master’s students for them.”