Maastricht UniversityProf. dr. M. Paul, President

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Maastricht University

• Netherlands: – GNP: $42.700– 13 Research universities

• Youngest research university in the Netherlands• Located in the south of the Netherlands, at the heart of Western-

Europe

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Development UM

Medical Science

Health Sciences

Biomedical Technology

Neurosciences

Molecular Life Science

Biobased Materials

Economics and Law

Informatics and Mathematics

Cultural Sciences

International Management

University College Maastricht

Maastricht Science Programme

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Maastricht UniversityProfile• Problem based learning, innovation in education• International orientation• Integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to research

and education

Campus network • Chemelot Campus• Maastricht Health Campus• Campus Venlo

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Facts and figures

Founding year 1976

Staff 3.928

- Of which scientific staff 2.189 (48% female)

- Of which international staff 24.1%

Students 15.916

- Of which international students 43%

Turnover 337 mln.

Promotions 213

Peer reviewed scientific articles 2.947

Other publications 1.041

5*Data 2011

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UM in international rankings

2011 2012

QS 109 107

THE 197 115

Shanghai 288 287

Ranking of young universities:

QS under 50 - 8

THE under 50 - 19

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How to get high up the rankings

• Merge: universities and knowledge institutes

• Skip languages and social sciences

• Recruit (future) Nobel prize winners

• Do not publish in books; only journals count

• Make sure academics use the appropriate

affiliation

Instead…

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Focus on the indicators QS/THE

Indicator Weight THE

Weight QS

a. Teaching Learning environment

15% 20%

b. International outlook

People & research 7,5% 10%

c. Citations Research influence 30% 20%

d. Research Volume, income & reputation

12%

e. Industry income

Innovation 2,5% -

f. Reputation Academic & employer

33% 50%

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Teaching: Learning environment

• Continuous innovation in education • Problem-based learning:

– Intensive– Small groups – Activating

• High quality of education • Education in English • Excellence programmes; Marble, PREMIUM • Joint and double degrees • Employability

• Leading in Learning programme as a catalist

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International outlook: International network university

• Reinforcing internationalisation• International Classroom• Joint degrees and global internships• Multidisciplinary research programmes with selected

partners• Integration of the international

(corporate) world in selected programmes

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Citations: Research influence

2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%

-0.14

-0.12

-0.1

-0.08

-0.06

-0.04

-0.02

0

ΔMNCS vs % non-English publications

ΔMNCS including non-english pubLinear (ΔMNCS including non-eng-lish pub)

• The higher the percentage of non-English publications, the bigger the drop in citation score when including these;

• Citation scores of English publications higher than non-English publication

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Research: Interdisciplinary themes

Focus on three interdisciplinary themes for the whole university:

Europe and a Globalising World

Learning and Innovation

Quality of Life

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Industry and innovation: UM campus network

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Chemelot Campus

• One of the largest CHEMaterials communities in Europe (> 800 ha)

• Industrial park and campus and education on location

• 106 enterprises on Chemelot; 68 new since 2005

• Many are leader in their specific product-market combinations

• “Open chemical innovation”: sharing knowledge in worldwide networks and international institutes

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• Cooperation UM/MUMC+• Specialised valorisation• >50 knowledge intensive institutions• Excellent education and research • Unique research facilities, for example Brains Unlimited

Maastricht Health Campus

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Brains Unlimited b.v. • Internationally-focussed, state-of-the-art Imaging Centre• Focus on problem-based fundamental and clinical research• Premier provider of executive education in high field Magnetic

Resonance Imaging• A partner of choice for research groups

– In healthcare providers, academic institutions and leading companies

– Across the medical, technology and associated industries

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Inner-City Campus

• Interdisciplinary education and research in faculties with alpha gamma focus

• Focus on societal issues• Active in research; NETSPAR, ROA, UNU-MERIT • Innovative programmes like UCM, School of Governance en Service

Science Factory• Maastricht Science Programme, linked

to MHC en Chemelot Campus• Transnational research embedded in

national networks

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Conclusion

The improving ranking results reflect Maastricht University’s prolonged and consistent strategy on:

• Innovative and high quality education

• Development of a distinctive research profile

• A university-wide international outlook

• High graduate employment:

Graduate Employment study 2011

Cohort 2004-2005

Business and Economics

94%

Health and Life Sciences

94%

Medicine 90%

Arts and Social Sciences

93%

Psychology and Neuroscience

90%

Law 95%

Maastricht University

93%

ROA data 2011

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• However, rankings should be interpreted with care: scores are determined by set indicators and weightings

Criticism:– No fair comparison is made– No attention for different HE systems or distinctive features of an

institution– Lack of transparency– Snapshot of performance

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Thank you for your attention!