How will global political changes such as the rapid growth of China’s research activity or Brexit reshape higher education in Europe and the Netherlands? Professor Marijk van der Wende presented some answers at a seminar Thursday.
Chinese scientific publications are increasing. (Photo: Maria Rubal)
The construction of the One Belt One Road, also known as the New Silk Road, is one of China’s major global initiatives. Although it appears to be designed to influence the regional economy and politics, this project is expected to have an impact on research centres and technology universities around the world.
“Ideas travel and the New Silk Road is not going to only be a trade route,” explained Marijk van der Wende at an open lecture on Thursday 31stMay at TU Delft. She is a professor at Utrecht University and an expert on the effects of globalisation on higher education.
While Dutch universities are immersed in the internationalisation debate, China is developing a higher education system at an unprecedented pace and scale that will partly lift the pressure on Western universities. China has the second biggest budget allocation for R&D; the government is building new universities with the most modern infrastructure; and scientific publications and citation rates are increasing rapidly. The country is bringing back its researchers from abroad, especially experts in their strongest field: engineering.
“We should consider China as a potential world leader, not a follower anymore,” says Van der Wende, and the One Belt One Road is its new vehicle for global influence. Understanding China and the shift of global leadership to the East is crucial to predicting the implications this change will have on western and Dutch universities.
‘Technology universities are key to all 21st century challenges’
China’s new interest in higher education opens up many opportunities for European technical universities in terms of new partnerships and foreign investment. “But we should be aware of the challenges too,” says Van der Wende, “in areas like academic freedom, foreign policy, data security and open access.”
Dutch universities and research centres will not be immune to Brexit either, although the effects remain uncertain and will depend on what kind of relationships will be established between the UK and its former partners.
British and European research communities are deeply entangled. For many European states, including the Netherlands, the UK is a major partner in research cooperation. Universities like TU Delft receive considerable EU funding for joint projects with British teams. However, Germany is the most important partner in research and also home for most international students who study in the Netherlands. Van der Wende expects that one of the main consequences of Brexit may be an increase in the number of European students at Dutch universities.
To deal with the anticipated changes, Van der Wende advises Dutch and European technical universities to “look East” to the growing role of China in the global higher education landscape, and to be confident and courageous, build better and stronger partnerships but avoid being naïve. After all, “technology universities are key to all 21st century challenges.”
Maria Rubal / science editor
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