Nibs

With this quality system, called ‘Kennis in Kaart‘ (Knowledge Overview), the Ministry aims to establish an annual quality monitor for higher education, which will assess the overall educational performance of the respective institutions, as well as factors such as how many foreigners study at the institution and the average age of the personnel. The performance of the students is also factored in, but this is not used as a quality indicator for the institution. In the rankings, the University of Twente (11.6 percent), TU Delft (11.3 percent) and the University of Maastricht (11 percent) scored the highest, while the University of Amsterdam (3.1 percent), the University of Utrecht (2.1 percent) and Wageningen University (0.7 percent) had the worst rankings.
SMS SOS

A recent study by TU Delft PhD student Simone Sillem (TBM) found that sms messages are an excellent way to warn citizens of impending danger. The survey, carried out in the Dutch town of Vlaardingen and sponsored by Rotterdam-Rijnmond Regional Emergency Services and the Ministry of Social Affairs involved 726 participants, who, during a four-month period from March to August 2004, received sms messages that coincided with the sounding of the monthly air-warning siren, which rings for seven minutes and is used to warn citizens that, for instance, there has been a poison gas leak in the area. When a participant received the sms message stating, ‘ALARM, this is the monthly alarm test’, the person had to sms back the response, ‘yes’, as quickly as possible. 74 percent of the participants promptly responded to this message. While this test proves sms messages are an effective way to warn the populace, Sillem says “sms can never replace the air-warning siren, because not everyone has a mobile phone or always has it with them.”
Doubts

The TU’s onderdeelcommissies (faculty and departmental personnel committees) have little trust in the TU’s current reorganisation plan, with many of the commissions sharply criticising the plan. At the end of this month, the TU Workers Council will give the green or red light to the implementation of the reorganisation plan, which, if implemented, will result in major job losses in most university departments and faculties. “The report doesn’t give us the feeling that the reorganisation plan will lead to a significant improvement in the functioning of the university,” wrote a representative of the Architecture Faculty’s personnel commission. The TBM Faculty’s personnel commission said, “It’s not sure that this plan guarantees significant savings and improved university services.” Reform is needed, but the TU is acting in the extreme, is the general consensus of the various commissions. “Why must everything be done at the same time?” a TBM commission spokesman complained.
Victors

The TU Delft cabaret act ‘Ozzy & Tom’ won the 18th annual Groninger Student Cabaret Festival. The jury was impressed by the “ease, enthusiasm and charm” with which the duo performed their act, ‘Black/White’, as well as with their liveliness and musicality. The duo – Earth Science student Ewout ‘Ozzy’ Ongering (28) and Architecture student Thomas Buys (21) . were surprised by their victory. Ongering: “This isn’t meant to insult anyone, but the main reason for taking part in the festival was simply to have some fun.”

Delft shines

The Dutch Ministry of Education released a ranking of the quality of Dutch higher education institutions, and TU Delft was ranked second. With this quality system, called ‘Kennis in Kaart‘ (Knowledge Overview), the Ministry aims to establish an annual quality monitor for higher education, which will assess the overall educational performance of the respective institutions, as well as factors such as how many foreigners study at the institution and the average age of the personnel. The performance of the students is also factored in, but this is not used as a quality indicator for the institution. In the rankings, the University of Twente (11.6 percent), TU Delft (11.3 percent) and the University of Maastricht (11 percent) scored the highest, while the University of Amsterdam (3.1 percent), the University of Utrecht (2.1 percent) and Wageningen University (0.7 percent) had the worst rankings.
SMS SOS

A recent study by TU Delft PhD student Simone Sillem (TBM) found that sms messages are an excellent way to warn citizens of impending danger. The survey, carried out in the Dutch town of Vlaardingen and sponsored by Rotterdam-Rijnmond Regional Emergency Services and the Ministry of Social Affairs involved 726 participants, who, during a four-month period from March to August 2004, received sms messages that coincided with the sounding of the monthly air-warning siren, which rings for seven minutes and is used to warn citizens that, for instance, there has been a poison gas leak in the area. When a participant received the sms message stating, ‘ALARM, this is the monthly alarm test’, the person had to sms back the response, ‘yes’, as quickly as possible. 74 percent of the participants promptly responded to this message. While this test proves sms messages are an effective way to warn the populace, Sillem says “sms can never replace the air-warning siren, because not everyone has a mobile phone or always has it with them.”
Doubts

The TU’s onderdeelcommissies (faculty and departmental personnel committees) have little trust in the TU’s current reorganisation plan, with many of the commissions sharply criticising the plan. At the end of this month, the TU Workers Council will give the green or red light to the implementation of the reorganisation plan, which, if implemented, will result in major job losses in most university departments and faculties. “The report doesn’t give us the feeling that the reorganisation plan will lead to a significant improvement in the functioning of the university,” wrote a representative of the Architecture Faculty’s personnel commission. The TBM Faculty’s personnel commission said, “It’s not sure that this plan guarantees significant savings and improved university services.” Reform is needed, but the TU is acting in the extreme, is the general consensus of the various commissions. “Why must everything be done at the same time?” a TBM commission spokesman complained.
Victors

The TU Delft cabaret act ‘Ozzy & Tom’ won the 18th annual Groninger Student Cabaret Festival. The jury was impressed by the “ease, enthusiasm and charm” with which the duo performed their act, ‘Black/White’, as well as with their liveliness and musicality. The duo – Earth Science student Ewout ‘Ozzy’ Ongering (28) and Architecture student Thomas Buys (21) . were surprised by their victory. Ongering: “This isn’t meant to insult anyone, but the main reason for taking part in the festival was simply to have some fun.”