TU/e: Academia meets tomorrow’s challenge
An interview with Robert-Jan Smits, President of the Executive Board of Eindhoven University of Technology
The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is deeply integrated with the local community, emphasizing academic excellence, industry collaboration, and societal impact. The university envisions a future of engineering education that fosters problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication, preparing graduates to meet the demands of the ever-evolving industrial landscape. TU/e aims to create a high-tech industrial environment in the powerful technology hub of Brainport Eindhoven, prioritizing collaboration and daring advanced breakthroughs to shape the future. We spoke to Robert-Jan Smits, President of the Executive Board of Eindhoven University of Technology about the unique position and developments for the TU/e.
“Our collaborations not only bring innovation to students, but also contribute to propelling Neways towards the next level of technological advancement.“
What does the university stand for?
Located in the dynamic Brainport Eindhoven region, the TU/e stands as a globally renowned institution deeply integrated with the local community. Established in response to the call from industry leaders Philips and DAF in 1956, the university is on the brink of celebrating its 70th year of existence. Its top ranking in academic co-publications with the industry, along with an impressive student post-graduation retention rate, highlights its significance, with 80% of engineers in the Brainport region proudly identifying it as their alma mater.
What is your view on the future?
The university’s vision for the future of engineering education emphasizes the need for graduates to excel in problemsolving, teamwork, and effective communication. We like to think of this as the “T-shaped engineer”, in which the vertical stroke of the “T” represents the depth of knowledge and expertise in a specific technical field, while the horizontal stroke represents the broad range of skills and knowledge across various field. We are realizing this with an evolution in educational approaches, with a focus on challenge-based learning, preparing graduates to meet the demands of the ever- evolving industrial landscape. With great success: our Challenge Based Learning approach has won several awards, including the first ever Higher Education Award from the Dutch Ministry of Education.
Additionally, the university is committed to driving societal change by translating top-tier research into responsible innovations with real-world impact, with special attention to sustainability. Collaboration with the industry, successful startups, and various research institutes and innovation hubs reinforce the university’s role as a catalyst for progress.
The university’s mission extends beyond academia, aiming to evolve into a living campus that seamlessly integrates with and serves the local community. This holistic approach ensures that the university is intricately woven into the fabric of society, embodying a commitment to regional and urban synergy. We envision reinforcing the strong high-tech ecosystem in the powerful technology hub of Brainport Eindhoven, prioritizing collaboration and daring advanced breakthroughs to shape the future.
The TU/e has experienced a notable surge in international student enrollment, surpassing the number of Dutch students in the current academic year. This record intake signifies the university’s expanding global influence and appeal.
What focus areas does the TU/e have?
Our academic departments encompass a wide range of technical and scientific disciplines, including Electrical
Engineering, Applied Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science. These departments are at the forefront of semicon, AI, advanced materials, future mobility, renewable and smart energy, and photonics, aiming to deliver next-generation technologies.
Our university serves as a hub of innovation excellence, driving cutting-edge research and delivering groundbreaking innovations. For instance, we are pioneering the development of 7G networks. In addition, we recently achieved the fastest data transfer speed ever recorded at 22.9 petabits per second. This breakthrough has significant implications for enhancing data transmission capabilities and overcoming existing limitations in fiber optic technology.
In collaboration with ASML, we are actively involved in establishing a well-defined research program with a focus on artificial intelligence and advanced chip production technology. Furthermore, a cutting-edge research center, along with a high-end cleanroom facility, is in the works on the TU/e campus, together with ASML. This initiative represents an investment of several hundred million euros.