University of Twente

University of Twente

Motto	High Tech, Human Touch
Type	Public
Established	1961
Endowment	€304.5M
Rector	Thom Palstra
Administrative staff	2,602 (2016)
Students	9,645 (2016)
Location	Enschede, Netherlands
Website	www.utwente.nl/en

University of Twente (Dutch: Universiteit Twente; Dutch pronunciation: [ynivɛrsiˈtɛit ˈtʋɛntə]) is a university located in Enschede, Netherlands. It offers research and degree programmes in the social and behavioral sciences and in engineering. The University is committed to making economic and social contributions to the region of the Netherlands where it is based. Therefore, the entrepreneurial spirit is one of the core values of the institution. The UT collaborates with TU Delft, TU Eindhoven and the University of Wageningen under the umbrella of 4TU and is also a partner in the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).

The University was founded in 1961 as the Technische Hogeschool Twente. After Delft and Eindhoven, it was the third higher vocational institute of technology in the Netherlands to become a university. The institution was named Universiteit Twente (University of Twente) in 1986. The Dutch government’s decision to locate the university in Enschede, the main city of Twente, had much to do with the north-eastern province’s rich industrial history. Another important consideration was the fact that the local economy needed a boost to compensate for the dwindling textile industry.

The University of Twente was built on the former country estate of Drienerlo, situated between Hengelo and Enschede. On this beautifully landscaped 140 hectare estate, comprising woodland, meadows and water, architects Van Tijen and Van Embden designed the Dutch first - and so far only - campus university along American lines. Students and staff live, work and pursue their leisure activities on campus. Through the years, several other important architects and artists have made their own contributions to the design of the campus.

Students and staff at the University of Twente continue to form an active academic community. The beautiful campus of the University has excellent sports and cultural facilities that have stimulated the development of a rich mix of student societies, student social events, and a constant flow of new initiatives. The Student Union, which is run entirely by students, promotes the interests of all student societies and also manages several premises, including the student social centre in the heart of Enschede. Besides, over hundred sports, cultural, international, social and business associations are part of the student life in the University of Twente.