Not getting bogged down by endless discussions on how to cooperate effectively, but just doing it. That is the foundation for the partnership between University of Twente and the American Stevens Institute of Technology that had its kick-off a week ago at the University of Twente. The 'Urban Resilience' launch project aims to investigate how the two universities can sustainably support each other.
In November 2015, the UT and Stevens began their partnership during rector magnificus Ed Brinksma's and BMS dean Theo Toonen's visit to Stevens' campus in Hoboken, New Jersey. Agreements were made there to start a launch project: a research project in the field of city intelligence and water safety.
Prof. Alex Washburn, Prof. Gregg Vesonder and Prof. Jose Ramirez Marquez of the Stevens Institute of Technology visited Enschede for the joint kick-off of the launch project. A joint research programme that will be conducted in the following months was set up in a passionate and skilful way together with UT staff, three Bachelor programme students, four Master programme students and a doctoral candidate of the BMS, CTW and ITC faculties. It will be conducted both in Twente - where the Vechtstromen water authority is also a partner - and in the United States. To this end, the students will do research in Hoboken for a period of two months. The Urban Resiliency research programme focuses on the fields of data and information technology, data visualisation, asset management and leadership as well as on participation in urban development.
Developing the partnership
The launch project is a great opportunity for exploring and extending the further possibilities for cooperation. The idea is to have a broad approach with respect to education, research and the exchange of knowledge; not only between universities, but also between private sector and government partners in the applicable fields.
The parties involved worked together on creating an exceptionally productive week, states Kris Lulofs, Director of the Twente Water Centre (IGS), who leads the project together with Oscar Peters, Director of International Cooperation and Affairs (BMS) and Tatiana Filatova, Associate Professor (BMS). Introductions and exchanges between UT staff and Stevens staff took place, research projects have been defined and the parties have discussed the upcoming visit of a larger Stevens delegation to the UT campus on 24-26 April. Moreover, an Executive Exchange Program was discussed that will bring professionals to Stevens, Hoboken and New York. The UT's regional partners are involved in this Exchange Program for which the Vechtstromen water authority will take the lead.
An exchange of students and staff for the city intelligence and water safety fields builds upon the Rebuild by Design (RBD) initiative, an initiative in which Henk Ovink, the Special Water Envoy to the Dutch government, and other Dutch specialists contributed.
Stevens Institute of Technology and CRUX
Stevens Institute of Technology was founded in 1870 and is the Alma Mater of Frederick Taylor (1856 - 1915), one of the founders of Scientific Management. The Institute is one of the oldest technical universities of the United States. Stevens is home to three major national expertise centres that specialise in such themes as enterprise systems and systems engineering in the field of financial markets, health, urban development, energy, maritime safety, infrastructure and coastal resilience areas. Professor Alex Washburn, former NYC Chief Urban Designer, joined Stevens to head the Coastal Resilience and Urban Xcellence Center, Professor Gregg Vesonder is Industry Professor and Director at the Research, Systems and Software division at the school of Systems and Enterprises at Stevens. Jose Emmanuel Ramirez-Marquez, PhD, is Associate Professor at the School of Systems & Enterprises and Program Director at Stevens Institute of Technology.
