Many alumni of the three technical universities (Twente, Delft and Eindhoven) work in the United States. These universities recently began setting up joint local alumni chapters in places such as Boston, New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Houston. With over 3,000 members in the US, the network of these Dutch alumni is very impressive. For example, the worldwide network of Dutch alumni is larger than the alumni network of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In November 2014, representatives of these three universities visited five US cities, during which time they launched local alumni chapters. Several local Dutch alumni have also volunteered to take over and keep these chapters “up and running”. During the visit, alumni events were also organized within companies like Google and Microsoft, where dozens more Dutch alumni work.
According to Joe Laufer, an American, who is responsible for the University of Twente’s alumni policy, “America is important to the Netherlands and to the Dutch technical universities. The US has a larger contingent of 3TU alumni than anywhere else in the world. The entrepreneurial culture there appeals to our graduates who work for many of the most prestigious American companies and organizations”.
Rice University
Mark Moll (University of Twente Computer Science alumnus - ‘95), who works as Adjunct Assistant Professor and research scientist in the Computer Science Department at Rice University, Houston, Texas, welcomes the establishment of the network. “The first meeting in Houston was a great success and, as a graduate of a technical university, you are immediately aware of the bond we share, as Dutch people, as academics and as engineers. I gave a presentation. In the future, I hope that I will also be able to welcome students, including PhD students, from the Netherlands.” Mark Moll is also convinced that a local alumni chapter can open doors for people, and that individuals can help one another to find work or to further their careers.
Harvard University
Andries van der Meer (University of Twente, Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering - ‘10) works as a Senior Research Fellow at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, in Boston. He, too, is very enthusiastic about the establishment of the alumni chapter. “What struck me is that those who attended our first meeting represented several different generations of alumni. These included Dutch people who have been living in the US for some time and who are curious about other alumni, whose lives and interests often intersect with their own. The atmosphere of the meeting was reminiscent of a reunion, and people were still chatting with one another long after the official proceedings had been concluded. It was great to have been there, this was a very positive first meeting.”
Anouk Dijkstal (Manager of Alumni Relations at TU Delft) points out that “By joining forces, the three universities’ networks have created a critical mass”. “That makes it all the more appealing to alumni in the US, and to students in the Netherlands who are looking for internships in America, for example. There are many Dutch alumni in the US, but they are often unaware of one another’s existence. Many of them have high-power jobs at reputable companies.”
Further details
A Linked-In group has been created for alumni in the US; see: tinyurl.com/USNLengineers
