Prof J.N. (Joost) Kok is leaving the University of Twente with effect from 15 May. Joost has been the dean of UT's Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) since February 2018. He will continue his career at TU Eindhoven, where he will become vice-dean of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. He will be active as a professor of Applied Data Science for one day a week.
Joost Kok on his departure: "I look back on the past six years with warm feelings. Together, we have achieved some great results, with impactful education and research. We have established great collaborations with municipalities, companies and public organisations. student numbers have also increased in recent years. That is very relevant, given the high demand for technically skilled personnel in the labour market. Student appreciation for our educational programmes is high and the programmes are very well regarded. I would like to express my thanks to all those colleagues and students who have contributed to all these developments."
Before coming to UT in 2018, Kok was a professor of computer science and professor of medicine and initiator and director of the Leiden Centre of Data Science and the Sports Data Centre. Joost was the scientific director of the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) for eight years. Before his appointment as scientific director of LIACS, Kok was programme director of all Computer Science programmes at Leiden University for ten years.
The Executive Board is currently considering how to fill the position left vacant by Joost's departure, and hopes to provide more clarity on this in the near future.
