HomeNewsThe University of Twente will be smoke-free

The University of Twente will be smoke-free Entire campus non-smoking on 30 March 2020

The University of Twente confirms its previously stated ambition to offer a healthy learning and working environment and is, subject to approval bij the University Council, moving towards a smoke-free campus in March 2020.

The University of Twente is concerned with the health of its students and staff and would like to offer them a healthy learning and working environment. The Executive Board of the UT has therefore expressed its desire to make the entire campus, excluding the residential area, smoke-free as of 30 March 2020. This measure is in line with the increased medical signature of the University and is supported by the new Tobacco and Smoking Products Act (formerly the Tobacco Act) that no longer permits smoking as of 1-1-2020 in the areas of educational institutions and which will be maintained as of 1-8-2020 to become.

Stop programs

A smoke-free campus has a major impact on the currently smoking student and employee. To ensure that the transition to smoke-free progresses as smoothly as possible, the UT is focusing on providing early information and offering help and guidance programs for employees to stop smoking. Existing facilities such as roofed smoking areas and public ashtrays will be removed on the entire campus site by the end of March 2020 and clear signs and lines will be placed. With regard to enforcement, the existing code of conduct and house rules of the UT provides sufficient tools for students and staff to address each other in a respectful manner about undesirable behavior.

Mirjam Bult, vice-president of the University of Twente's Executive Board

When it comes to sustainable employability and our growing technical-medical signature, we want to provide our colleagues and students a healthy work and study environment. We are investing in a variety of programmes to support smokers in their pursuit to give up smoking. In this way, we contribute to a smoke-free generation in 2040.

Mirjam Bult, vice-president of the University of Twente's Executive Board

Partner alliance ‘Alliantie Nederland Rookvrij!’

By making the campus site smoke free, the University of Twente supports the goal of the National Prevention Agreement (Nov., 2018) in which the government focuses on a healthier Netherlands with the aim of a smoke-free generation in 2040, where children and young adults grow up in a smoke-free environment and are no longer seduced to start smoking. Together, the UT wants to move towards a smoke-free generation and becomes a partner of the ‘Alliantie Nederland Rookvrij!’.

In the coming period, the UT will continue to explore with smokers and non-smokers what is additionally required to successfully realize the smoke-free campus.

drs. B.G. Lankhaar (Bertyl)
Spokesperson EB (Currently acting director Kennispark Twente)