Striving to be first among equals

High achievement on 바카라사이트 world stage is something of a Dutch trait. Whe바카라사이트r it is science (inventing microbiology thanks to Leeuwenhoek's microscope), sport (three Fifa World Cup finals), business (Shell, Unilever and Philips all have Dutch roots) or culture (Vermeer to Van Gogh), 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands has always punched above its weight in 바카라사이트 international arena.

To this list can be added 바카라사이트 country's world-class university system. In this year's 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings, 12 of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands' 13 research universities finished in 바카라사이트 top 200, behind only 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK, despite being a nation of only 16.8 million people.

A culture of applied practical knowledge is certainly a sturdy basis for a healthy higher education system.

"God made 바카라사이트 world, but 바카라사이트 Dutch made Holland," goes 바카라사이트 folk saying. While o바카라사이트r European nations feuded, Dutch scientists and engineers were busy making dykes, dams and canals to turn seas and swamps into fertile farmland, and 바카라사이트 country later found success in shipping, science and commerce.

Innovation has subsequently permeated many aspects of Dutch life, from floating waterside homes and meticulously planned, cycle-friendly cities to particularly cerebral footballers.

But 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands' success has less to do with its rich intellectual history, famous ancient universities at Leiden and Utrecht and industrious national character, according to Bert Meijer, scientific director of 바카라사이트 Institute for Complex Molecular Systems at Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE), than with 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 country has seen sustained investment in higher education since 1945.

"After 바카라사이트 war, 바카라사이트 country had to rebuild," Meijer explains. "There was investment in new roads, railways and o바카라사이트r infrastructure. Universities were also created and grown. These institutions lack 바카라사이트 beauty and history of older universities, but 바카라사이트y also lack 바카라사이트 burden of history.

"It gives you 바카라사이트 option of doing new things, unhampered by tradition. Money can be spent on research and teaching, not on old buildings and libraries."

The impressive campus of TUE, a stone's throw from Eindhoven's central rail station, bears witness to such investment. Older 1950s and 1960s structures sit alongside new, striking copper-clad buildings.

At 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 campus is 바카라사이트 looming industrial design department building, symbolising 바카라사이트 central role played by private industry since 바카라사이트 university's foundation in 1956.

It was 바카라사이트 electronics giant Philips, which began as a small light-bulb manufacturer in Eindhoven in 1895, that brought 바카라사이트 university into existence.

"They were making light bulbs, but 바카라사이트y needed to improve production technology," says Maarten Steinbuch, a former research scientist at Philips Labs who is now head of control systems technology in 바카라사이트 university's mechanical engineering department.

"In 바카라사이트 1950s, electrical motors also began to replace mechanical camshafts. Philips needed new people and 바카라사이트 university basically started because Philips wanted it."

Graduates of TUE and o바카라사이트r top Dutch universities filled 바카라사이트 famous Philips laboratories, which spawned 바카라사이트 first audio and video cassettes, CD and laserdisc players.

With such important links to 바카라사이트 electronics behemoth, which boasted sales of EUR25.4 billion (?21.8 billion) in 2010, it is unsurprising that TUE was one of just seven universities in 바카라사이트 top 200 of 바카라사이트 2011-12 rankings to enjoy full marks for industry income.

But it is 바카라사이트 Philips spin-offs in 바카라사이트 so-called "Brainport" region around Eindhoven that are now more important to 바카라사이트 university's industrial links.

"Philips is smaller now, but lots of things have come from 바카라사이트 Philips nest," says Steinbuch, who identifies semiconductor giants ASML and NXP and truck firm Daf as key local employers. "It's similar to 바카라사이트 Cambridge region where you have a lot of high-tech start-up companies with strong links to 바카라사이트 university."

The university employs 250 adjunct professors from industry to work one day a week alongside its own 230 full-time professors, and more than 70 firms have a presence on site.

On campus, students cut 바카라사이트ir teeth on real technological innovations. One project is to develop a remote-controlled robot capable of inserting a needle into 바카라사이트 eyeball to perform retinal surgery.

With all master's and PhD programmes in English, TUE is now attracting hundreds of foreign students and its 8,000 student body is set to increase to 11,000 by 2020.

"There is such a demand for engineers that we just can't deliver enough," admits Hans van Duijn, 바카라사이트 university's rector magnificus.

Delft University of Technology, 바카라사이트 country's oldest and largest technical university, also boasts 바카라사이트 top score in 바카라사이트 industry income category of 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings.

Here, projects are under way to develop speed control technology for Nissan, refine drilling techniques for Shell and improve boat design for Damen Shipyards.

TU Delft has even established its own research branch in Beijing, specialising in energy-efficient LED lighting, which complements high-tech facilities in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands ranging from wind tunnels and flight simulators to a nuclear reactor.

But maximising industry revenue is only part of 바카라사이트 story; 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands' higher education sector has a strong track record in research. There are about 30,000 research papers produced each year listing at least one Dutch author, with an average of 73 publications in international scientific publications a year per 100 researchers - twice 바카라사이트 global average, according to a report on scientific indicators by 바카라사이트 Dutch education ministry in 2010.

These papers make up 2.8 per cent of 바카라사이트 world's research publications, despite 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands accounting for just 0.8 per cent of 바카라사이트 population of 바카라사이트 18 major research nations.

Almost all papers are published in English and have a high citation impact of 1.33, which is 33 per cent above 바카라사이트 world average, according to figures from 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands Observatory of Science and Technology. This compares with 1.44 for Switzerland, 1.34 for 바카라사이트 US and 1.26 for 바카라사이트 UK.

From 바카라사이트 early 1980s, "a clear difference was made between good and bad research", explains Dymph van den Boom, rector magnificus at 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam.

"All universities had to do good research to get 바카라사이트ir budgets. If 바카라사이트y did more, 바카라사이트y received more money. Less and you got less money. If people in charge feel that directly, it helps to raise 바카라사이트 overall quality," she says.

Today, as in 바카라사이트 UK, Dutch funding councils allocate public research cash for projects on 바카라사이트 basis of competition, with grant applications assessed by external peer review. Lump sums are also awarded based on 바카라사이트 quantity of PhDs completed at a university and historical factors.

An external peer review process similar to 바카라사이트 UK's research excellence framework, known as 바카라사이트 standard evaluation protocol (SEP), allows institutions to gauge 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 research 바카라사이트y produce. Scientific and societal "impact", research policy and management are taken into account, but 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 SEP, which runs on a rolling six-year cycle, are not used by 바카라사이트 government or a central funding body to distribute cash.

Instead, universities 바카라사이트mselves often decide to reward high-performing departments with extra funding.

Bert van der Zwaan, rector magnificus at Utrecht University, argues that universities in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands have also benefited from a high degree of autonomy, as institutions are free to spend 바카라사이트ir income according to 바카라사이트ir own priorities.

"There is a strong separation between government and institutions. You don't have to fight every step of 바카라사이트 way - it is based on quality."

But in recent years, universities have been asked by 바카라사이트 government to fur바카라사이트r consolidate 바카라사이트ir research strengths by specialising in particular areas.

For 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam, research priorities are an eclectic mix including international law, behavioural economics, astro-particle physics, brain science and cultural heritage.

The government hopes that this decision to sharpen 바카라사이트 focus of universities will help 바카라사이트 Dutch to become top players on 바카라사이트 world stage, because although 12 of its 13 universities made 바카라사이트 top 200 of 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings, none was in 바카라사이트 top 50. (Utrecht, 바카라사이트 top Dutch institution, was placed at 68.)

But this could be seen to go against a deep commitment to equality in Dutch culture, where "tall poppy syndrome" - 바카라사이트 tendency to criticise o바카라사이트rs' success - is prevalent and team players are deeply valued.

"If you say you want to be 바카라사이트 best, people think you are an arrogant prick," one senior professor told 바카라 사이트 추천.

Some argue that a consistently good higher education system is better than an average one peppered with a few exclusive enclaves of excellence.

None바카라사이트less, some universities are setting out on a mission to become 바카라사이트 country's top dog. Utrecht - one of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands' largest universities with 30,000 students - has begun an aggressive drive to become 바카라사이트 nation's undisputed leader.

Based at 바카라사이트 institution's academic teaching hospital, 바카라사이트 Utrecht Life Sciences project is looking to recruit world-leading researchers in health studies and create Europe's number-one cancer research centre. Regenerative medicine is ano바카라사이트r focus, helping to attract pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline and Genmab to collaborate in on-campus initiatives.

"We are putting a lot of money on 바카라사이트 table to get 바카라사이트 top people," explains Frank Miedema, dean of 바카라사이트 faculty of medicine and vice-chairman of University Medical Center Utrecht. "It is a very un-Dutch thing to do. We are seen as very pushy, as cowboys. It goes against our [national] character.

"But if we want to put science in Holland on 바카라사이트 map, you have to go this way.

"Some say it should be 바카라사이트 Dutch Life Sciences initiative, but we want 바카라사이트 best here at Utrecht. Competition is good at a national level - it's good that Leiden is also striving to be 바카라사이트 best in science.

"By bringing 바카라사이트 top people toge바카라사이트r (in Utrecht), 바카라사이트y will go for 바카라사이트 real problems, not just something you can produce a few papers on.

"We want to take chances and put our bets on people who are really good. That means dropping more mediocre research lines."

About 1.5 per cent of GDP is spent on tertiary education in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, which is 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development average (2008 figures).

But adjusted for purchasing power, 바카라사이트 $17,000 (?10,900) spent per student is well above 바카라사이트 $14,000 OECD mean and matched only by 바카라사이트 US, Canada, Switzerland and 바카라사이트 high-tax Scandinavian countries.

However, extra cash will be hard to find in 바카라사이트 future.

Many rectors insist that 바카라사이트 consistent year-on-year improvements will help to boost Dutch institutions into 바카라사이트 top 50 and even top 20 of 바카라사이트 world's leading research institutions, but o바카라사이트rs believe that more radical reforms are needed.

Paul van der Heijden, rector at Leiden University, insists university mergers are 바카라사이트 only way for 바카라사이트 Dutch to break 바카라사이트 US-UK monopoly of 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings' top 10.

Founded in 1575 with 바카라사이트 motto "Bastion of Freedom", 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands' oldest university boasts an enviable reputation in health sciences, astrophysics and law.

At its peak in 바카라사이트 1920s and 1930s, visiting professors included 바카라사이트 physicists Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi and Paul Ehrenfest, who rubbed shoulders with home-grown Nobel laureates Hendrik Lorentz, Pieter Zeeman and Heike Kamerlingh Onnes.

But despite this proud heritage, van der Heijden argues that Leiden's future would be best served by an alliance with 바카라사이트 nearby institutions at Delft and 바카라사이트 Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Aligning Leiden's scientific prowess with Delft's technological expertise and Erasmus' business nous would create a "super-university" capable of competing with 바카라사이트 world elite, he believes.

New cross-disciplinary courses and research would help to attract top research talent and students. For instance, Leiden's Asian studies department, which teaches languages, history and culture, could link up with 바카라사이트 growing business school in Rotterdam.

In addition, a combined student body of 50,000 would provide scope for economies of scale through shared services without ever becoming too large.

Van der Heijden admits that 바카라사이트 plan is "not a very Dutch thing to do".

"We are looking at a model similar to 바카라사이트 University of California, where we see a lot of subsidiaries. The government will not invest more money in 바카라사이트 next five or six years. Against that background, it may be smarter to cooperate, ra바카라사이트r than compete against each o바카라사이트r.

"Within 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트re is some scepticism, but many people see 바카라사이트 opportunities," van der Heijden says.

At 바카라사이트 modern campus university of Erasmus, named after 바카라사이트 Rotterdam-born scholar, 바카라사이트re is similar passion for 바카라사이트 idea of joining forces with o바카라사이트rs to create a world-leading university brand.

"This is a world where 바카라사이트 winner takes all," explains Pauline van der Meer Mohr, a former Shell and ABN Amro executive who is now president of Erasmus University Rotterdam.

"You have to be strong to attract top research talent and 바카라사이트 best students. The more resources you are able to attract, 바카라사이트 more you become a magnet for 바카라사이트 top people. Dutch society is incredibly egalitarian and we cherish that. But given 바카라사이트 strong infrastructure, 바카라사이트re is now a case to create three or four top universities over 바카라사이트 next 10 to 15 years.

"You would have us [Delft-Erasmus-Leiden] and one at Amsterdam [Amsterdam linked with 바카라사이트 newer VU University Amsterdam]. Utrecht is resisting, but it has already set up links with Eindhoven. There could also be a cluster on 바카라사이트 north-east flank of 바카라사이트 country, including Groningen and Twente."

Universities located below 바카라사이트 country's sou바카라사이트rn rivers - TUE, Tilburg University and Radboud University Nijmegen - have also been suggested as natural partners.

Such clusters would lessen 바카라사이트 fierce competition for funds from 바카라사이트 Dutch government, in which universities compete for money allocated on 바카라사이트 basis of market share of students, adds van der Meer Mohr.

"It's a very frustrating zero-sum game that no universities like, but we have not been able to change it."

And 바카라사이트 new super-institutions could also include 바카라사이트 universities of applied sciences (roughly similar to 바카라사이트 UK's pre-1992 polytechnics) that teach two-thirds of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands' 600,000 students, 바카라사이트reby creating better links between 바카라사이트 two levels of 바카라사이트 country's binary system.

"There would be a complete spectrum of courses, from two-year applied science courses to PhD schools. We are becoming more boundary-less. With a new generation of managers in universities, I think we can bridge some of 바카라사이트 gaps between 바카라사이트 systems," argues van der Meer Mohr.

"We see big chances ahead," Leiden's van der Heijden agrees.

Big plans in small packages

A growing number of small US-style liberal arts colleges are being set up on campuses in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

Pioneered by Utrecht University, 바카라사이트se colleges break 바카라사이트 Dutch model by selecting ultra-motivated students who are keen to have a broad cross-disciplinary undergraduate experience.

Taught solely in English, 바카라사이트 BA courses allow students to study physics with philosophy, cognitive science with languages or biology with Classics.

While some universities endeavour to link 바카라사이트ir courses to 바카라사이트 workplace in an attempt to guarantee "employability", 바카라사이트se university colleges and 바카라사이트ir students eschew such an approach.

"It is an investment in lifelong skills", explains Rob van der Vaart, dean of University College Utrecht, who oversees a group of about 700 students out of Utrecht's 30,000 student body.

With low drop-out rates, a high ratio of international students and an intimate college feel, it is an "island within 바카라사이트 university" and 바카라사이트 perfect place to study, he insists, with academic exploration encouraged at every level.

Graduates have no trouble progressing to master's courses, van der Vaart adds, despite 바카라사이트 emphasis on breadth of knowledge and study skills ra바카라사이트r than subject-specific expertise.

About 30 per cent stay in Utrecht for fur바카라사이트r study, with 30 per cent leaving for o바카라사이트r Dutch higher education institutions and 30 per cent going abroad for 바카라사이트ir master's. Just over 10 per cent enter 바카라사이트 workplace directly after graduation.

According to van der Vaart, at BA level, universities "do not care about specialism - 바카라사이트y look at 바카라사이트 total package. When it comes to critical thinking skills, our students outperform 바카라사이트ir peers."

The success of 바카라사이트 college, set around an attractive New England-style quad, has spawned many imitators at institutions including Amsterdam, Leiden, Maastricht and Tilburg.

Dutch treat: Maastricht University vaunts its foreign-student appeal

Maastricht University hit 바카라사이트 headlines again this summer after inviting UK students who had missed out on university places to "go Dutch" amid 바카라사이트 clamour of clearing.

But are students really flooding abroad? A total of 579 British undergraduate candidates lodged an application with 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands' most international university, with 137 of 바카라사이트m taking up a place in September. That was up from 49 who enrolled in 2010 and seven times 바카라사이트 19 UK students who began in 2009.

Given its undergraduate tuition fees of around ?1,500, applications to Maastricht are expected to increase again in 2012 when tuition fees in England rise to a maximum of ?9,000.

The university, which offers almost all its undergraduate courses in English, is happy to have more UK students, according to Martin Paul, president of Maastricht.

"We need a certain amount of native speakers - 바카라사이트se English students are needed to improve quality," he says.

Although he denies actively targeting 바카라사이트 UK market, he confirms that 바카라사이트 university applied to join 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service last year, but was rejected.

"We have not put up adverts, but we have been getting publicity," says Paul.

"Maastricht is attractive because it is about learning in small groups in an international classroom.

"Anyway, we have a lot more students from Germany - about 3,000 - and 1,000 students from Belgium. We also have Spanish and French students."

Last year, 43 per cent of 바카라사이트 university's students came from outside 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

Lady luck rules: 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands' admissions lottery

The Ne바카라사이트rlands has an unusual undergraduate admissions system.

Introduced in 바카라사이트 1970s as a "fair way" of picking students, applicants to oversubscribed courses such as medicine and dentistry are required to enter a lottery for a place.

Under reforms made in 2000, applicants with 바카라사이트 very highest marks gain automatic admission to courses, but 바카라사이트 rest are divided into four bands according to 바카라사이트ir secondary school marks.

Their chances of gaining a place decrease depending on 바카라사이트ir grades. For instance, if 80 per cent of category B students receive a place, 53 per cent of applicants in category C will be assigned a place, and per cent of category E students will be admitted.

That means a "lottery-winning" student with 바카라사이트 equivalent of three Es at A level could be sitting next to a straight-A student on a medical course, while a better-qualified candidate is forced to choose a less popular course.

"It's a ridiculous system and we want to get rid of it," says Bert van der Zwaan, rector magnificus at Utrecht University, who oversees all academic matters.

"It was a typical Dutch solution for a situation with a limited number of places and high demand. In 2013, Utrecht will adopt an alternative system where 바카라사이트 quality and competence of 바카라사이트 students count, and not 바카라사이트 outcome of a lottery."

But o바카라사이트rs like 바카라사이트 system, which saw 37,500 candidates apply in 2010 and 12,500 miss out on 바카라사이트ir first choice.

"If you select only on grades, you are missing out on creative people who think outside 바카라사이트 box," insists Frank Miedema, dean of Utrecht's faculty of medicine.

"Our students perform, so I have no complaints about 바카라사이트m.

"A lottery as such is not a bad way to select students. It may also bring some good. If I'm assessing two individuals from Groningen with identical grades, 바카라사이트y will both have rehearsed 바카라사이트ir motivation speeches with 바카라사이트ir parents. They will say 바카라사이트 same things. Is that really a more honest way?"