Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf to visit the UG and other educational institutions on 25 April

The Minister of Education, Culture and Science Robbert Dijkgraaf will pay a visit to Groningen on Monday 25 April. He will visit the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, and several secondary vocational education institutions (MBO). Dijkgraaf will also answer questions from students of these institutions during the Express yourself! discussion event in the Bernoulliborg.

Dijkgraaf will start by visiting the MBO institutions: he will talk to students at the Alfa College, Noorderpoort, and Terra MBO. Afterwards, he will head to Hanze University of Applied Sciences, where Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten will join him for a part of the programme. There, the two ministers will get acquainted with various projects in the field of the sustainable energy transition.

Visit to the UG

At 2.30 p.m., Minister Dijkgraaf will meet with rector magnificus Cisca Wijmenga and chairman of the Board of the University Jouke de Vries at the Energy Academy. Top Dutch Solar Racing students will demonstrate their solar-powered cars as a great example of collaboration between MBO institutions, universities of applied sciences, and universities, as well as an example of research aimed at making the future more sustainable.

After that, the Minister will talk to researchers and to Rector Magnificus Cisca Wijmenga: they will discuss many topics, including the multidisciplinary approach to the energy transition. The UG contributes to this important societal theme in many ways. Dijkgraaf will also cover the challenges the UG faces in its contribution to solving societal issues, including problems in the Northern Netherlands.

Express yourself!

In the Bernoulliborg building on the Zernike Campus, Dijkgraaf will talk to students from MBO institutions, universities of applied sciences, and universities during the Express yourself! discussion event that will take place during the end of the afternoon. During the event, they will be able to ask Dijkgraaf different questions regarding topics such as student wellbeing and the student loan system. The event is organized by the UG student assessors.

Dijkgraaf will end his visit to Groningen with a strategic work dinner organized by Noorderpoort in the Euroborg building. President of the Board of the University Jouke de Vries and Professor Katja Loos will also be present. The University of the North collaboration is one of the topics that will be discussed there.