‘Universities must become more international’

More than ever before, the University of Groningen is going to have to take up a strategic position on the international academic market. This was the message in Elmer Sterken’s speech last Friday during his installation as new Rector Magnificus of the University of Groningen. ‘We must do our utmost to make it clear to society that we have ambitions. The University of Groningen is a comprehensive university that wants to belong to the world top in every discipline, or at the very least the subtop.’

Sterken thanked his predecessor Frans Zwarts for his ‘wonderful work’ during the eight and a bit years he was Rector. ‘You have put the University of Groningen on the international map and immeasurably improved the cohesion between students and staff’, said Sterken at the end of his maiden speech.

‘Yes, we care’

Zwarts strongly encouraged his successor to continue to invest in the relationship between the University and its students. ‘The man of the past wants to say to the man of the future, make sure people know that we care about our students! Yes, we care!’

Full text maiden speech Prof. Elmer Sterken

Video clip of the Rector Magnificus inauguration ceremony

Farewell gift for Frans Zwarts

Former Rector Magnificus Frans Zwarts was offered a very nice farewell gift: a poem by Ruth Koops van ’t Jagt, an ex-poet-in-residence at the University of Groningen . The poem was presented in an animated cartoon by Iris Visser.

Photos

During the ceremony, Pjotr Wiese from Live Beaming took photographs.