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Maastricht University: pushing back frontiers as a mission and Europe as our course Maastricht University is an international university in the heart of Europe. Of all Dutch universities, Maastricht has the largest number of international students. Maastricht University is located in the city of Maastricht where - in 1992 - the Maastricht Treaty was signed. Maastricht University is a research university with an inseparable link between top-quality education and excellent research, in an innovative and interna-tional context. Academic education is demand-driven, activating, for all age groups and 'problem-based', where problem also stands for practice, patient and project. Research has a thematic setup, is society-oriented as to its content, and multidisciplinary in its implementation. From its academic and social functions, Maastricht University is continuously interacting with its predominantly international environment. Most bachelor students in Maastricht are from the European region. The master programmes have a major intake both from Europe and, depending on the nature of the programme, from elsewhere in the world. They choose from a wide range of programmes in English. Maastricht University has a student population of approximately 12,000, including more than 2,300 foreign bachelor/master students (23%) and up to 1,500 exchange or certificate course students a year from about 70 different countries. One sixth of the academic staff is of foreign origin. Throughout the institute, internationalisation policies have become an integral part of education and research at Maastricht University. The university encourages its students to acquire international experience through internships or periods of study abroad. Interaction with other cultures makes students aware of international differences; it prepares them for jobs on an international labour market. In the process of the unification of Europe, Maastricht University plays an active rol. Through ‘forum maastricht´ Maastricht University started a public debate on the future of Europe. It is not a scientific conference, but it gives Maastricht University the opportunity to make academic ideas available to a wider public. "We should contribute to establish a better Europe for the people", says President Jo Ritzen. Forum maastricht is to be held annually.
The discovery of active knowledge acquisition in university education When Maastricht University started in 1976, it introduced Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in Europe. Developing the PBL system over the years, Maastricht University has distinguished itself both nationally and internationally. The Maastricht model is centred around the student. Working in small groups, students tackle the subject matter: they formulate learning objectives, independently study the literature and use the knowledge and understanding they have acquired to solve problems and cases or to work on concrete projects. Self-motivation is the cornerstone of this education system. The programmes of Maastricht University - all based on the PBL concept - are widely acclaimed by both education specialists and students. This is testified by the results of investigations by independent auditing committees, and the great appreciation expressed by students in national surveys. It is not without reason that many other institutes currently use facets of the Maastricht PBL concept. Maastricht University graduates acknowledge the effects of this approach. They consider themselves more competent than their colleagues from elsewhere in ten professional skill domains. These domains include problem-solving skills, the ability to work together, social skills (listening and summarising), making effective use of resources, the ability to work indepen-dently, being ready to help colleagues, working according to schedules, and coming up with new ideas. PBL is subject to constant renewal within Maastricht University. The development of student-centred education methods such as project-based education and virtual study groups are proof of this.
Knowing that there is no limit to knowledge Today’s problems and issues are no longer restricted to the domain of a single scientific discipline. Maastricht University was one of the first to anticipate this development. Research is done in multi-disciplinary teams, combining the knowledge and expertise from various disciplines to approach socially relevant themes. This multidisciplinary, thematic approach yields more than the sum total of its constituent disciplinary components. Core thematic research issues include cardiovascular diseases, nutrition and health, brain and behaviour, international and European law, and economics and technology. Most of these themes and main topics are embedded in institutes, which facilitates the development of research and collaboration with third parties in the Netherlands and abroad. There is a high degree of participation in research schools, centres of high-quality, recognised research. In addition to the institutes and schools, research also takes place in a large number of institutes affiliated to Maastricht University, and within departments and faculty research units. Under the umbrella of the Maastricht University Holding, businesses work on the commercial application of research results.
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