University of Twente facts for kids
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Universiteit Twente
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Former name
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Technische Hogeschool Twente |
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Motto in English
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High Tech, Human Touch |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1961 |
| Budget | € 365 M |
| Rector | Tom Veldkamp |
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Administrative staff
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3,150 (2019) |
| Students | 12,544 (2020) |
| Location |
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52°14′33″N 06°51′09″E / 52.24250°N 6.85250°E |
| Colours | UT Black and UT White |
| Affiliations | 4TU, CESAER, ECIU, EUA |
| Website | www.utwente.nl/en |
The University of Twente (Dutch: Universiteit Twente), often called UT, is a public technical university in the city of Enschede, Netherlands. A public university is funded by the government. A technical university focuses on science and technology.
The university is known for its motto, "High Tech, Human Touch." This means it combines advanced technology with a focus on how it affects people and society. Many world rankings place it among the top universities. It has also been called the best technical university in the Netherlands.
UT works together with other top Dutch universities, including Delft University of Technology and Eindhoven University of Technology. It is also part of a group of innovative universities in Europe.
Contents
History of the University
The university was started in 1961. Its first name was Technische Hogeschool Twente. It was the third university in the Netherlands to focus on technology. In 1986, it changed its name to Universiteit Twente, which is Dutch for University of Twente.
The Dutch government chose to build the university in Enschede for a few reasons. The area had a strong history of making things like textiles, metal products, and electronics. The local economy also needed help because the textile industry was in decline. The city of Enschede gave a large piece of land called the Drienerlo estate for the new university campus.
A Unique Campus
The University of Twente is special because it is the only university in the Netherlands with a full campus. This means that students and teachers can live, work, and relax all in one place. The campus was built on a former country estate and has a lot of forests, fields, and water.
The campus was designed to be like American universities. It covers 140 hectares (about 345 acres). There is a Student Union run by students. They manage places for students to hang out, study, and even a water sports complex on a nearby canal.
How the University Ranks
The University of Twente is considered one of the top 200 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education Ranking. It is especially good in areas like Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, where it ranked 11th in the world in 2021. Its psychology and social sciences programs are also highly rated.
Another important ranking, the Shanghai Ranking, praised the university for its work in remote sensing. This is the science of getting information about the Earth from a distance, often using satellites. The university is ranked in the top ten in the world for this subject.
| University rankings | |
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| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World | 401-500 (2024) |
| CWUR World | 425 (2023) |
| CWTS World | 489 (2023) |
| QS World | =203 (2026) |
| THE World | =180 (2025) |
| USNWR Global | =412 (2025) |
Organization and What You Can Study
The university is led by a team that includes a president and a rector magnificus. The rector is in charge of the university's academic and scientific direction.
Faculties
The university is divided into five main areas called faculties. Each faculty has different departments and study programs.
- Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS): This faculty studies human behavior and society. Subjects include communication, psychology, and business.
- Engineering Technology (ET): This is where students learn to design and build things. It includes mechanical, civil, and industrial design engineering.
- Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS): This faculty focuses on computers, electricity, and math. Students can study computer science, electrical engineering, and robotics.
- Science and Technology (ST): This area covers natural sciences. It includes applied physics, chemical engineering, and biomedical technology.
- Geo-information Sciences and Earth Observation (ITC): This faculty studies the Earth using data from satellites and other sources.
Degrees Offered
Students can earn bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Twente. The programs range from business and psychology to engineering and biomedical science. The university is known for its focus on technology in all its fields of study.
Research and Innovation
Research is a very important part of the University of Twente. The university has special research institutes that focus on big topics.
- MESA+: This is one of the world's largest research institutes for nanotechnology, which is the science of very small things.
- TechMed Centre: This center works on improving healthcare through technology.
- Digital Society Institute (DSI): This institute studies how digital technology, like the internet and smartphones, changes our society.
The university is also very good at helping students and researchers start their own companies. These are often called spin-off or start-up companies. The University of Twente has helped create over 1,000 new companies, more than any other university in the Netherlands.
Famous People from the University
Many successful people have studied at the University of Twente. Here are a few examples:
- Jaap Haartsen: He is the inventor of Bluetooth, the wireless technology we use to connect devices like phones and headphones.
- Cees Links: He was a key person in the development of Wi-Fi.
- Bas Lansdorp: He is the co-founder of Mars One, a project that aimed to set up a human colony on Mars.
- Marleen Veldhuis: A famous swimmer who has won medals at the Olympics, World Championships, and European Championships.
- Jitse Groen: He is the founder of Takeaway.com, a popular online food ordering company.
- Piet Bergveld: He invented a special sensor (the ISFET) that can measure chemical changes, which is very useful in medicine and science.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Twente para niños
