December 6, 2011 · 18:25

Made in Delft

This evening I gave a lecture in the city of Delft (in Dutch “Bouwkunde na de brand – project en ontwerp: made in Delft”) for many Delft inhabitants, including (retired) TU Delft professors and former mayors of Delft: see http://www.delft.nl (“Bouwkunde na de brand”) en http://www.dok.info. The venue was the Delft library (DOK) – a beautiful building and another good example of a learning landscape. The event was sold out. I just uploaded my presentation as a hand-out (to be retrieved from DOWNLOADS). The photo below was taken after the coffee break, just before a started with part II of my lecture (the spotlight was already on me again…).

audience of my lecture last night @ DOK - Library Delft

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November 27, 2011 · 23:54

European knowledge exchange in Brussels (and Delft)

by Alexandra den Heijer

From Barcelona to Brussels: November was a great month for European knowledge exchange. Today I came home from Brussels. The European capital was an ideal place for a seminar about sustainable universities. Organised by HUMANE (http://www.humane.eu) policy makers and directors of administration from many European countries shared knowledge and experiences. I was the sixth and last speaker of the seminar on Saturday morning, in a class room of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (http://www.vub.ac.be). After my lecture I had prepared a 60-minute workshop “campus of the future”. All attendees were divided in three groups to visualize three future campus models for the traditional university, the network university and the virtual university. The results can be seen below (click on photos for enlargement).

model A - traditional campus

mood board model A - traditional campus

campus model B - network university

mood board model B - network campus

campus model C - virtual university

mood board model C - virtual campus

My HUMANE Brussels presentation can be found under DOWNLOADS. The same goes for the presentation I gave two days earlier, on Thursday November 24, when I received a group of real estate professionals from Finland in Delft. Their visit was organised by KIINKO (http://www.kiinko.fi) for Real Estate Education. The photo of the audience was taken just after my lecture, when the next speaker had started. Pirjo Honkaniemi – our contact at KIINKO – is in the first row.

BK city Delft, lecture hall C, Thursday November 24 - the group from Finland, just after my lecture

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November 3, 2011 · 11:10

Inspired in Spain

by Alexandra den Heijer

I just returned from Barcelona, where I felt very welcome to share knowledge and experience with experts and academics. I was honoured by the presence of the Secretary of State of universities. My presentation can be found under DOWNLOADS. I attached a photo of the Spanish lecture hall from the stage, just before my lecture.

lecture hall at Barcelona's Parc Cientific

I want to thank the Spanish Secretary of State of Universities Mr. Rubiralta and DEGW for the invitation and for organising a very inspiring conference about “Social Learning Spaces” for Spanish universities. The shared knowledge strenghened both the professional and academic network.

PS My book is sold out since the day after the Spanish conference. An attendee was so kind to notify me even before the publisher did! We still have some copies left in Delft (for the same price). Anyone interested in the last copies of the first edition can send me a message (a.c.denheijer@tudelft.nl).

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October 7, 2011 · 00:05

Continuing the European tour

by Alexandra den Heijer

Yesterday I continued my European tour by presenting my research in a Masterclass “Campus of the Future” for French and Dutch delegates, related to French/Dutch universities. The venue was Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). The other speakers were Mr. Jean-François Clerc representing the Ministry of Higher Education & Research (Ministère de l’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche, grands projets immobiliers) and Mr. Kees Lansbergen, campusmanager EUR (see: http://www.eur.nl/english/campus_facilities).

My next research step – exploring the European campus – gets more support every week. Given the limited time I could spend on an actual research strategy in the past half year, I am extra proud of invitations to speak at international conferences and share knowledge with academic and professional colleagues. The agenda for the next half year:

– November 2011 – Barcelona, for delegates of Spanish universities
– November 2011 – Brussels, for HUMANE (Heads of Univ. Mgmt in Europe)
– January 2012 – Glasgow, for Strathclyde University (related to SAUDE)
– January 2012 – Helsinki, for research program Finnish universities
– March 2012 – Warwick, for EUA (European University Association)
– April 2012 – Loughborough, for AUDE (directors of estates UK)

Besides these dates there are many opportunities to share knowledge with Dutch and international visitors closer to home. In one of the next posts I will elaborate on the research strategy for (managing) the European campus and ‘univer-cities’ (research programme Real Estate Management, Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology).

European union with 27 countries and about 500 million inhabitants – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union, 2011

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September 30, 2011 · 23:58

Students of the future (and today)

Besides writing about the students of the future, I spent the past four weeks with (>200) students of today – at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). All of the lectures and student presentations renewed my energy for new research initiatives with my colleagues.

TU Delft - Aula - lecture hall B (just before my lecture)

PS The ground-breaking science news from CERN (“neutrinos move faster than the speed of light”) at least proved that we sometimes need some very expensive research facilities – and some serendipity – to change the world of science. So much for the added value of university real estate. Who paid for and benefits from the research infrastructure of CERN?

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September 4, 2011 · 18:23

I must have roots in Scotland

by Alexandra den Heijer

Just returned from another visit to Scotland. This time I presented my research + case BK city at the SAUDE conference in Inverness (see DOWNLOADS for PDF). SAUDE is the Scottish Association of University Directors of Estates. With the high concentration of redheads in Inverness I felt quite at home: just one of the many signs for having roots in Scotland.

Leaving from Glasgow with some Scottish colleagues/friends we took the train to Aberdeen, to visit the new University of Aberdeen library. This building by Danish architects “schmidt hammer lassen” will be open for students and staff in two weeks (see photo and http://www.abdn.ac.uk/newlibrary/ for more information). After a one-hour we were on the next train through the Scottish landscape to Inverness.

University of Aberdeen library - almost open for students and staff (photo visit September 1, 2011)

The SAUDE conference (like SCUP last month) confirmed that European (and North American) universities need strategic, financial, functional and physical (campus) management information to support policy makers’ (campus) decisions. I elaborated on this in my presentation, like in my book. This message was also emphasized by the presentation after mine, about Building Information Modelling (BIM). Maggie Barlow (Space Strategies) and Nahim Iqbal (www.bimacademy.ac.uk) illustrated many possibilities. I want to thank Maggie for putting so much effort in linking their presentation to mine.

International references of campus management certainly help and the link to the local, regional and national knowledge economy should certainly be made. This was also illustrated by principal James Fraser in his welcoming speech to the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI). On the website (www.uhi.ac.uk/en/campuses) UHI states: “Our campus is very different from most university campuses; we offer you the choice of studying at one of our 13 colleges and research centres, over 50 local learning centres, or online from wherever you are.” This shows that UHI is a network university and has ambitious plans for a new Inverness campus, which also has a goal to keep talent and economic activity in the region.

The train back from Inverness to Glasgow (through Perth) showed the beauty of the landscape. I look forward to be back in Scotland. It always feels like a home away from home.

P.S. When I came back my mailbox contained messages from Ireland, France and Sweden, all emphasizing the collective task and suggestions to make use of the available knowledge in the European network. I am glad I can contribute and I will definitely prepare a position paper for the annual EUA (European University Association) next spring, to support my lecture there.

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August 24, 2011 · 23:45

Back from North America: “if you think higher education is expensive, try ignorance” (quote Derek Bok, edited)

by Alexandra den Heijer

My badge at SCUP-46 Having recovered from a jetlag (of 9 hours) I look back on a very inspiring visit to both the United States and Canada. My lecture (and presence) at the SCUP conference in the US introduced me to a new network of campus experts, and reunited me with some old North American friends. My publisher Eburon could tell that I visited North America by the increased number of overseas book orders.

the SCUP-46 venue at National Harbor, MD - accommodation more than 1,400 people who attended the conference

my book at the SCUP-46 conference bookstore (when there were still some copies left...) among 80 other books on higher education or related topics

What I learned is that higher education in North America and Europe is very vulnerable to more budget cuts: we are already struggling with large groups of students, less time and resources per student – resources that include the physical campus.

Reputations of higher education institutions and their alumni are at stake. Joining forces and sharing space with other stakeholders (other universities, private parties, public authorities) is one of the solutions which I presented at the conference and I elaborate upon in my book. This requires a culture change on campus.

Nonetheless, more political attention for higher education as one of the most important foundations for the economy is vital. This is the same reason why my book “Managing the university campus” starts with the quote (Derek Bok, former Harvard University president): “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance”… I added that the same goes for the campus…

[for the Preface of “Managing the university campus”, see ABOUT THE BOOK ].

P.S. Our visit to Canada was not business but pleasure this time, even though we happened to visit the campus of University of British Columbia (UBC) and will definitely visit Simon Fraser University (and UniverCity, see “SFU” on Wikipedia.org) our next visit to Vancouver and West Canada.

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July 25, 2011 · 23:38

Enjoying SCUP-46 in the United States

by Alexandra den Heijer

This week I am attending the SCUP-46 conference in National Harbor, MD – near Washington DC – to be inspired by university planners, campus architects and other experts on planning for higher education (facilities): http://www.scup.org/page/annualconf/46. I will present on Tuesday at 3:30 pm (location: National Harbor 2) – my session: “Rethinking the academic workplace – opportunities of a crisis”, combining lessons from the case BK city and my research results as published in my book “Managing the university campus”. Both the hand-out and summary of the presentation can be found in the menu DOWNLOADS after the presentation. During the conference I also use Twitter: @alexandra_dh.

the impressive atrium of the SCUP-46 venue Gaylord National Hotel

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July 8, 2011 · 01:15

The book has reached 15 European countries…

by Alexandra den Heijer

In the past month – after the visits to Scotland and Germany – I have exchanged knowledge and ideas about campus management with delegates from many European countries. On June 15 a Swiss delegation visited TU Delft, from ETH Zurich and – a week later – on June 22 I presented a paper at an academic conference (MISBE), which I will upload as soon as possible – see photo below.

giving a lecture at Amsterdam's Beurs van Berlage for the academic conference MISBE 2011

Last week I paid a fruitful visit to the European University Association in Brussels to talk about the relation between the campus and the financial sustainability of European universities. Again, it was confirmed that both the opportunities and threats of the campus are internationally recognized. In the meantime I also got enthusiastic messages (about the book) from Austria, Italy, Ireland and England. The most recent lecture (yesterday) was for a group of French delegates, representing universities that are about to become owners of their campuses – like in the Netherlands. Their visit was organized by Utrecht University in collaboration with the French Ministry of Education and Ecole des Ponts / ParisTech. Very interesting meetings… again… I feel blessed with my work.

PS The book has reached campus managers, policy makers and/or academics in 15 European countries (concluded from the messages I received and from data that the publisher sent me): Belgium, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Spain and Germany. And I know there are copies in Dubai, Colombia, Australia and the USA. I am very proud…

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June 12, 2011 · 16:41

An award-winning week in Amsterdam

by Alexandra den Heijer

This week we both received our plaque for the ‘Gulden Feniks’ (nomination) and our European Union / Europa Nostra cultural heritage award. The first was presented at the Provada’s Green Forum by Femke Halsema – with emphasis on sustainable solutions and about 150 people present – and the latter was an impressive ceremony with 1500 guests in the audience, including HRH Princess Margriet, at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

TU Delft's president Dirk Jan van den Berg receives EU price from Plácido Domingo and Androulla Vassiliou

On June 10, 2011 TU Delft’s president Dirk Jan van den Berg received the EU / Europa Nostra award from Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Plácido Domingo, the world-renowned tenor and president of Europa Nostra.

Project team BK city is proud of the EU award - Alexandra den Heijer (brief), Dennis Cruyen (facilities) and Job Roos (co-ordinating architect)

Van den Berg publicly shared his joy about the award with BK city project team members in the audience, which was highly appreciated and emphasized the team work. The team also took this opportunity to celebrate the collective memories of an unforgettable process. Present were Wytze Patijn (chair design team, former dean), Hans Wamelink (chair project group, professor Design and Construction Management), Job Roos (co-ordinating architect), Johan Hogervorst (chair construction team), Dennis Cruyen (chair facilities team) and me (chair brief team). More information about the project and award (see menu): CASE BK CITY

BK city project team members before the Europa Nostra ceremony in Amsterdam: (from left to right) Alexandra den Heijer, Job Roos, Wytze Patijn, Dennis Cruyen and Johan Hogervorst

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