Interim report Sector Plan Physics and Chemistry presented
Press release by OCW
The number of student's who embark on a degree course in physics or chemistry is gradually increasing as equally the number of students that complete such a course. The quality of the research is also high and researchers are successful in acquiring individual research grants. This is apparent from the first interim report of the Breimer Committee of the Sector Plan Physics and Chemistry.
Since 2011, the government has invested 20 million euros per year in the Sector Plan Physics and Chemistry to boost the number of physicists and chemists and to strengthen education and research in these disciplines. According to the Breimer Committee the faculties invest the extra funding effectively and they are on course to realise the objectives agreed upon.
More students are studying physics and chemistry. The traditional chemistry courses continue to lag behind somewhat but in courses where chemistry constitutes a significant part of the study programme, such as life sciences, biomedical technology and molecular sciences, a considerable growth in student numbers can be seen.
Professors and university lecturers
The universities are working on educational renewal. For example, they are investing in improving the didactic skills of lecturers. The extra funds from the sector plan are being used to appoint new professors, senior lecturers, lecturers and technicians. The number of women in these new positions is relatively high: 22 of the 62 appointments made.
International impact
The research visitations have revealed that the sector plan is leading to clear national agreement about the focus areas of the universities. Focus areas contain one or more research groups that scored extremely well in the visitations. The research these groups do has a high international impact and individual scientists in these groups acquire many Veni, Vidi, Vici and European grants.
“With this investment of 20 million euros a year, the government aims to increase the number of physicists and chemists and to ensure their research has a high impact. Now it is up to industry to ensure that students who study the physical sciences can also pursue a career in this field,” said State Secretary for Education Halbe Zijlstra in response to this report.