More physics and chemistry students
Successful results of the Sector Plan
The number of students who are following a bachelor's course in physics or chemistry has risen by more than 20 percent. Also the number of female researchers within physics and chemistry has grown strongly; of the 88 new research positions created more than 30 percent have now been taken by women. These results are contained in the second interim report of the Breimer Committee about the Sector Plan Physics and Chemistry, which was presented to the Minister of (Jet Bussemaker) and State Secretary (Sander Dekker) for Education, Culture and Science, Sander Decker.
Rapid results
Since 2011, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has invested 20 million euros per year in the Sector Plan Physics and Chemistry to increase the number of students studying physics and chemistry at university and to structurally strengthen and profile university education and research within this. The Breimer Committee is impressed by the visible results achieved over the past three years. The report also shows that chemistry and physics research in the Netherlands belongs to the world top in qualitative terms and that the focus areas created in the research are developing well. "Thanks to the specific funding from the sector plan a wide range of policy has been strengthened", according to professor Douwe Breimer, chair of the Committee Sector Plan Physics and Chemistry.
Successful realisation
The approach to realising the sector plan is successful and is characterised by clear and measurable objectives and results. The Breimer Committee is convinced that the realisation of the sector plan is contributing to the further profiling of university education and research. The formation of focus areas is being encouraged in competition and the links between research and education have improved. Breimer: "I am proud that we have clearly put the sector plan instrument on the map. It is efficient and effective and enriches the toolkit for national science policy."
Sector Plan 2.0
In December 2013 the Dijkgraaf Committee presented a strong case in its Vision Paper 2025 'Chemistry & Physics: Fundamental For Our Future ' for expanding the sector plan. The Breimer Committee supports this call because despite the successes achieved so far, further improvements need to be made. For example, the committee is striving for a further increase in the participation of women (as both students and scientists), improvements in the design of and recruitment for teacher training courses, the recovery of the international competitive position of the Netherlands for attracting top talent and the strengthening of the university infrastructure. The committee believes that the sector will strongly benefit from an integral approach to realising these ambitions in a Sector Plan 2.0.
Second interim report Breimer Committee
You can download the 'Second interim report Breimer Committee' via the FOM website. Alternatively, you can request a hard copy.
Further information
For more background information about the Sector Plan Physics and Chemistry please see the FOM website.
For further information please contact:
Hendrik van Vuren, Head of Research Policy at the FOM Foundation and secretary of the Committee Sector Plan Physics and Chemistry (Breimer Committee), + 31 (30) 600 12 25.
Michiel Hendrikx, spokesperson Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, +31 (6) 31 74 92 27.