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Speech by Marcello Seri, University Council member for the Science Faction

30 October 2025
University Council 337

The Groningen Engineering Center 2.0 is presented as a transversal institute across faculties and schools aimed positioning us as the fifth technical university in the Netherlands. This seems a useful strategic move. After discussions also with the Faculty Councils, I came to appreciate that it is not merely a cost-shifting measure but meant as a broader effort to promote institutional collaborations on technical subjects while separating them from faculty-specific teaching components. This could indeed enhance the visibility of related programs and help attract technical funds, making the benefits outweigh the costs.

With this clarified, I have a hope and a piece of advice.

First, adding a new administrative structure alone will not magically transform us into a technical university. We still struggle with basic operational planning: if we cannot even properly set up essential spaces like a maker space, how can we ensure the successful realization of such a transversal technical institute? Vision and ambition must be matched by solid execution and supervision. I hope we will keep a close eye on this.

Second, there is a risk, and currently also a perception, that this initiative is being driven unilaterally by technical faculties, with the involvement of medicine, psychology, and other humanities partners treated as secondary. That is not how a truly transversal institute should function.

I strongly advise ensuring that all participants are equal partners in shaping this center. They should not just be consulted and then ignored but actively involved in steering its direction. Just as our schools include primary experts on their boards and all stakeholders in their steering committees, the Groningen Engineering Center 2.0 should do the same: giving every participating faculty a real voice, real influence, and a seat at the table from the start. I believe this shared responsibility and trust are essential for building a true community, fostering collaboration, and delivering on the center’s promise.