From September 2025, no new students will be enrolled in the small-scale excellence programme. Dean Heleen Miedema and Director of Operations Laura Bagur write about 'drastic decisions' that the UT has to make because of its financial problems.
In addition, in all likelihood, only eleven new first-year students will enroll this academic year. That number is far behind the intended 25. Only with that number would there be a 'feasible growth scenario', was the announcement made by rector Tom Veldkamp to ATLAS employees last July.
Phasing out
The plug will not be pulled immediately from the programme, which will be phased out. This academic year is a 'normal academic year', according to the programme management. From September 2025, no new first-year students will be enrolled. All current students will have the opportunity to complete their studies, which will remain open until September 2028.
University College Twente has been in dire straits in recent years. The low intake had been a point of criticism for some time, as had the relatively high costs associated with offering the programme. This was followed by an highly critical report in 2022. After that, the programme straightened its back, but that was not enough to attract more students. Because, as Bagur and Miedema write: 'Although the Executive Board emphasizes the quality of the ATLAS programme, they want every educational programme to be sustainable and financially viable’.
