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VSNU

Cooperation

The Dutch research universities attach great importance to international cooperation. International cooperation is now an integral part of the universities' core activities and embedded in their day-to-day affairs. The universities actively participate in university networks and international cooperation schemes; the VSNU supports them by providing frameworks of cooperation with other countries.

Bilateral cooperation

The Dutch research universities all have their own international partners and networks of international cooperation. In addition, joint initiatives have been developed with a number of countries, supported by the VSNU, including:

Brazil
Chile
China
Flanders
France
India
Indonesia
Rusia

Moreover, there are ten Dutch Institutes Abroad, having a representative, cultural and academic mission. They are located in Tokio, Athens, Florence, Rome, Saint Petersburg, Cairo, Damascus, Rabat, Ankara and Istanbul.

International university networks

The Dutch research universities participate in a number of prestigious international university networks, for example:

Coimbra Group (University of Groningen, Leiden University)
European Association of Distance Teaching Universities, EADTU (Open University)
European Consortium of Innovative Universities, ECIU (University of Twente)
European University Association, EUA (all Dutch research universities)
IDEA League (Delft University of Technology)
International Research Universities Network, IRUN (Radboud University Nijmegen)
League of European Research Universities, LERU (University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, Utrecht University)
Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe, UNICA (University of Amsterdam)
Raising the impact of the social sciences and economics, RISE (Tilburg University)
Utrecht Network (Utrecht University)

Moreover, they cooperate with international research universities and maintain extensive networks of cooperation. Read more

Development cooperation

International cooperation also includes development cooperation. The Dutch research universities believe that it is important for developing countries to develop and maintain their own viable academic frameworks. Joining forces is apt to improve the academic performance of both the Netherlands and the developing countries.

What happens when you bringing together scientific excellence and development relevance? Organic pesticide will protect our crops effectively and safely. We start eating insects to contribute to sustainability. Magazine Synergy demonstrate what happens when fundamental and applied research are harnessed to address tangible social needs in developing countries.
Read more about Synergy

The Dutch research universities are committed to sustainable development and poverty reduction. They actively support the millenium development goals. The Dutch research universities believe that cooperation with developing countries is not a one-sided undertaking but, like any international cooperation, a mutual engagement benefiting all partners.

Platform MDG Profs
The Platform MDG Profs was founded by Dutch associations of higher education and research (VSNU, NWO/WOTRO, KNAW, SAIL, PIE) in cooperation with Dutch ministries. The Platform is dedicated to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), carrying out joint activities and developing a common vision on the sharing of knowledge and the fostering of knowledge networks between North and South.
Read more about the Platform MDG Profs