Wageningen University and Research Centre

Wageningen University and Research Centre

Wageningen Universiteit en Researchcentrum
Motto	To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life
Type	state
Established	1918
Rector	Prof. dr. Arthur Mol
Executive Board President	Prof. dr. ir. Louise Fresco from July 1, 2014
Administrative staff	6500 total (including 185 full professors)
Students	9426
Undergraduates	3813
Postgraduates	3713
Doctoral students	1900
Location	Wageningen, Netherlands
Student nationalities	106 (44% of the postgraduates)
Website	wageningenur.nl

Wageningen University and Research Centre (also known as Wageningen UR; abbreviation: WUR) is a Dutch public university in Wageningen, Netherlands. It consists of Wageningen University and the former agricultural research institutes (Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek (DLO)) of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture. Wageningen UR trains specialists (BSc, MSc and PhD) in life and social sciences and focuses its research on scientific, social and commercial problems in the field of life sciences and natural resources. In the field of life sciences,^[1] agricultural^[2] and environmental^[3] science, the university is considered world-class. According to the Times Higher Education Ranking it is the best university in the Netherlands and No. 47 worldwide.^[4]

Wageningen University

Wageningen University offers undergraduate and professional degrees, including doctorates. The university has about 10,000 students from over 100 countries. Its core focus is the life and agricultural sciences. It is a member of the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS) university network.

Aula of Wageningen University

Building sign of WUR

Wageningen University was the first Dutch University or school that was allowed to use the ECTS label. This label is awarded by the European Commission and guarantees the quality of the study programme. An important consideration is that the University consequently applies the European Credit Transfer System; this promotes the mobility of students within Europe and prevents study delay. The label is an acknowledgment of the international character of the University. Out of 56 European applications in 2005, only 3 ECTS labels were awarded.

BSc programmes

Wageningen University offers 20 BSc programmes (2014-2015). The language of instruction is partly Dutch, partly English. For some BSc programmes the language of instruction is English. The programmes start each year in September, they last three years and consist of 180 ECTS credits. The programmes are in the field of economy & society, health, life sciences & technology, nature & environment, animals & plants.

• Agro technology
• Animal sciences
• Biology
• Biotechnology
• Business and consumer studies
• Communication Science
• Economics and policy
• Environmental sciences
• Food technology
• Forest and nature conservation
• Health and society
• International development studies
• International land and water management
• Landscape architecture and spatial planning
• Molecular life sciences
• Nutrition and health
• Plant sciences
• Soil, water and atmosphere
• Tourism (In collaboration with the NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences)

The 20th BSC program consists of an introduction year into Life Sciences after which you enrol into the second year of one of seven bachelor programs. These bachelor programmes are Agro Technology, Biology, Biotechnology, Animal Sciences, Food Technology, Molecular Life Sciences and Plant Sciences.

MSc programmes

Panorama of the greenhouse of the Lumen building

Wageningen University offers a 29 different MSc programmes (2014-2015) and 2 online master programs .^[5] The language of instruction is English. The programmes start each year in September, they last two years and consist of 120 ECTS credits. Most programmes offer various specialisations and possibilities for majors.

• Animal Sciences
• Applied communication sciences
• Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management
• Bioinformatics
• Biology
• Biosystems Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Climate Studies
• Development and Rural Innovation
• Earth and Environment
• Environmental Sciences
• Food Quality Management
• Food Safety
• Food Technology
• Forest and Nature Conservation
• Geographical Information Management and Applications
• Geo-information Science
• Health and Society (Specialization)
• International Development Studies
• International Land and Water Management
• Landscape Architecture and Planning
• Leisure, Tourism and Environment
• Management, Economics and Consumer Studies
• Molecular Life Sciences
• Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health (Online Master Specialization in English)
• Nutrition and Health
• Organic Agriculture
• Plant Biotechnology
• Plant Breeding (Online Master Specialization in English)
• Plant Sciences
• Urban Environmental Management
• Water Technology

PhD programme

The PhD programme is a four-year programme which consists of a research component and a smaller education component. To apply for a PhD position, the applicant must contact one of the six Graduate Schools of Wageningen University.^[6] In order to guarantee adequate supervision, the research subject must fit in the research programme of a Graduate School. The four-year PhD programme consists of a research component (conducting research under supervision and writing a thesis) and a smaller education component (up to 15% of the total PhD time). Upon completion of PhD programme, the PhD student is expected to be:

• Able to function as an independent scientist.
• Able to integrate his or her own work in the theoretical framework of his or her discipline in a broader area of research and able to communicate this in a scientific or general setting.
• Competent in identifying priority areas of research and in formulating questions and experimental hypotheses pertinent to this research.

History

In 1876 the Rijkslandbouwschool (National Agricultural College) was established in Wageningen. Due to the development of the training to a higher educational level it changed in 1896 to the Hoogere Land- en Boschbouwschool (Agricultural and Forestry College) and in 1904 in Rijks Hoogere Land-, Tuin- en Boschbouwschool (National Agricultural, Horticulture and Forestry College)

In 1918 the school became academic by law (Academic Education Act). The name changed to Rijks Landbouw Hoogeschool (National Agricultural College). The openings date and official Dies natalis is 9 March 1918.

In 1986 the "hogescholen" (comparable to scientific institute of technology) were renamed to University in a modification of the Academic Education Act. The new name became Landbouwuniversiteit Wageningen (LUW) (Wageningen Agricultural University (WAU)). The 1986 law changes resulted in the use of the name hogeschool in the Dutch system to be used exclusively for universities of applied science.

Over the years the research and teaching branched out into life sciences in general; while interest for agriculture as a career opportunity waned. In 1997, when the DLO institutes merged with the university, the new holding was rebranded as Wageningen UR (Wageningen University and Research Centre); with the University being renamed Wageningen University. Under the Dutch laws the University and the institutes had to remain separate legal entities.

In 2006, the university of applied sciences Van Hall Larenstein became part of Wageningen UR. The idea was to create better collaboration between applied teaching and research at Van Hall and the academic research at Wageningen University. This would also support students to continue with an academic program upon completing their applied degree. However, due to differences in organizational culture and incompatibility of procedures for the different types of higher education, collaboration between the two schools remained problematic. In 2012 it was decided that Van Hall Larenstein would leave Wageningen UR and continue as an independent school once more. In the spring of 2015 the separation was marked by the move of the final Wageningen-based Van Hall Larenstein studies back to Velp.

In 2009 it was decided that the University would consistently use the English name in its communication. In addition university research could be presented under the name of the university: Wageningen University (WU) (as an alternative of using the name of the holding Wageningen UR).^[7][8]

Research Institutes

The following research institutes are part of Wageningen UR:

• Alterra, Research Institute for the Green World^[9]
• Agricultural Economics Research Institute LEI Wageningen UR^[10]
• Central Veterinary Institute^[11]
• Centre for Development Innovation^[12]
• Food & Biobased Research^[13]
• IMARES, Research Institute for Strategic and Applied Marine Ecology^[14]
• Applied Plant Research (PPO)^[15]
• Plant Research International^[15]
• RIKILT, Institute of Food Safety^[15]
• Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture^[16]

Panorama of the campus of Wageningen University with the Forum, Gaia, Lumen and Atlas buildings on the left, the sport center in the foreground, and the northeastern part of Wageningen on the right.

Rankings

International Rankings

• In the 2015 Shanghai Ranking Wageningen University was ranked in the bracket 100-150th best universities in the world overall ^[17] and 29th best in the domain of Life and Agriculture.^[18]
• In the 2016 Times Higher Education World University Rankings^[19] Wageningen University was ranked 47th overall in the world.
• In the THE life sciences ranking, Wageningen was ranked 18th.^[20]
• In the more specialised Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan, Wageningen University is ranked first in the field of agriculture.^[21]
• In the QS World University Rankings of 2014, Wageningen University was ranked 2nd out of 150 universities in the world in the field of Agriculture and Forestry

National rankings

• The Dutch ‘'Keuzegids’ ranking compares Dutch universities based on reviews by their own students.In 2015 Wageningen University is ranked as the best University of the Netherlands in full-time education for the eleventh time in a row.
• In 2015 Wageningen University was awarded as the most sustainable Dutch University by Morgen, for the third time in a row.

Student activities and associations

• Aktief Slip is the study association for students participating in the study programmes Milieuwetenschappen (BMW), Environmental Sciences (MES), Climate Studies (MCL) and Urban Environmental Management (MUE). The name is in Dutch and originates from the bacteria containing material (active sludge), that is used to clean wastewater. It was founded in 1966.
• M.S.V. Alchimica is the study association for students Molecular Life Sciences. Since 1970 it has been organising different activities for its members.^[22]
• B.V.W. 'Biologica' is the study Association for all Biology Students.
• CODON is the study Association for all Biotechnology students. Established by the first students of Bioprocesstechnology on 16 September 1991. At that time the association carried the name "BiPS" which was later changed to CODON. The association's main language is English.
• Di-Et-Tri is the study Association for Nutrition and health students.
• Genius Loci is the study Association for students Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning. The name reflects the atmosphere of a certain place. It was founded on February 15, 1990 after the merger of two older study programmes.
• Heeren XVII is the study Association for Agrotechnology students. It was founded on 1 April 1965.
• Ipso Facto is the study association for the students of International Development Studies and Communication Studies. It was created in 2000 when the study 'international culture techniques' split up in 'international land and water management' and 'international development studies'.
• Licere is the study association for the students of the MSc Leisure, Tourism and Environment. It was founded in 2006 and its name means 'Leisure time' in Latin.
• Mercurius is the study association for students of Management & Consumer studies, Economics & Governance and Health & Society. It was created in 2000 when several study associations merged, but the association celebrated its 50-year anniversary in November 2012, as it considers the Dies Natalis of the former separate associations to be its own Dies Natalis. The association has nearly 900 members, making it one of the largest study associations in Wageningen.
• Nicolas Appert is the study Association for Food Technology students. It was founded on 6 September 1962, and was named after the French food scientist Nicolas Appert.
• Nitocra is the study association for students International land and water management.
• Pyrus is the study association for students Soil, water and atmosphere.
• Semper Florens is the study Association for Plant Scientists and Plant Biotechnologists.
• StEL is the study Association for Organic Agriculture students.
• WSBV Sylvatica is the study Association for students Forest and Nature conservation. It is the oldest study association in Wageningen, founded in 1939.
• De Veetelers is the study association for Animal Sciences students. The name means "Animal Breeders". It was founded in 1962.

Notable alumni (including present or former employees)

See Category:Wageningen University alumni and Category:Wageningen University faculty.

See also

• Food Valley
• Gelderland
• List of agricultural universities
• Wageningen
• World Soil Museum

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wageningen University.

• Official website
• Wageningen University
• LEI Wageningen UR social economic research
• Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation
• RIKILT institute of Food Safety
• Wageningen University and Research Library

Coordinates: 51°58′01.52″N 5°39′30.97″E / 51.9670889°N 5.6586028°E / 51.9670889; 5.6586028