Mengelers succeeds TU Delft president Dirk Jan van den Berg who relinquishes both his presidency of the university of technology in Delft and vice-presidency of the VSNU. Mengelers will share the vice-presidency with Sibrand Poppema, president of the Executive Board of Groningen University, who was also appointed today.

Vice-presidency
The vice-presidents are deputy presidents of the association and they monitor the direction and representation of the universities together with the VSNU president in consultation with members of parliament and other stakeholders. The VSNU fosters the interests of the Dutch universities by facilitating debate, the development and dissemination of common viewpoints, helping to improve the reputation of the university sector and making strategic choices to strengthen academic and scientific education and research in the Netherlands.

Honored
Mengelers has spoken of being 'honored' to have been asked. "Certainly given the relatively short time I have been in my role as executive board president at TU/e." Mengelers believes his appointment is important for several reasons. "It is good for the universities of technology to be represented in the board of the VSNU and thus connected to national political debate and decision-making. In addition, as TU/e we are even better informed and can collaborate on and discuss the future of education, research and the position of the universities in general."

Source: press team TU/e