Groningen is committed to connecting, strengthening, and developing campuses in the City and surrounding areas. A concrete master plan has been crafted collaboratively by government, industry, and educational institutions. Campus Groningen is launching the Nij Begun Campus Support Team this month to support and scale campus developments.

Campus Support Team

The inception of the Nij Begun Campus Support Team by Campus Groningen marks one of the initial steps in implementing the Campus Master Plan. The goal of the Master Plan is to establish a strong foundation for regional economic growth: advancing and fortifying the knowledge and innovation ecosystem in the Groningen and North Drenthe provinces. Ineke Yska will serve as the new manager of the Campus Support Team. Under her leadership, the team aims to lay the groundwork for a future where campus locations collaborate on societal transitions in health, energy, and digitalization.

Ineke Yska's appointment as manager of the Campus Support Team is a pivotal milestone in realizing the Master Plan for Campuses. Formerly Director of Innovation & Strategy at Alfa College, Yska brings valuable experience to her role, focusing on assembling a team tailored to the needs of campus locations. Yska will also work closely with campus partners to further implement the master plan.

Ineke Yska: "My initial focus will be on gathering the needs of campus locations in the region. Together, we can build a robust regional support organization to enhance our regional innovation strength."

Master Plan Campuses

The Master Plan for Campuses aims to stimulate regional economy and broad prosperity. Developed jointly by national and regional authorities, the master plan seeks to create a cohesive knowledge and innovation ecosystem where education, government, and industry collaborate on key regional economic themes such as energy, health, and digitalization. This initiative leverages existing expertise from Campus Groningen and educational institutions.

Edward van der Meer, Director of Campus Groningen: "Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the establishment of a regional campus support team led by Ineke Yska, we can strengthen the innovation ecosystem. Regional cooperation provides an optimal environment for open innovation. By joining forces, we enhance the northern economic profile and contribute to a high-quality living environment, now and in the future."

Nij Begun

The Master Plan Campuses is part of Nij Begun. Participating entities include governmental bodies, educational institutions, and businesses from Groningen and North Drenthe. Jakob Klompien, facilitator of the Nij Begun economic agenda, sees an essential role for campuses in the region: "By enhancing these campus locations, we aim for a future where they serve as central hubs for companies and educational institutions to collaborate on innovations, knowledge development, and the creation of shared facilities and workspaces. This stimulates broad prosperity in Groningen."

Source: Campus Groningen and partners
Image: Ineke Yska and Edward van der Meer. Photographer: Casper Maas