“We can double the number of foreign students, going from 600 to 1,200,” Baaijens says reassuringly, “but not overnight. The university can handle a phased growth, however.”

Executive Board chairman Jan Mengelers: “The trick is to maintain a steady, regulated growth. We want to hold on to our high-quality, small-scale education with a human face and a personal touch, and our other strong suits. If we cannot guarantee that anymore - because of the high influx from abroad - either we’ll have to tap into new funds, or limit that growth.”

Source: TU/e press team