Digital technologies are essential to the good functioning of Maastricht University – how we teach, conduct research, and process administrative information. In recent years, those of us studying and working at UM have become aware of the limits and possibilities of digital technologies.

The hack in December 2019 made it impossible for us to conduct our normal activities for several weeks. During the pandemic, we were able to make use of digital technologies to offer education and to remain in contact with colleagues at UM and beyond.

Both of these crises revealed the dependence of the university on well-functioning digital systems for research, education and administrative operations. The first revealed the consequences of not having access to digital infrastructure. The second confirmed how central digital technologies have become to education and research.

Rather than simply reacting to (extreme) circumstances, this PREMIUM project will help the Task Force to think about what steps they can take to ensure that the university makes the best use of digital technologies in the future. Students are asked to develop scenarios about how technologies can be designed and used to support the core values of the university: diversity and inclusion, sustainability, mutual respect, democracy, and transparency.

The project starts from two assumptions:
1. (digital) technologies and people mutually shape who we are, how we work together and communicate;
2. ‘the university’ includes students, academic staff, accountants, managers, cleaners, librarians, ICT support and more.

In this PREMIUM project, students are invited to do research and contribute to developing a vision for the digital future of the UM.

Students will present their results to the recently established Task Force, charged with developing scenarios for a ‘digital UM 2030’.

Maastricht University (UM) is the most international university in the Netherlands and, with nearly 22,000 students and 4,400 employees, is still growing. The university distinguishes itself with its innovative education model, international character and multidisciplinary approach to research and education.

Located in the heart of Europe, UM can rightly call itself the European university of the Netherlands. More than half of our student population and almost half of our academic staff come from abroad. Together, they represent more than 100 different nationalities.

The Executive Board of the University established a Task Force in 2022 to develop a vision that:

1. Addresses the future digital society (societies) for universities in the year 2030
2. Offers development directions for UM

The starting point of the Task Force is that technologies are not neutral, and that we can shape how they are both developed and used. Nonetheless, there are constraints. It is expected that the PREMIUM project team will help the Task Force to develop a number of alternative scenarios for the future of UM.

Sally Wyatt is chair of the Task Force, and the main client for this project. Wyatt is Professor of Digital Cultures at the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. She will ensure that the outcomes of the project are incorporated into the work of the Task Force.