News reports about dismissals and layoffs in the technology sector among others have been quick in succession over the past few months. It is quite conceivable that this will have some impact on the decisions made by pupils about their studies, says drs. Brigitte Rijshouwer, head of the TU/e Communication Expertise Center (CEC). This being at a time when expectations are that the need and opportunities for highly skilled engineers will increase, if anything; especially when the current crisis will be over in a few years (we hope) and the pupils deciding on their future studies will enter the labor market. Executive Board spokesman Peter van Dam: “If we should see a large drop in our influx, this will in six, seven years also make itself felt in our efflux. That would be a second blow for technology companies, with the crisis long gone, because it would result in a shortage of staff.”

For this reason the university is brooding over “a kind of mini-action”, as Rijshouwer describes it. A pressing letter in the name of Rector prof. dr. ir. Hans van Duijn will soon be sent to secondary schools, addressed especially to deans advising pupils in their choice of studies.

Meanwhile a think-tank has been set up together with high-tech companies in the region in order to devise manners in which a positive message for the future may be sent, for instance in the form of an open letter, says Rijshouwer: “It would be great if a number of CEOs would emphatically rally to this letter.”/.