The mission of Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) is ‘To explore the potential Annual report 2011 Wageningen UR Annual report 2011 Wageningen 2011 of nature to improve the quality of life’. Within Wageningen UR, nine research institutes – both specialised and applied – have joined forces with Wageningen University and Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With approximately 40 Annual report Wageningen UR locations (in the Netherlands, Brazil and China), 6,500 members of staff and 10,000 students, Wageningen UR is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. The integral approach to problems and the cooperation between the exact sciences and the technological and social disciplines are at the heart of the Wageningen Approach . 12283_BC_omslag_jaarverslag EN V 29-05-2012.indd 1,3 31/05/2012 10:51:51 Supervisory Board Colophon Executive Board publisher Wageningen UR, June 2012 Concern Staff Facilties and Services www.wur.nl Agrotechnology Animal Environmental Plant Social Van Hall Larenstein & Food Sciences Sciences Sciences Sciences Sciences University of editors Group Group Group Group Group Applied Sciences Working Group Annual Report Wageningen UR Wageningen University Wageningen International final editing Wageningen UR, Communication Services Agrotechnology Animal Environmental Plant Social & Food Sciences Sciences Sciences Sciences Sciences IMARES design and lay-out Leeuwarden Wageningen UR, Communication Services Velp Wageningen Specialised Research Institutes Wageningen Business School photography Food Livestock Alterra Plant Research LEI Guy Ackermans & Research International Centre for Biobased Central Applied Development Research Veterinary Plant Research Innovation RIKILT Institute print MediaCenter, Rotterdam 12283_BC_omslag_jaarverslag EN V 29-05-2012.indd 4,6 31/05/2012 10:51:52 Table of contents Letter from the Chairman 3 Executive Board and Supervisory Board 5 1 Wageningen UR Annual Report 6 1.1 Introduction 6 1.2 Report of the Supervisory Board 6 1.3 Wageningen UR Statistics 9 1.3.1 Wageningen University Statistics 9 1.3.2 Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein Statistics 9 1.3.3 DLO Research Foundation Statistics 10 1.4 Wageningen UR Overview 10 1.4.1 Mission and Objectives 11 1.4.2 Core Areas 11 1.4.3 Progress of Wageningen UR Strategic Plan 2011-2014 11 1.4.4 Knowledge Circulation and Valorisation 12 1.4.5 Student Recruitment 13 1.4.6 Internationalization 14 1.4.7 Governance 17 1.4.8 Participation Structure 19 1.4.9 Grievance Regulations, and Appeals and Objections (DLO, VHL, WU) 19 1.4.10 Sustainability 21 1.5 Wageningen University 23 1.5.1 Students and Education 24 1.5.2 Alumni and Fundraising 28 1.5.3 Research 29 1.6 VHL University of Applied Sciences 31 1.6.1 Students and Education 33 1.6.2 Alumni and Fundraising 37 1.6.3 Research 38 1.7 DLO Research Foundation 40 1.7.1 Research 40 1.8 Facilities 41 1.8.1 Housing 41 1.8.2 Information and Communication Technology in Education 42 1.8.3 Facilities Services 42 1.8.4 Safety and the Environment 43 2 Personnel 44 2.1 HR in Strategic Plans 44 2.1.1 Academic Staff Career Development 44 2.1.2 Internationalization 44 2.1.3 Development of Talent, Competence and Skills 44 2.1.4 Covenant Action Plan 45 2.1.5 Implementation of Workflow Management System 45 2.2 Developments in Collective Labour Agreements 45 2.3 Health and Welfare 45 2.3.1 Healthy Lifestyles and Absenteeism Due to Ill Health 45 2.3.2 Sickness Absentee Monitoring 46 2.3.3 Corporate Social Work 46 2.3.4 Wageningen UR Confidential Counsellor 46 2.3.5 Preventive Medical Research and Risk Inventory and Evaluation 46 Wageningen UR Annual Report 2011 | 1 3 Annual Financial Report 48 3.1 Wageningen University Financial Report 48 3.1.1 Financial Statement 48 3.1.2 Supplementary Information 70 3.1.3 Appendices 72 3.2 Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences Financial Report 76 3.2.1 Financial Statement 76 3.2.2 Supplementary Information 93 3.2.3 Appendices 103 3.3 DLO Research Foundation Financial Report 107 3.3.1 Financial Statement 107 3.3.2 Supplementary Information 138 3.3.3 Appendices 140 3.4 Remuneration 143 Appendix 1A Education at Wageningen University 145 Appendix 1B Education at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences 151 Appendix 2 Social year report 157 Appendix 3 GRI index 163 2 | Wageningen UR Annual Report 2011 Letter from the Chairman This is the 2011 annual report for Wageningen UR’s three organisational entities: Wageningen University, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences and the DLO Research Foundation with its nine applied and demand-driven research institutes. This report aims to fulfil the statutory obligations in regards to reporting results and activities in 2011. A description of our ambition and strategic initiatives can be found in the Strategic Plan 2011-2014 and on our website: www.wur.nl We have closed the books on fiscal year 2011. And what a trying — but exciting — year it was. Measures were implemented to respond to the challenges posed by the economic and financial crises in Europe and the Netherlands and as a result, we are happy to report that Wageningen UR (University and Research Centre) managed to hold its own. The organization grew in strength, efficiency and responsiveness and, despite the economic circumstances, we are confident that our organization's position will remain strong. We occupy a stronger position in the (jobs) market. Our 'Golden Triangle' model of cooperation, which calls for close cooperation between the private sector, research institutions and government, has been widely embraced; we are in good shape with respect to the Agri-food and Horticulture industries, but also, e.g., to the Water industry, and a solid foundation was laid in 2011 for our continued role in the development and strengthening of the Dutch economy's innovative strengths. This innovation engine is fuelled by knowledge and (young) people who are able to exploit and apply that knowledge in the search for new solutions. All three of our organizational entities actively contribute to this effort, each with its own specific role. Our new four-year Strategic Plan was launched in 2011. Core themes or ‘pillars’ are the strengthening of the institutes’ market orientation, the continued implementation of quality policies at both Wageningen and the Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences and the creation of sustainable business operational excellence to promote optimum results in both education and research. Also high on the agenda are the continued internationalization of the institutes and the strengthening of same on a regional basis. In this respect, developments that took place in 2011 led to a significant strengthening of our position. Wageningen UR became the European coordinator of The Sustainability Consortium, a prestigious and independent organization of diverse industries and research institutions that work collaboratively to improve consumer product sustainability. We are now an integral part of a fascinating network, allowing us to operate at the international forefront of developments in the field of sustainability. The Mayor of Beijing's visit to Bleiswijk is yet more evidence that our vision, know-how and approach have a strong international appeal. In fact, Wageningen UR will play a major role in supplying the Chinese capital's 20 million inhabitants with food products and entered a partnership agreement thereto that includes other businesses (both local and international) for the security of food production. The DLO Research Foundation was hardest hit by measures taken following the economic crisis, but we managed to successfully absorb the cuts in research funds made by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. Looking ahead, there is a crucial need for additional resources to maintain and expand our capacity. The THE World University Rankings ranked Wageningen UR second in the Netherlands and 75th overall. While this demonstrates that our quality policy was successfully implemented, there remains room for improvement. The National Student Benchmark Survey helped Wageningen University consolidate its lead position and we are back in first place. Wageningen University also had an relatively good financial year. Wageningen’s educational facilities were further enhanced by the opening of Orion in 2011. The campus will continue to grow with the construction of FrieslandCampina’s new Research and Development Wageningen UR Annual Report 2011 | 3 facility. Wageningen UR has therefore become the physical manifestation of Food Valley’s “cooperate to innovate” motto. Wageningen University’s expansion unfortunately meant there was a concomitant lack of available student housing in both the city of Wageningen and its surroundings. To give the market time to adjust, students are being housed in more than 800 temporary units in both Wageningen and Ede. These units are intended primarily for international students, so that the university can guarantee them housing upon arrival. As for VHL, 2011 was also an eventful year. The impact of several events that took place at the beginning of the academic year put a significant strain on the cooperative foundation of Wageningen UR. We are attempting to identify the causes and determine whether and how cooperation can continue. The ‘Inviting Prospect’ that directors and management presented at the end of the year suggests how the partnership between the two organizations may be strengthened and points to the financial gains that may be realized as a result of continued cooperation. The partnership between the two must be reinforced as the quality, effectiveness and power to attract are stronger as a whole. The opening of the Dairy Campus and Centre for Marine Policy, both under the auspices of VHL in Leeuwarden, illustrates the added value of continued cooperation.