Prof. Dipl.-Ing. J.N.J.A. Vambersky
“ U-BASE is a student association. It is formed by a very active and resourceful group of students with interests in the structural design of buildings, exciting structures and all related
aspects that are of importance for structural engineers with ambitions in this field. U-Base
has positioned itself and its activities close to the Department of Structural and Building
Engineering. U-BASE has developed with this Department an intensive and fruitful relation
and cooperation, highly appreciated not only within the Faculty, but also outside. U-BASE
provides students with extracurricular student activities and brings them into contact with the
design- and engineering offices, contractors, research institutes and other professional
bodies, which they may work for after they graduate. U-BASE organises excursions to
companies, in-field projects and profession-oriented lectures. One recurrent activity is the
organisation of an international study tour. The goal of this tour is to provide students with an
unique professional exposure to the industry and to the culture in a particular country. During
these tours, the students get in close contact with many aspects of the profession. U-BASE
has built an outstanding reputation. It is my expectation, that more will be heard about U-
BASE and its activities also in the future.”
Prof. ir. Rob Nijsse
Prof. Ir. Rob Nijsse is since his Master Thesis at the Technical University of Delft in Civil
Engineering in 1979 working at the Consulting Engineering firm ABT; starting as
structural engineer he is now a senior advisor, also responsible for the the
technical quality of ABT.
In regard to this he
was installed in 2007 as a professor in Structural Engineering at Technical
University of Delft at the faculty of Architecture and in 2010 in the same
position at the Faculty of Civil Engineering. The working with students,
especially thesis students, allows him to research technical developments,
especially in Structural Glass, and hereby increase the level of knowledge in
the Netherlands. Regarding the amazing developments in building in the Far and
Middle East a very necessary thing. The students that are involved in U-BASE
are all Master Students in Civil Engineering, therefore from this group of
people the structural engineers, the project developers and technical advisors
of the Future will come.
Prof.dr.ir. Bert M. Geerken
We stimulate our students to
participate in other activities than just following lectures and passing exams,
whenever time allows them to do so! Like everywhere, sports and music are among
the most famous choices. Others become a member of a Delft Dream Team,
developing new technologies with limited means and participate in races or even
in worldwide challenges -with other student teams. Also a contribution in the
Board or one of the Committees of Student Unions is well appreciated, although
this may result in a laborious task.
The “U-BASE” board members have found a great
way in between. Their programme consisting of excursions, fields trips and
conferences is quite ambitious, but can still be carried out well because they
divide the tasks over several participants, sharing the work load. Their 29
years of existence have given them solid experience in the ways to improve the
experience as well as knowledge of the Building and Structural engineering
students. Furthermore, we highly value the way in which they cooperate closely
with the department and the Faculty. We always aim to reinforce the “ T-shaped
approach”: becoming an expert in a certain field, with an open mind for other
disciplines and the required soft skills to cope with the environment of
experts and other stake holders, including the general public. I am glad our
environment of companies and institutions supports this view, providing our
students with internships, visits and sponsorships. U-BASE has found a great
way to involve and work together with these external relations, as well as our
own staff and students.
For this young generation of
professionals it is important to observe a new drive for innovation and
cooperation. The recent opening of the Bouwcampus (January 2016) is an example
of this and also the then&their presented Agenda by the branch organisation
Bouwend Nederland, in close cooperation with 3TU-Bouw developed.