Maastricht University and UM Academy have close ties with the labour market through both the Brightlands campuses and our national and international community of 100,000 alumni. Short lines of communication connect us with the provincial authorities, municipalities, ministries and other educational institutions. The need for lifelong development in Limburg and beyond is intertwined with current affairs and complex societal issues, including (preventive) healthcare, sustainability, the energy transition and digitisation. UM aims to contribute to solving these societal challenges through its education for professionals, based on academic research and sound pedagogical principles.

In the coming years, UM is committed to the greening of Chemelot, addressing the impact of the automation of work, and stimulating employment in the (Eu)region through the arrival of the Einstein telescope. Sustainable solutions will be shared outside our own region. Particular attention will be paid to retraining and upskilling—an important obligation in a socioeconomically fragile and shrinking region such as Limburg.