Following the interview in the NRZ with Professor Dr Gerard Meijer, former Chair of the University Council, Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences has issued the following statement.
In an interview with the NRZ, Professor Dr Gerard Meijer, former chair of the University Council, suggests, amongst other things, that running an institute similar to the Scientific Freshers Institute in the Netherlands could result in a prison sentence. Professor Meijer states, word for word: “If you were to do something like that in the Netherlands, and it were to come to light – you’d end up in prison.” This statement defames members of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and casts them in a fraudulent light.
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences rejects any accusations implying that its members have fraudulent intentions. The structure of the Scientific Freshers Institute was subject to thorough legal scrutiny at the time and was deemed to be legally sound. The collaboration with the institute was expressly welcomed by the university management at the time and considered strategically sound. At no point were the individuals involved in this context accused of unlawful conduct.
