[3] Born in Breda, Netherlands in 1956, Maurits van Rooijen attended the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe lyceum [4](gymnasium beta)[failed verification] and studied at Utrecht University.

He was lecturer/researcher at his alma mater in Urban Studies and obtained his doctorate in Geography for research about the roots and prospects of green urbanisation, on which he wrote various publications.

[5][independent source needed] From 2009 to 2012 van Rooijen was Rector Magnificus and CEO of Nyenrode Business University.

In addition to these roles, van Rooijen became Rector of University of Applied Sciences Europe in September 2019 [9] From 2009-2012 he was chairman of the Euro-Mediterranean University of Slovenia,[10] and was, from 2008 until 2016, president of the Compostela Group of Universities,[11] He has also been co-chairman of the World Association for Cooperative Education, a Boston-based organization dedicated to promoting work-integrated and experiential learning, since 2008,[12] and was vice-president of the European Access Network, a London-based organization encouraging access to higher education for underrepresented groups, for over 15 years.

[5] Since 2015, van Rooijen has been Chairman of the High Level Council of GaragErasmus, which stimulates entrepreneurship under new generations of Europe[14]