PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Public Administration Student
"It is weighing the interests of different people, organisations and institutions and the political game that goes with it. And it is about what is possible and what is permitted within the law." Public Administration is a broad discipline and second-year student Jelly van der Weerd finds it very stimulating. "When I was deciding what to study. I thought: "Management, " that appeals to me." And Jelly is still enthusiastic! "All facets of the study interest me." And from the start I felt at home in Enschede. "I was member of the student union Audentis, active at the study association Sirius and lived in a cosy student house. Through the University I got a part-time job as a student-assistant at the Marketing Communications Department of the School for Management and Governance. I built up a large, friendly network in about one and a half years. I enjoy Enschede, my studies in Public Administration and being at the UT."
Education Director Public Administration (partlu in 2009)
Public Administration at the University of Twente
(05:27 minutes, double-click to enlarge video)
"Public Administration Should Remain a Generic Course"
When you take Public Administration in Twente, you have made a choice for the programme with the longest tradition in the Netherlands. Often the link between the student and programme continues to be a special one. That's certainly true of René Westra, now Director of the Court in Arnhem. As a member of the Advisory Board of Practitioners for the last two years, he has been dedicated about taking up national policy issues. René also considers it important for practicum placements and final projects to really offer something extra. "The programme is well set-up, but it could be made even more attractive. That's why I am calling on other alumni throughout the country to create interesting opportunities. We can support the ambitions of students who would like to spread their wings. It is just one of the ways to hold on to a generic study. Even though people study in two phases these days, the fundamentals should not be allowed to become too narrow."
Public Administration Alumnus
"I studied Public Administration because society interests me, as do political factors and conflicting interests." Even before Jeroen Jonker finished his studies, he was approached by the Municipality of Enschede with the offer of a position as Project Staff member (in the management of social policy and so in the area of Care and Welfare, Work and Employment and Youth and Education). "It is a fun and varied job because I am involved in all kinds of social questions. A few examples are: social services for problem families, a socio-economic programme for restructured neighbourhoods, neighbourhood budgets, an opinion poll on welfare work, subsidising a community renewal project at a sports club, and the list goes on... . I benefit on a daily basis from the analytical skills that I learned during my studies. It helps me think through and understand complex social problems from different viewpoints: economic, political, sociological and legal. I notice that my grounding in public administration enables me to see through different subjects relatively quickly. In the future I would like to be an advisor or decision-maker, and to be involved with fundamental (political) considerations that have to be made in the wake of the crisis. Questions like: "how can we provide a better, more stable form to the relationship between the market and the state in different areas?"