The University of Twente's (UT) degree programmes are structured according to the internationally recognised Bachelor-Master model.
Bachelor programmes last three years and lead to the qualification of 'Bachelor of Science' (B. Sc.). This is the lowest level of degree at an internationally recognised level. Bachelor graduates can either enter the labour market, or can continue their education at Master's level at the University of Twente, at another university in the Netherlands, or abroad.
There are four one-year Master's programmes in the School of Management and Governance at UT: Business Administration, Public Administration, European Studies and the Health Sciences programmes.
There is also a European Studies Joint Master's programme, offered together with developed with the University of Munster. This is an eighteen month programme which leads to two qualifications, a Dutch Master's degree and a German Master's Degree (MA).
Several Master's programmes last two years, including Master of Industrial Engineering & Management, and Master of Business Information Technology. These programme lead to a 'Master of Science' (M.Sc.) diploma.
All School of Management and Governance programmes are closely associated with one another, because of the coupling of disciplines. All programmes emphasise developing knowledge and skills in research and design methods, and in applying this expertise to acquire disciplinary knowledge relevant to the particular programme.
424 students began their Bachelor's studies at the School of Management and Governance in 2010 (see Table 3).
Table 3. Intake for Bachelor courses 2005-2010
| Tabel 3 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Bachelor's Courses | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Business Information Technology | 34 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 35 | 11 |
| Business Administration | 84 | 77 | 113 | 95 | 93 | 175 |
| Public Administration | 78 | 34 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 30 |
| European Studies; a variant of Business Administration | - | 79 | 107 | 117 | 93 | 127 |
| Health Care Sciences | 22 | 27 | 21 | 24 | 31 | 42 |
| Industrial Engineering and Management | 72 | 86 | 105 | 86 | 95 | 39 |
| Total Management and Governance | 290 | 329 | 405 | 380 | 382 | 424 |
The modern reality is that all business sectors are profoundly influenced by information technology (IT) exerts a significant influence. In civil aviation, intelligent IT systems management relationships between ticket prices, routes and times. At which price will all of the seats in an aeroplane be sold? How often is it cost-effective to fly to Tokyo? It is crucial for businesses to apply new technology successfully the question of how to do this is not a trivial one. The Business Information Technology (BIT) programme helps students develop a strong understanding of the principles and practice of business IT through a course of study directed to the development and adoption of IT systems in organisations. BIT offers a balanced mix of information science and management education which emphasises both technology and personnel issues. Students are familiarised with both disciplines ensuring that they can competently speak the languages of IT specialists and of managers. The heart of this degree is that students develop their analytic capacities to identify connections, and to approach problems from a variety of perspectives. The BIT education programme has a technical side and a social side: its students develop strong people skills and are good team players. This is reflected in our students being highly welcomed in the labour market.
The Business Administration bachelor programme at the University of Twente has received high evaluation scores from both students and experts in the field. Our Business Administration students receive a multi-disciplinary education. All facets of an organisation are studied, including marketing, finance, production process and human resource management, with entrepreneurship and innovation management recurring programme themes. The programme's multi-disciplinary character prepares students well to describe and analyse organisations, and on that basis to plan and manage organisational change. The UT Business Administration degree prepares students who are entrepreneurial go-getters, equipped to consider an issue from multiple viewpoints before identifying and delivering the best solution. Our graduates are prepared to become the hub of their organisations.
International Business Administration is a new course of study at the University of Twente, that started in September 2010. This English language variant of the Bachelor of Business Administration offers the same broad portfolio as the Dutch language version. The programme is strongly international, drawing on the University of Twente's unique position close to the German border and surrounded by important ports, industrial and commercial centres in North Western Europe. The programme aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the business world. It recognises that (English) communication skills, in the broadest sense, are essential to any business graduate. In addition to students from the Netherlands and Germany, the educational programme has attracted other EU students alongside those from other continents, including Asia.
Good governance is the linchpin of successfully addressing public issues that arise in our society. There is public concern over health care, crime & safety, liveability of cities and the countryside, educational quality, and welfare – local, national and international. Addressing these problems involves many parties co-operating to deliver solutions: the public sector, but also companies and the voluntary and community sector. Our public administration experts work as Board Members and Executives in organisations in all these sectors. They are able to advise on the right approach to problem solving and encourage government, local authorities, businesses and citizens to better work together. The public administration research of the School of Management and Government has been rated as top-class, scoring highest in the Netherlands and now regarded as the curricular benchmark.
The European Studies programme examines the dynamics of developments across Europe, and the role played by the EU in their management and governance. Thematic modules specifically address topics including EU expansion, differences in national health care and pension systems, migration and cultural diversity, foreign affairs policy, security issues, trade, asylum policy and European environmental issues. The programme is organised around three key issues of relevance to European Studies domain, namely European governance, European integration and globalisation (Europe and the world).
European Studies at UT is distinctive in its multi-disciplinarity, drawing upon sociology, economics, law, political sciences and public administration, combining the best elements of modern European Studies programmes globally. It is also distinctive in terms of its central focus on governance issues, the combination of research and professional training, and – in Dutch terms – in being completely taught in English. Its four disciplines cover the most fundamental aspects relevant for the systematic study of the modern complexities of Europe. The programme deals both with the internal aspects ('How Europe Hits Home') of Europe as well as the external aspects of Europe ('How Europe Fits the World').
At the moment, there is a growing need for professionals who are able to bring a solid background and broad vision to bear in the shaping of policy. European Studies brings together precisely the right mix of expertises that students need in the labour market for operating internationally. Our graduates have found work as policy-makers, managers and researchers in government, commercial enterprises, and (international) advocacy organisation.
Healthcare is undergoing enormous changes. New medical technology developments have changed our expectations of healthcare. Demographic ageing has increased the prevalence of formerly rare conditions such as Parkinson, Alzheimer and strokes. In the long term, we can expect a huge rise in the demand for healthcare. The University of Twente's health scientists link their knowledge about new technologically-based opportunities for health care to insights about organisational processes with societal developments and financing constructions. In addition to the educational programme, research is very important in health science. They are focused on improving quality, effectiveness, and security in health care in collaboration with people from different disciplines: doctors, managers and other support personnel. Our health scientists are focused on care services within and between care organisations-- from doctors to top clinics or academic hospitals. Research is aimed at finding methods that aid in the prevention of epidemics, and advance understanding about the inheritableness of diseases, and relationships between behaviour and disease prevention. Additional subjects for the department's research include the assessment, adoption and evaluation of care technologies.
Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM) is focused on the use of quantitative models and techniques from the domains of business administration, financial engineering, logistics and information management. Industrial Engineering and Management distinguishes itself from conventional approaches to management through its technical, quantitative approach.
The Bachelor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Twente equips students to analyse companies using quantitative data and analytic techniques to gain a bird's eye view of the firm. The techniques learned cover all dimensions of the firm, the personnel and organisational as well as the financial and logistical. This provides the perfect basis for identifying corporate weaknesses and potential solutions, and planning the optimum implementation of those solutions, with continual reference back to quantitative models and techniques for well-evidenced solutions.
More information about our Bachelor programmes is available at www.bachelor.utwente.nl
Following completion of the Bachelor degree, it is usual in the Netherlands for students to begin a Master's programme. The student population of the Master's programmes at our School is very diverse, and encompasses not only graduates from our own Bachelor programmes but also drawn from other institutions. Our range of trajectories have proven very popular as an effective means to continue and complete university studies, and we are happy to welcome international students from other countries, such as Germany, China, Indonesia and Turkey.
The Netherlands is currently completing the separation of the Bachelor and Master's degree; from 2011, only students who have completed a bachelor degree will be eligible to enrol in a UT Master's programme in the School.
Companies and organisations can not survive if they do not collaborate. The two year Master's of Business Information Technology places a strong emphasis on the question of how information technology can be used to help improve collaboration between companies. Students engage in analysis of IT systems with a view to answering the question: how can they be built in a faster, more flexible, and more user-friendly way?
In addition to technical knowledge, the development of an IT architecture also demands knowledge of business strategy. Students of Business Information Technology learn how to transform organisations, people and IT systems to work together more harmoniously. The integration of the management and IT disciplines is something common to all programme modules.
All students are required to complete a research project to graduate: students actively work on research projects from either our School (Management and Governance) or from the Faculty of Electronics, Mathematics & Computer Sciences (EEMCS).
Research themes covered within the Master's programme include:
Every company has complex business problems; these may concern a short or long-term strategy, the implementation of novel company change concept, personnel policy, improvements in service, or carrying out sustainable innovations or changes. The one year Business Administration Master's (M.Sc.) programme teaches students how to use scientific methods and insights to help organisations perform better. Graduates develop specialist knowledge and understand how to independently analyse problems in the management of business organisations, designing solutions across diverse social and market sectors. They are able to work individually or in a group to realise new developments across a broad range of organisations and institutions.
The Business Administration Master's programme offers a second intake opportunity in February. This allows students completing their Bachelor degree halfway through the academic year, or who wish to switch programmes, to avoid waiting until September before beginning their Master's programme, thereby avoiding an unnecessary delay in their studies.
The Business Administration Masters programme allows students specialise in one of the following areas:
Alongsides the master's programme, Business Administration offers the opportunity for a two years programme which is an extension of the standard one year curriculum. Business Administration cooperates with TU Berlin in Germany and Aalborg University in Denmark.
The programme revolves around the academic analysis on European Governance using a framework of multi-level Governance. This academic approach is applied to a number of policy areas, including the expansion of the European Union, social politics, the internal market (free movement of goods, people, services and capital), foreign and security policy, trade, the environment, the fight against terrorism, and development aid. The programme also examines the role of the European Union in the world and its relations with other world powers (including the United States, Russia and China) and international organisations such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and NATO.
European Studies students gain knowledge and insight into economics, law, political sciences and sociology. The strength of this master's programme lies in its multidisciplinary approach, taking many perspectives in order to best understand and provide a complete picture of the complex phenomenon of contemporary Europe. We provide two options: (1) The one year master's programme in European Studies, resulting in a single M.Sc. degree, and (2) the 18 month master's programme in European Studies, resulting in a double degree: one M.Sc. degree awarded by UT and a German Master of Arts (M.A.) awarded by the University of Münster in Germany. UT and the University of Münster have been collaborating since 2001 to allow students to take modules at both universities and graduate with both a Dutch and a German degree. Efforts are currently being made to diversify our international collaborations with partners in other countries, and we hope to offer more choices for international enrichment in the near future.
In 2008 we launched the Regulation module for those students aiming for European careers in business and public administration. This module provides a specialisation in the field of 'Regulation, Europe and Innovation', and requires students to have a reasonable understanding of the European Union, or the intention of specialising in the economic-legal dimension of the EU. This module is essential in providing the necessary expertise in European regulation and its impact on the business environment which are increasingly important for higher-level management and leadership positions in business and public administration dealing with the European environment.
With the growing complexity of the European system, specialised knowledge of Europe and the European Union is becoming a coveted qualification in the job market. Our Master's degree graduates in European Studies have acquired that broad understanding and specialised knowledge of Europe. Some alumni work in Brussels, for the European Commission, one of the other European Union organisations, or research, public and corporate relations around European decision making. However, the bulk of our graduates go on to work for Government ministries, regional and municipal administrations, consultancy agencies, international organisations, companies in the private sector, NGOs or trade union organisations. Other graduates have worked in journalism or as a European researcher.
In the UT's one year Master of Health Sciences programme, the student learns to evaluate the effects and impacts of innovations and medical technology. Master's students gain insight into the way in which technological change influences the design of health care in an international setting. The programme also offers students the knowledge and skills to enable analysis of research in this area, and to communicate and implement policy measures. Assessing the effectiveness of care regimes and building bridges between care providers is difficult for individual disciplines, but for Twente's health science students learn how to do that as a matter of course in optimising patient care.
The Master's programme is delivered exclusively in English and has two parts.
The first part is a general course of study that includes the role of technology in health care and conducting assessment research (Medical Technology Assessment). The programme then more fully investigates the influence of different care systems on the way in which care is designed.
The second part consists of specialisations taken after the first general course of study. The choice can be made to specialise in Health Care Technology or Health Services and Management. Health Care Technology focuses on the evaluation and assessment of medical technology and technology policy (effectiveness of policy and design of regulations for new medical technology). Health Services and Management examines improving and optimising the organisation of care at the Institutional level and between different institutions, exploring how to optimise quality, effectiveness, efficiency and security within the healthcare sector.
In the contemporary world, products and services are becoming steadily more advanced and complex. Up-to-date business processes are crucial to develop, sell, produce, source, and maintain goods and services, as well as to use and recycle them safely and efficiently. The organisation and management of business processes to achieve these multiple goals is crucial. And this is precisely the area focused upon by the two year Master's of Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM). The curriculum analyses methods of driving improvements in productivity, quality and service, not only in terms of manufacturing processes, but also in logistics in and between companies, through information exchange processes , and in financial engineering.
IEM programme provides a solid grounding for students in academic thinking and its application in companies, organisations and healthcare. Students acquire a range of betters insight into the relationship between process development and process control, as well as relevant achievement indicators.
Our Master's programme is closely linked to the School's research programme. The programme aims to provide an inspiring and challenging learning environment for Master's students, with sufficient facilities to prepare students for current and future labour markets. Our graduates are flexible and creative, can easily shift between different conceptual levels of thinking, and can adopt different technical management viewpoints. The programme's academic character is reflected in graduates' acquisition of skills and knowledge in design methods and methodologies, and in the effective application of their acquired expertise.
IEM Master's Students can specialise in the following areas:
The one year Public Administration master's programme is focused on core themes of policy and management in contemporary public governance. Public Administration covers the whole range of public and private organisations involved in the creation of public policy and the delivery of public services. Modern public policy is located at the nexus of state, market and community sectors developments. The primary focus of the programme is on understanding how decision-making in public governance is structured, how it progresses, as well as on issues of policy and management in governance.
Given the complexity and the uncertainty characteristic of modern public governance, high demands are placed on potential employees in this sector. Our graduates posses the full suite of skills necessary to make valuable contributions to the quality of policy and management. To do this, our graduates have learned to critically assess current thinking in public administration, to produce usable new knowledge, and, last but not least, to translate new knowledge into good advice and design of adequate solutions.
The School of Management and Governance offers a second intake opportunity in February. This allows students completing their Bachelor degree halfway through the academic year, or who wish to switch programmes, to avoid waiting until September before beginning their Master's programme, thereby avoiding an unnecessary delay in their studies.
Within Public Administration Master's, students can specialise in:
More information about our Master's programmes is available at www.graduate.utwente.nl
Life-long learning is becoming increasingly important. At the School of Management and Governance we are addressing these new needs by broadening our education to cover these fields. We make education also available to businesses and other organisations, following the general philosophy of excellent education rooted in top-level research. There are a variety of different routes open to lifelong learning at UT, including Master's degrees, academic study courses, current issues seminars and Ph.D. programmes. www.bpo.utwente.nl
The contemporary manager is hard-pressed to remain relevant to their organisation without regularly updating themselves about developments in their field. The part time Master of Public Management allows practicing professionals to broaden and deepen their expertise. The broadening comes through teaching drawn from six different management disciplines. Deepening comes from the insights that participants gain in their confrontation with the most recently-developed knowledge and insights from public administration management research. Many managers who followed this programme found that their Master's diploma gave their careers a new impetus and led to internal promotion within their organisation. This programme is given by lecturers from the University of Twente and other Dutch universities, as well as instructors practicing in public management. The Master of Public Management programme marked its 20th anniversary in 2009.
Since 1990, the Centre for Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy has provided a range of courses and educational programmes in the area of environmental and energy management. The international educational programme Master of Environmental and Energy Management was established in 2000, and has always attracted participants from across the world with very diverse professional backgrounds. Offered in Leeuwarden, the educational programme is a one year, full time course designed for professionals from the business world, governments and non-governmental organisations. The educational programme combines the themes of policy, management and technology in a unique educational programme that is attentive to students' needs and has a good study atmosphere.
The International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) is provided by the Operations, Organisations and Human Resources (OOHR) department in collaboration with the College of Business Administration at Hunan University in China. The IMBA is an internationally-orientated management development programme designed for professionals with a technical degree and/or a several years work experience in a technically-orientated environment.
This new Master's programme was developed in 2008 and was first offered in January 2009. The Master of Risk Management is developed for candidates from governmental, non-profit and business organisations wishing to specialise in professional risk management. Participants acquire the deep and integrated knowledge and competencies demanded by across the field of risk management.
Students the principles and practice of identification, assessment, prioritisation, and management of risk. The curriculum also includes such aspects as communication about risks, organisation, ethical dilemmas, crisis situations, research methodology and design training. This Master's qualification is completed with a dissertation based on original, supervised academic research by the student.
Academic Degree Studies are graduate-level bespoke and accredited educational programmes for groups of managers from a specific department or organisation.
Business and Governance for Conservancy of Water Districts
This course is specifically focused on the Dutch water management system which is overseen by autonomous democratically-elected structures, the Water Boards. This is a Dutch degree, and English information is provided for the sake of completeness.
During this programme, water board managers learn to work commercially within a governmental environment. In addition to education focused on management and administrative development, this educational programme also promotes personal development. This eighteen month degree is delivered through a series of two-day seminar meetings over fifteen months. Seminars are given by lecturers from the University of Twente, with external instructors and guest speakers providing insights into subjects of current relevance. This degree course requires twelve enrolled participants to begin, professionals preferably coming from a broad range of water boards, in order to compare and exchange knowledge and experience. The varied backgrounds of the participants enriches the educational benefit of this degree course.
www.LeergangBedrijfenBestuurWaterschappen.nl
The School developed the Leadership Development educational programme at the request of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) network. This course is designed for the staff of member universities. The first course began in September 2006, and has subsequently been adopted by three more ECIU universities. The 2009 Leadership Development course was delivered in conjunction with ECIU member universities in France, Spain and Scotland.
This course is specifically focused on the Dutch social security system and in meeting needs which arose from the introduction of the Work and Social Security Law. This is a Dutch degree, and English information is provided for the sake of completeness.
Social services managers have been forced by the introduction of the Work and Social Security Law (WWB) to also become change managers, further complicated by the fact that social security is always in transition. WWB emphasises the independence of the individual. A special kind of leadership is required in a changing environment. The Divosa Academy provides managers tools for effective and efficient management of social services. The Divosa Academy is an initiative of Divosa, a special interest and network organisation of municipal services managers with responsibility for employment, income and health care.
This course is specifically focused on the Dutch Housing Corporation system. This is a Dutch degree, and English information is provided for the sake of completeness.
The Dutch social landlords, the housing corporations are currently confronting demanding challenges. The environment in which they operate is becoming more and more dynamic, with a steady succession of complex social issues and political developments. At the same time, housing corporations are becoming increasingly aware of their social roles, which covers a gamut from providing affordable rental housing to participating participation in urban redevelopment. But housing corporations are required to operate commercially and organise their operational management accordingly. What this requires from management is an acceptance of their role and responsibilities, along with large measures of professionalism, innovation, commercial insight and changeability. This Master's degree emphasises managers' transparency and responsibility, to manage working commercially and working socially responsibly to deliver effective social entrepreneurship.
More information: www.LeergangPubliekManagementWoningcorporaties.nl
The Contemporary Issues Seminars are developed for University of Twente alumni, and aimed at bring professionals with up-to-date on current topics within a short time. The seminars are interactive because participants themselves also have years of practical experience, and the exchange of knowledge between alumni and School members is a central aspect.
There are ever-louder calls coming from public management circles for more attention to be paid to the level of state and management legal knowledge among public representatives and administrators.
The School of Management and Governance organises a Master Class entitled "Constitutional and administrative law " for the Province of Overijssel. The goal of this Master Class is to deepen the legal knowledge among Overijssel's Provincial elected members. The educational programme is based on an updating and enriching of relevant legal knowledge along a number of concrete topics.
The Master Class consists of six three-hour meetings taking place every two to three months. In November 2009 the Master Class concluded with a mini-conference.
The Information Systems & Change Management Department provides a seminar in the international AMPM educational programme. In addition to a number of excursions to companies the programme's 20 international executive students follow a three-day seminar at our School.