Technology updates

With a new specialisation for its Process & Food Technology programme and a new English version of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE), The Hague University’s (THU) Technology, Innovation and Society is fully in line with students’ and industry’s needs.

Technology

Ton de Jager

Ton de Jager is THU’s Dean of Technology, Innovation and Society. His department currently offers eight technology programmes, five of which are given in collaboration with Delft University, one of the Netherlands’ leading technology learning centres. Technology represents a significant proportion of THU’s total offering; of its 20,000 students some 3,500 follow technology programmes.

Highly successful

At the moment only one of the Academy’s programmes – Process & Food Technology (PFT) – is given in English, but this situation is about to change. The department will shortly start-up Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) programme. A highly successful Dutch course which has been running for over 20 years, Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) covers the full lifecycle of designing a product, from the initial requirement and conception through to development, material choices and production. “To strengthen our positioning we have decided to offer an international English version.”

Clear need

Before deciding to provide an English version of the Industrial Design Engineering (IDE), THU sounded out the working environment and discovered that there is indeed a clear need for it. “Large multinational companies, which operate both in the Netherlands and abroad, need people with the right qualifications who can collaborate with different cultures and communicate well in English.” THU did something similar with another technology programme, PFT a few years ago, De Jager informs. “This was a completely Dutch programme for which we introduced an English version, aiming for a 50-50 balance of Dutch and international students to provide the required multicultural mix. PFT is now given only in English.”

Functional foods variant

That same PFT programme, explains De Jager, is itself about to be strengthened and extended, with a new specialisation called Functional Food. One of the fastest growing segments in the sector, these are foods that promote a healthy lifestyle and protect against illnesses, as well as providing nutrition and basic sustenance. “After conducting research among students and various food industries we identified a clear need for this variant. The industrial sectors we approached showed great interest and some, such as the dairy industry, will be helping us develop the course material, by providing case studies and assessments.” From September 2010 students enrolling in the PFT programme can opt for the Functional Food specialisation and will have the choice of a two-year completion time or a fast-track 15-month option.

Constantly changing

To identify such trends and requirements from industry and the student fraternity, THU relies on its marketing and communication department and, of course, always keeps up-to-speed on what’s happening in the worlds of technology, politics and society at large. “The technology sector is constantly changing; what’s new today will be old news tomorrow.”

Helping others

De Jager thinks the two most important things students look for nowadays in technology programmes are business potential – how they can earn a lot of money – and societal issues – how they can help others. The latter, he says, now commands a particularly significant following. “Last year we started up a programme that deals with the effects of climate change on buildings, infrastructures and communication channels. It’s not really aimed at the ‘hard-core’ technology buffs, but at the huge group of students who lean towards the technical side but also want to contribute to society.”

Practical emphasis

Key to all the developments in THU’s technology programmes is the close co-operation with industry. The assignments in programmes such as PFT, for example, are not theoretical but real problems and challenges faced by THU’s partner companies. “From day one students are confronted with the kinds of situations they will have to deal with in industry, and this makes it a very powerful education model,” says De Jager. Such a practical emphasis is by no means new for the Technology, Innovation and Society Academy’s programmes, he explains, but it’s now being strengthened. “It’s already happened with the PFT. Next will be the new English Industrial Design Engineering (IDE), and other technology programmes will soon follow.”

For questions about Industrial Design Engineering please contact Mr. Coen Dekkers by dialing +31(0)70-4458956 or via e-mail c.a.h.m.dekkers@hhs.nl