The kickoff of the tenth edition of the Master Honors Program High Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM) of the University of Groningen (RuG).
During this energetic opening session, four companies presented - Philips, ASTRON, Batenburg Bones and the start-up North Robin - their high-tech assignments to students. After the pitches, students formed their teams to work on these challenging projects in the coming months.
Additional challenge for ambitious master's students
The HTSM Honors Program offers selected master's students an extra challenge in addition to their regular education. This track lasts three semesters and comprises 20 ECTS. This involves students working in multidisciplinary teams on real-life technical issues brought in by industrial partners from the high-tech sector.
The program consists of:
- Master classes on innovation, engineering and collaboration across disciplines.
- Personal development workshops with emphasis on teamwork and communication.
- A product development assignment, developed and tested during an intensive Summer School.
- A concluding Masterwork, in which students independently apply their acquired knowledge.
Collaborating on high-tech innovation in the northern Netherlands
The program is in English and takes place on Tuesday evenings. Students who successfully complete it receive an entry on their diploma and a letter of recommendation from the Rector of the RuG - a valuable advantage in future job applications in academia or industry.
“It was a super start: lots of students, four inspiring companies and plenty of energy,” said the organizers. “After the pitches, students and companies stayed in conversation for a long time. That shows how valuable this collaboration is for both sides.”
With this anniversary year, the program once again demonstrates the power of cooperation between education and high-tech industry in the Drachten region and the Northern Netherlands.
