Avans University of Applied Sciences wants to expand its master's offering with at least 4 new courses. The Master's degree in Material & Energy Transition (MET) should start in 2024. Why will Avans University of Applied Sciences offer more master's degrees? And why this one in particular? Avans had an interview with Milou van Harsel (masters project team member) and Han van Osch (project leader for the MET masters). “The field is really waiting for these professionals,” says Milou.
Avans currently offers 2 master's programs: Master of Arts in Animation and Master of Arts in Fine Art & Design. The master's MET will follow in September 2024, in which the theme of sustainability will be discussed from a technical perspective. At least 2025 new master's programs must start in 3.
Milou, isn't a master's degree primarily something for a university?
Milou: “Certainly not. Society is experiencing increasingly larger, more complex issues. HBO masters respond to this by training professionals who can deal with these issues. We build a bridge between professional practice and science, and vice versa. And between different practices.”
“In addition, HBO bachelor's students often want to continue their studies at master's level. We meet this need by expanding our educational offering. In this way we further flesh out the theme of 'lifelong development'. A starting point of Avans' Ambition 2025.”
And why these masters in particular?
Milou: “Avans has designated 4 focal points and linked 4 Centers of Expertise (hereinafter: CoEs, ed.). The focus areas each focus on issues to which Avans wants to contribute. We link the masters to these focal points.”
“You learn that you need others to solve complex issues”
MILOU VAN HARSEL, MASTERS PROJECT TEAM MEMBER
“For example, the MET master's degree is linked to the Technological Innovation in Energy and Materials Transition focus and to the Biobased Economy CoE, which will be given a new name in June. In this way we involve students in research and (teacher) researchers in education. They take that knowledge with them into professional practice. That is what I mean, for example, by the connection between practice and science.”
“We are also working on a master's degree on the research theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”
Suppose I am following a higher professional education bachelor's degree. When is a master's program at Avans interesting?
Milou: “If you are looking for depth in a specific domain, are inquisitive and want to make a social impact. And perhaps most importantly: you enjoy working with students from different backgrounds. These are cross-sectoral masters, so different disciplines come together. This way you learn, among other things, to look at issues from multiple perspectives, but also that you need others to solve complex issues.”
Han: “If I translate that to MET: that could be interesting, for example, after your Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Chemical Technology course. You learn to solve complex problems and shape transitions, because you see the whole picture. Many students have a broad interest and the drive to change something from that full breadth. We are already seeing this in the Mechatronics bachelor's program. Different disciplines also come together there.
“Students and alumni must break through the traditional thinking culture of their employers”
HAN VAN OSCH, PROJECT LEADER FOR THE MASTER MATERIAL & ENERGY TRANSITION
What can HBO master's students expect after their training?
Milou: “First of all, they bring their specific expertise to their employers. In addition, they will soon be the link between different parties. For example, between policy makers and the shop floor, but also between professionals with different expertise. They are the spider in the web, because they speak multiple 'disciplinary languages'. To translate that back to MET: once you have completed the master's degree, you naturally bring your technical expertise with you. But you also have knowledge of and an eye for the policy side, the social side, financial aspects and the chain in which you operate.”
Han: “Take the theme of grid congestion: supply and demand for electricity are currently not matched, certainly not with all private providers using solar panels. You can approach that problem very technically, but people also have to change their behavior. And economic models need to be adjusted. This is therefore a problem that all players must solve together. Municipalities are looking for people who will oversee this.”
“Someone from the province of North Brabant was here recently. He indicated that students who have completed MET can work in a policy role. Because with their technological knowledge they know what is needed and speak the language of the technological companies they sit at the table with.”
Speaking of MET: what is the mission of this master?
Han: “To reduce and change material and energy consumption. Firstly, by contributing to practice-oriented research. In addition, we want our students and alumni to encourage their employers to get started with the materials and energy transition. By breaking through the traditional thinking culture and increasing innovative power. That is desperately needed.”
The material and energy transition does not only occur in North Brabant or the Netherlands. It plays worldwide. Are we reinventing the wheel everywhere?
Han: “Coincidentally, I just sent an email to the international networks I am part of. Because working together in a global community is also important key to resolve this issue. Students will soon be the best learnings translate worldwide into their own context. It is not without reason that we have chosen to offer this course in English.”
Aren't the materials and energy transition separate?
Han: “On the contrary! You need an enormous amount of energy to produce materials. And to realize an energy transition, a lot of innovation around materials is needed. That is a continuous interplay.”
What is the added value of this master's for teachers?
Han: “There are many teachers who want to be part of the master team. They get the opportunity to delve deeper and to collaborate interdisciplinary, just like students. In addition, teacher-researchers now see an opportunity to give their research projects more depth and involve students in their research. In addition to teacher-researchers, more and more researcher-teachers are also working at our CoE. An essential difference, because these are primarily researchers who also teach. They also see this master's degree as a mega opportunity.”
And the added value for the field?
Milou: “The field is really waiting for professionals who get to work on these complex practical issues, where multiple disciplines and actors come together. Professionals who have investigative skills and an enormous amount of technical knowledge, but realize that more is needed than that specific knowledge. This way they can really create an impact and contribute to solving the issues at hand.”
“We want to involve as many people as possible in social issues and our education”
MILOU VAN HARSEL, MASTERS PROJECT TEAM MEMBER
Han: “Society is becoming more complex. We can no longer all continue to do our own thing side by side. There is a need for people who can oversee complex issues. The field also still needs carpenters, electricians and other professionals with specific expertise. They remain necessary.”
What are your longer-term ambitions?
Han: “It would be great if we also offered MET part-time. Because we work so intensively with our practice partners, we know that there is a lot of interest in this master's degree among professionals.”
Milou: “In a broader sense, as a master's institute we want to be a learning institute, not just for master's students. We want to involve as many people as possible in the social issues at stake and the education we offer. Think of master classes for a broader audience. There are plenty of people both within Avans - for example interested teachers - and outside of it who may not want or cannot follow the entire master's program, but are interested in a theme such as the materials and energy transition. We also want to give them the space to follow certain components, also in the context of 'lifelong development'. We also learn from their perspectives.”
Finally: when can students register?
Han: “We expect to receive a definitive green light from the government next winter. Then the recruitment starts.”
