Studying and working on a paid assignment possible through UT's Engineering Doctorate Programme

Those who have completed a relevant master's degree at UT and want to work in a company can choose from the following five programmes: Maintenance, Robotics, Energy & Process Technology, Civil Engineering and Business & IT. "An EngD candidate is recruited for an assignment in cooperation with a company," explains Mariska de Roo from UT. She provides the liaison between the university and companies. "This trainee spends half the time working at the company for a certain period of time and the other half is at UT to undergo training. Incidentally, the classes are tailored to the assignment at the company."

During the process, the student will be supervised by a design team. "This team consists of a supervisor from the company and a researcher/lecturer from UT. Incidentally, the assignment is already known for a while by then, as it is proposed by the company before the recruitment of the trainee starts. A content expert from our university is also involved in formulating the assignment."

A rigorous selection programme precedes the choice of a student. "The companies get the best masters graduates, who have many skills. During the programme, for example, there is a lot of focus on professional development, creativity, out-of-the-box thinking and making connections between different disciplines to then integrate into a technological design."

Within UT, the programme is fully supported. According to Mariska de Roo, participating companies also see a lot of added value in this approach. "I often hear that they are happy with the two-year duration. That fits better than a four-year PhD. Moreover, companies' demand is central during the trainee's working period and they are sure of concrete results." Success stories from the past period are therefore plentiful. "Our students were able to help companies develop a prototype of a (part of) a robot, set up a data platform and design an adapted production process. They did these assignments at both large and (mid-)small companies across the Netherlands."

People who have left student life (far) behind can also join the programme. "It is certainly interesting for companies to look at employees who have a relevant completed master's degree and want to develop further. However, it is an intensive programme, for which someone has to be virtually freed up. You don't just do it on top of your work. However, there is a possibility to spread the working period over three years. That often gives some room to continue doing existing tasks at the employer," she explains. "For example, it is interesting to have someone work on an issue that suits the job and work. Being practical by applying available knowledge and delving into science goes together very well in this way."