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The PDEng Data Science combines statistics, computer science, mathematics, and design theory with the business acumen to explore data sets, gather insights, visualize results, and communicate meaningful findings to stakeholders. The programme is a joint initiative of Eindhoven University of Technology, Tilburg University, and the Data Science Centre Eindhoven. Together they founded The Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS). The diploma award ceremony took place at JADS, which is located in the city of ‘s Hertogenbosch.

From November 1st Prof.dr. P. (Paul) Koenraad is director of 4TU.SAI, thereby succeeding Prof.dr. J.C. (Jan) Fransoo who has held the position since 2013. Koenraad will take up this position next to his role as Dean of the TU/e Graduate School.  Koenraad has been working at Eindhoven University of Technology since 1990 in the Applied Physics department where he became professor in the Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics (PSN) group in 2006. In 2005 he was awarded a Vici subsidy for his research, the highest personal subsidy from the research funding organization NWO. Apart from his role as professor of semiconductor materials, Koenraad led the PSN group for ten years. Former director Fransoo will now become research Dean of the Kühne Logistics University in Hamburg.

Friday 6 October Romanian Tudor Văcăretu from the PDEng program User System Interaction at TU/e received his diploma from prof.dr.ir. F.P.T. Baaijens, Rector Magnificus of the TU/e. He’s the 4000th technological designer that graduated in the Netherlands since the introduction in 1986 and may use the degree Professional Doctorate in Engineering.

We’re at the Bosch Security Systems headquarters in Eindhoven. Ten of the twenty Eindhoven University of Technology trainees are waiting nervously until all stakeholders of Bosch have found a place in the room. The final presentation of their eight-week project is about to start. A short period in which the technological design trainees worked as a team on a real life assignment coming from the industry. A period in which they actually delivered a working prototype for Bosch.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland; RVO) subsidises companies who offer internships or other ways of learning on the job. These subsidies help compensate the costs associated with student supervision and salaries. Companies who work with PDEng trainees also qualify.

Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences: ‘Prepare engineers for industry’ Last month, the foresight report ‘The PhD system works’ of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences was published. The Academy concluded that the Dutch PhD system works, is future-proof and highly qualified, delivering independent minds. However, it is important to better prepare candidates for careers outside academia, and there must be room for other forms of qualification after the master's degree, such as the PDEng. The report recognises the need for what the PDEng programs of 3TU.SAI have been offering for many years: engineers preparing for work at a high level in industry. Whereas a PhD candidate delves deep into an investigation, a PDEng bends to the application of knowledge to design something new. Unlike PhD candidates, PDEngs are getting prepared for a career outside academia. In the first year of schooling, alongside substantive courses, the training of soft skills gets intensive attention. PDEngs are being prepared for the new and unexpected and learning to break through walls whilst keeping a bird’s eye view. Not only should there be a good technological design, it also should be able to solve the actual problem, be financially viable, have support among users and so on. The second year of the PDEng training consists (mainly) of an individual major design project which is carried out at a company. In addition, the report of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences confirmed that the degree of Professional Doctorate is in place at the PDEng courses, which are classified next to the promotions in the third cycle of the European Qualifications Framework. 

The renewed Orientation year for highly educated persons offers the best of two worlds. The criteria of the scheme have been relaxed, offering international talent more opportunities to look for work in the Netherlands.  The aim of the orientation year is to offer international talent an opportunity to start working as a highly skilled migrant or, for example, to start their own business. Under the new scheme, more groups will be eligible for the orientation year. In addition to graduates in the Netherlands or graduates studying at a world-class university abroad, the scheme can now also be used by researchers. Multiple orientation years It is no longer necessary to apply for an orientation year directly after graduation. Those interested in an orientation year may apply within three years after graduating or completing their research. This offers them the opportunity to first go back to their countries of origin and return to the Netherlands later to look for a job. A further plus is that, under certain conditions, the orientation year may be applied for not once, but multiple times. Each time a graduate obtains a new degree or a researcher has completed new research, they may again apply for an orientation year. No work permit requirement The work permit requirement (TWV) and the points system that applied to the Orientation year for highly educated migrants have been fully revoked. This means that people may work without a work permit (TWV) during the orientation year and are permitted to do all kinds of work, from a temporary job or part-time job to a paid or unpaid internship. For the application form and more procedural information on the new orientation year, go to www.ind.nl.

Thursday 10 December the Chinese Ya Zhang from the technological designer programme Information and Communication Technology received her diploma from prof.dr.ir. J.C. Fransoo, Dean of the TU/e Graduate School. She’s the 2500th technological designer that graduates from TU/e and may use the degree Professional Doctorate in Engineering or PDEng. 27-year old Ya obtained her Bachelor’s degree at the Zhejiang University in China. She did her Master in Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology. The technological design project of Ya was involved with the development of a model-predictive-controller system leading to a longer life of power electronic products. Recently Ya started with a PhD programme at TU/e.

In the coming 5 years, Apollo Vredestein will invest in having PDEng programmes the University of Twente train its technical personnel. The tyre manufacturer from Twente is expanding its R&D activities and is therefore appealing to the specific knowledge available at UT. The collaborative agreement was signed on 18 June by UT educational board chairman Victor van der Chijs and Peter Snel, Chief R&D PV of Apollo Tyres Ltd.

The festive closing of the Academic Year 2014 – 2015 of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) took place on Friday 3 July 2015. During the event the Academic Annual Awards were announced for the best master thesis, design project and doctoral project of the TU/e.

The first PDEng trainee of the Robotics PDEng programme Robotics has graduated at May 29. During the two-year PDEng programme Jan de Jong MSc PDEng developed a robot which is capable to keep a TMS coil ( transcranial magnetic stimulation) pressed exactly in the correct position against the head of a moving rehabilitation patient.

The Executive Board, the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and the Automotive Systems Design group (ASD) at Eindhoven University of Technology were greatly dismayed to learn of the death of our colleague Özhan (H.O.) Coskun. During the night of 27 to 28 February, he died as a result of an fatal accident in an apartment block in the Cederlaan of Eindhoven. Police investigations confirmed this.

Chinese Fangyi Shi from the Technological Designer's programme Software Technology was officially honoured on Wednesday 1 October by Rector Magnificus Hans van Duijn of TU/e (Eindhoven University of Technology). She is the 3,500th recipient of the Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng) degree at one of the three universities of technology in the Netherlands since its introduction in 1986. Van Duijn pointed out that the program has accounted for a € 350 million investment in innovation over a 30-year period.

Friday 4 July 2014, the TU/e Academic Award winners of 2014 were announced.

André Louis MSc. is the first candidate who has received the PDEng diploma of the new programme in Energy & Process Technology (EPT) at the University of Twente. On behalf of the VMI Group company, Louis conducted his technical design project, and on March 4, he received his degree from UT-rector prof.dr. Ed Brinksma.