Study overview

Overview modules

• Year 1EC

  • Module 1 | Analysing societal problems15

    In this module the Twente Policy Design Cycle is introduced. You look at the political agenda setting: which problems are seen as urgent and why? A second subject focuses on how technology  changes not only how society problems are defined, but also what kinds of tools are available to tackle them. Let’s find out how this works.

  • Module 2 | Policy design15

    Inequality, globalization, mobility, digitalization, urbanization and climate change are all reshaping society. What do these developments mean for policy and politics? From climate justice debates to digital platform economies, from mobility and migration to farmer and citizen protests, you will gain critical insights into the governance of societal transitions. In the project you choose for which challenge you design a policy that aims to solve it.

  • Module 3 | Decision making15

    In this module four questions are central: who decides? How are decisions made? What is the right decision? How do you design better decision processes?

    The project is about democratic backsliding: the current developments that make countries become less democratic, and in some cases even fully authoritarian. What is going on and how can we understand that?

  • Module 4 | Policy implementation15

    Policy implementation is often where ‘reality hits’. Issues as inadequate problem definitions, naïve designs, or political tensions all come towards the surface now. Let’s look for solutions! In the project you interconnect citizens, organisations and information and infrastructure by designing a prototype for a platform or mobile app to get to a policy that works in the real world.
• Year 2EC

  • Module 5 | Global challenges and policies15

    The strategy of negotiation is influenced by outside options and political-economic factors. Negotiators in the public sector use their public policy toolbox to come to a common ground between the actual policy making process and the optimal set of outcomes. In the project you become a common good negotiator yourself, on regulating private military and security companies.

  • Module 6 | Digital governance15

    Let’s go digital! Or at least, understand what we need to do for that. Think of aspects as the regulation and ethics of AI, governing social media platforms or the platform economy as subjects in this module about good governance. Where does the digital world help us, where do we need to regulate its quirks to make sure they don’t crush us? With special attendance to learning from past policies.

  • Modules 7 | The EU as a policy actor30

    The EU is seen on the one hand as an ‘oil tanker’ that can only change direction very slowly, but on the other hand as the only way forward in a world where you need negotiation power to be taken seriously. What policies are working, and why? How do we in Europe get things done in a rapidly changing world? In the project we look at enhancing governance with the technology now available, and the future of it.

  • Module 8 | Cross-border governance0

    Ever thought about ambulances crossing borders? We want to collaborate effectively, but even our closest neighbours in EUREGIO use different protocols and communication tools. In this module we look at effective cross-border policies to make working together better, knowing we are not all using the same rules.
• Year 3EC

  • Modules 9 & 10 | Electives30

    Modules 9 and 10 consist of elective space, where you get the opportunity to personalise your bachelor's and add knowledge and skills that you find valuable. You can use this space to deepen your knowledge and specialise in a specific field, or broaden your knowledge and take courses from other study programmes at UT, like communication science or psychology. You may also opt for an internship.

  • Modules 11 & 12 | Bachelor's assignment30

    The thesis semester firstly focuses on preparing you for your thesis. During the Craft of Public Administration Research additional tools for your thesis are offered, along with special courses about ethics and leadership to prepare for your future career. In the first part of the semester, you setup your thesis with the help of your supervisor. In your final project, you carry out your own research on a topic linked to ongoing faculty research, leading to a full-fledged bachelor thesis.