Learn how to select an appropriate procurement route, cooperation model and organisational structure for construction and infrastructure projects.
Value Driven Procurement & Organising focuses on how clients and contractors can organise and procure construction and infrastructure projects around value, cooperation and societal ambitions. Traditional contracts separated design and construction, while integrated contracts placed both design responsibility and greater project risks with the contractor. Today, the sector is increasingly moving towards long-term cooperation, programmes, alliances and two-stage procurement.
In this course, you learn how the scope of an assignment, procurement choices, award criteria, contractual conditions, relationships and organisational structures influence outcomes. You explore how ambitions are translated into goals and innovation, sustainability and societal value that can be translated into a coherent procurement strategy and appropriate governance structure.
The course prepares you to advise clients on selecting an approach that fits the assignment, market conditions and long-term objectives.
The civil engineering sector faces major societal challenges while also dealing with capacity constraints, complex stakeholder relationships and changing market conditions. Procurement is therefore no longer only about price and quality. Clients increasingly need to consider cooperation, innovation, and how responsibilities are divided between organisations.
This requires new procurement strategies and organisational forms. Professionals must understand how legal, economic and social factors affect the relationship between clients and contractors, and how procurement can support cooperation across projects and programmes. These skills are relevant for public clients, engineering consultancies, contractors and other organisations working on infrastructure and construction.
This is a regular master’s course in which both students and professionals can participate. The course consists of two stages.
The first stage introduces procurement literature, legal and social frameworks, and underlying economic theories. It includes three weeks with two lectures of two hours per week and concludes with a written examination.
In the second stage, participants work in groups of three or four on a current case provided by a client. In an assignment, each group advises the client on a suitable procurement route, cooperation model and organisational structure. The case starts with a session at the client’s location. Guest lectures from practitioners provide relevant knowledge and examples. The assignment results in an advisory report and a final presentation.
Assessment and details:
This course is intended for professionals involved in the procurement, organisation or management of construction and infrastructure projects. Typical profiles include, but are not limited to, procurement advisors, contract managers, project managers, programme managers, civil engineers, consultants and professionals working for municipalities, water authorities, network operators, contractors or engineering firms.
The course is particularly relevant for professionals who want to move from project-based procurement towards longer term cooperation and organisation. Prior knowledge of construction process management, project management and legal or governance aspects of construction is recommended. Participants without a Civil Engineering background should be prepared to study relevant introductory material.
If you successfully complete the course, you will receive a microcredential. This microcredential is a digital record confirming that you have passed the assessment components of the regular master’s course and achieved the corresponding learning outcomes.
You may also participate without completing the assessments. If you choose this option, or do not pass all assessment components, you will receive a digital certificate of participation.
Start date: April (Q4)
Total duration: April untill July (excluding resits) (140 hour study load)
Number of teaching days / sessions:Three weeks with two lectures of two hours per week, followed by a client case, guest lectures, group work and a final presentation
Total programme fees: €2067,15 (5 ECTS × 413,43)
Programme type: master course
Location: University of Twente, Enschede, NL
Language of instruction: Dutch/English*
*The course primarily addresses the Dutch procurement and construction context. Therefore, some lectures and guest sessions are conducted in Dutch. English-speaking participants can participate in the course.
Admission requirements: Prior knowledge of construction process management, project management and legal or governance aspects of construction is recommended. Familiarity with the Dutch construction or infrastructure sector is helpful.
Teachers: