Alumnus in the Spotlight: Rutger Schrijver (AM'24)

Interview with alumnus Rutger Schrijver (AM'24)
By Diana Dalenoord (UT Alumni Officer)

When Rutger Schrijver started the Bachelor’s in Applied Mathematics at the University of Twente, he knew one thing for certain: technology would play a central role in his future.

Mathematics and physics always gave me a sense of direction,” he explains. “As a child, I used to draw intersections and infrastructure. The fact that I now work at a company that calls itself traffic experts actually feels very logical.

Today, Rutger works as a data analyst at Swarco, an international player that makes mobility safer, smarter and more sustainable. They connect vehicles with infrastructure, build traffic management systems and develop solutions for tunnels, motorways, parking, public transport and public lighting, among other things.

The road to Applied Mathematics and Data Science

When choosing a degree programme, Rutger broadly explored technical studies. Twente attracted him because of the combination of depth and practical applicability.

Applied Mathematics gave me a strong foundation and a lot of freedom. In the master’s, I wanted to work more practice-oriented, which is why I chose the Data Science track.

That choice proved successful. Alongside mathematics courses, the track also introduced him to subjects from Computer Science and Industrial Engineering & Management, broadening his analytical perspective.

From Rijkswaterstaat to Swarco

During his studies, Rutger worked part-time at Rijkswaterstaat. There, his fascination with road construction, lighting and infrastructure began to grow.

When I saw a vacancy at Swarco, I immediately knew I wanted to apply. Everything matched: the content, the focus on mobility and the idea that I could truly contribute with data.

Since March 2025, Rutger has been working at Swarco on analysing and processing malfunction reports in public lighting for provinces and municipalities. Where reports used to come in by phone, they are now submitted digitally. Rutger explains: “Residents report a malfunction via the municipality’s website. The municipality checks it and forwards the report. I ensure the information is correct and translate it into our internal system, so the right technician can get to work immediately.”

A simple example: a report of a broken lamppost requires an object number to determine which one of the many in the street is meant. Rutger safeguards that process.

The mathematical perspective in practice

Where does his mathematical background come into play? “In everything,” Rutger says immediately. He performs time series analyses, translates problems into models and examines how processes can be made more efficient.

You want to create solutions that are scalable and reusable later on. That is embedded in the mathematical way of thinking. It saves time and ensures we can handle new reports more quickly.

His core task revolves around designing automated information flows around malfunctions and monitoring the entire process, from report to resolution.

Plans: from analyst to data scientist

Rutger is already looking ahead. “I would like to grow into the role of data scientist. Then you can not only analyse what is happening, but also predict what will happen.”

With the right models, malfunctions can be anticipated. By combining data on seasons, types of lighting, previous reports and usage duration, it becomes possible to predict when a lamp is likely to fail and intervene in time. “As an analyst, I ensure the data is correct and usable. As a data scientist, you can turn that data into prevention. I would love to do that.”

What motivates me most is that my work has impact. Good public lighting makes cities safer. It gives people a pleasant feeling on the streets. And I find it meaningful that I contribute to that, even if it is sometimes through a small detail in a data process.