UTFacultiesEEMCSNewsMulti-talented students head for University College Twente

Multi-talented students head for University College Twente

At the end of August, the fourth cohort of students are due to start their three-year ATLAS Bachelor’s programme at University College Twente (UCT). ATLAS stands for Academy of Technology and Liberal Arts & Sciences.

New students with a keen interest in both technology and the social sciences are finding their way to Twente in increasing numbers. UCT is unique among the eight University Colleges in the Netherlands in offering the combination of technology, liberal arts and science in a single programme. Prof Jennifer Herek, the Dean of UCT, is looking forward to welcoming her new students: “We are starting the year with approximately fifty students, almost half of whom have an international background.”

The University of Twente (UT) launched its broad-based ATLAS Bachelor's programme in 2013. Two years on, it was ranked as a top programme by the Keuzegids, the only independent guide that critically assesses and compares the quality of educational programmes in the Netherlands. The programme has been designed for multi-talented students with the ability to make creative connections and to come up with bold and original solutions. A typical ATLAS student is ambitious, committed and has a very inquiring mind. He or she must have good grades, especially for English, mathematics and at least one science subject. These young people can play a vital role in finding answers to the questions of the future.

International

Around 44 percent of new ATLAS students come from abroad. This year they include Emile Menard from New York, Tammy Chong from Malaysia and Stephanie Corzo from Guatemala. “Foreign students take a long hard look at what the University Colleges in the Netherlands have to offer,” Professor Herek explains. “Those who opt for UCT are often won over by the emphasis on technical subjects and the distinctive concept behind the programme. The short lines of communication between students and teachers also hold great appeal for them.”

Introduction for ATLAS students

The new cohort start their Freshers’ week at the University of Twente on Wednesday, 24 August. It runs till Thursday, 1 September. In nine days the group will get acquainted with student life, the campus and the city of Enschede. ATLAS students are quick to form a close-knit community. They live together in campus accommodation and they play sports, eat and study together.

Prestigious

In July 2016, the first group of ATLAS students earned their degree. This has proved to be a ticket to Master’s courses at prestigious universities in the Netherlands and abroad. This comes as no surprise to ATLAS programme director Ans Netjes: “Our graduates have been admitted to Master’s programmes at prestigious universities such as Imperial College London and ETH Zurich. ATLAS graduates stand out thanks to their broad view on social issues. This perspective makes them very interesting candidates.”