The University of Twente will be offering a range of PDEng programmes to Apeldoorn companies as part of the knowledge and innovation hub that was recently launched there. A PDEng programme is a two-year post-Master's programme with a focus on technological design. The first contracts with companies have been signed, giving further shape to the collaboration with Apeldoorn.
One of the first companies to enter into a contract was DEAC (Dutch Electric Aviation Centre Teuge), which focuses on electric aviation. As part of this PDEng track, the University of Twente is offering educational courses on the maintenance of electric aircraft. This PDEng will be supervised by UT researcher Dr Alberto Martinetti, an expert in the field of maintenance engineering.
Electric flight
The aviation sector is responsible for a small but growing proportion of CO2 emissions. A possible solution is electric flight, with its main advantages being cleaner, quieter and more economical aviation. DEAC was founded in February 2019 to encourage the further development of electric flight. DEAC serves as a national knowledge centre aimed at General Aviation: flight, maintenance and infrastructural modifications.
More cooperative agreements
Cooperative agreements on the PDEng programmes have also been reached with energy company Bredenoord and the Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency (Kadaster). Timo Meinders, Director of Business Relations at the University of Twente, says: “We expect many more companies and organisations in and around Apeldoorn to follow, giving dozens of talented individuals the chance to continue their development in the near future.”
The University of Twente and Apeldoorn
The University of Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, the Dutch Police Academy, Regional Training Centre Aventus and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, together with the municipality of Apeldoorn and local companies, have launched a knowledge and innovation hub that focuses on a safe digital society. The agreement was signed in April 2020. The knowledge and innovation hub, which will soon also have a physical location, allows UT researchers to provide education to professionals and conduct research on the combination of cyber safety and digitalisation.
