The University of Twente is actively committed to social impact, including at the intersection of digitisation and governance. The recently launched Digital Design & Architecture course (Dutch website) is a great example of this. The course focuses on professionals who want to drive and sustainably shape digital transformations within their organisations. The Advisory Board consists of leading names from the public domain:
- Arre Zuurmond (former Government Commissioner for Information Management)
- Nanette van Schelven (Director-General of Customs)
- Eva Heijblom (Director General of Digitalisation and Government Organisation)
Drawing from their managerial experience, they emphasize the importance of strategic digital design and strong leadership to make government digitally future-proof.
Arre Zuurmond, in his involvement as a member of the Advisory Board, underlines that this course exactly meets an urgent need. “We have a strong tradition of managerial thinking in the Netherlands, but we often lack design capability at the strategic level,” Zuurmond said. “Digital government requires not only better IT, but people who can oversee and design digital complexity. This course forms professionals who operate at the intersection of technology, organisation and public value.”
Nanette van Schelven, Director General of Customs, also sees the urgency. Within Customs, people are working daily to digitize processes that impact the entire chain - from logistics to supervision. Van Schelven: “We need people who can think and act digitally. Who are able to build bridges between technology, organisation and policy. This course helps professionals fulfill that connecting role well.”
Eva Heijblom, Director General of Digitalisation and Government Organization, sees the course as an answer to the changing demands on government. “Society is digital, so the government must be too. That requires skilled professionals who, with vision and courage, build systems that not only function well, but also safeguard public values. This course gives those professionals the right knowledge, skills and network to make a difference in that.”
The PLD Centre (Professional Learning & Development Centre) at the University of Twente is the center of expertise for part-time courses, customised programs and in-company pathways for professionals. We design learning activities that respond to current social and organizational challenges, with a strong focus on practicality, flexibility and impact. Whether it's individual development or team-based learning programs, we help organisations and professionals move forward.
The Digital Design & Architecture course is a collaboration between the BMS and EEMCS faculties, bringing together engineering, organisation and governance.
Download the leaflet for more information!
