ATLAS, the University of Twente’s University College, was recently awarded an accreditation. ATLAS (the Academy of Technology and Liberal Arts & Sciences) will open in 2013. It will offer an intensive Bachelor’s programme for highly motivated and talented students. The University of Twente’s University College will offer a top international programme of which the Netherlands in general, and the Twente region in particular, can be justifiably proud. Its specific combination of technology and social developments (and the integration of these subjects in design-oriented problem solving) make it one of a kind. “We trust that ATLAS will set the Twente region firmly on the map as a place in which to excel” says Rector Magnificus, Prof. Ed Brinksma.
ATLAS’s “Technology and Liberal Arts & Sciences” programme meets all of the NVAO’s (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders) requirements. The University College’s American Dean, Prof. Jennifer Herek, is proud of what has already been achieved. “We can all be very proud of this result, for, as you will see in the NVAO reports, the panel believes in ATLAS, and believes in us.”
ATLAS and its students
The ATLAS University College caters to those students who find monodisciplinary programmes too specialized. ATLAS students are interested in both technical and social developments, and they wish to be involved in societal innovations while making use of the latest technologies. They develop a thorough understanding of technology in relation to the relevant social, economic, cultural, ethical and political context, and they learn how to apply their knowledge to devise effective solutions. ATLAS graduates can then continue their studies in both technical and social science Master's programmes at home and abroad. In 2013, UT hopes to welcome sixty students to the new University College.
The High Tech Human Touch student
ATLAS focuses on ambitious students who want a broad programme of education and who also want to have an impact on the society of tomorrow. The programme is built around solving problems. This requires more than just knowledge and understanding: students will also learn to take account of developments in society and to respond to them appropriately and effectively using the latest available technology. This is essential to get change going. The entire programme is taught in English and it is organized by theme. Each semester targets a specific societal issue. Engineering and technology development are crucial for addressing these issues effectively. Whether the issue is one of food, water or energy supplies in the future, or of livability in the global society, or the effects of social media on our security, the programme examines it from both a technical and a societal perspective. In addition, students choose their own topic, known as the ‘personal pursuit’, allowing them to indulge and develop another side of themselves, for example in music, drama, sport or development aid.
Further details
Further details on the University College are available here: www.utwente.nl/bachelor/en/atlas/.
