“I completed my Bachelor’s in Communication Science at the University of Twente, so I knew the university well. A big factor that made my decision to continue studying here easier was the campus. I’m part of the student water polo association, and I love how sports and social activities are so integrated into campus life.
Yet, the main reason I chose the Master’s in Communication Science at the University of Twente was the practical approach of the programme. It’s much more than learning theories and taking exams — you apply what you learn to real-world cases. For example, an assignment I particularly liked was analysing how a knowledge management system affects not only employees within a company but also the future workflow. Researching into this gave me insights into how they reacted to those changes, and this sparked my interest in pursuing a similar topic for my master’s thesis, which is analysing the launch of an intranet and its impact on employees.
Diversity
I did an internship in public relations during my bachelor’s, which I really enjoyed and sparked my interest in organisational communication. That’s why in my master’s, I chose to take courses from the Strategic Organisational Communication track, which is about how companies communicate internally — within teams and across departments — and externally, to clients and the public. The Master’s offers two other tracks: in social marketing and behavioural change, and in society, media and technology, so you can choose the direction that suits you best.
I’m studying and working alongside students from different backgrounds — some from marketing, some from business, and others who did the pre-master’s. It’s this diversity of perspectives and experiences that makes projects more enriching.
For example, finding sustainable travel alternatives for businesses was one of the team projects I enjoyed a lot. As a team with diverse backgrounds, we came up with many creative ideas. One of our solutions was a gamification system — a kind of reward programme. Employees would earn points or rewards for choosing eco-friendly travel options, such as biking to work or taking the train instead of flying for business trips. It was a fun way to encourage greener behaviour, and we learned how communication strategies can influence individual habits and company-wide policies.
Making a difference in organisations
My interest in how technology affects organisations shaped the direction of my master’s project. I'm evaluating the implementation of an intranet system and how it changes the way employees work. I’m conducting focus groups, interviewing people, and attending implementation meetings. It's exciting to see how employees adapt to these changes, how the new system impacts their workflow, and how communication patterns shift.
This project has solidified my interest in the intersection of communication, technology, and organisational change, and I hope to continue working in this field.
Looking ahead
I see myself working in public relations or corporate communications, implementing new technologies within companies. My thesis has made me even more curious about how organisations respond to technological changes, so I’d like to help them ensure smooth transitions, keeping employees informed, engaged, and empowered. This Master’s has prepared me well, and I feel I’ve learned a lot.”
