Engineering Doctorate training and education

At Wageningen University & Research (WUR), your EngD programme is tailored to your goals. Alongside a number of compulsory courses shared with fellow EngD candidates, you choose additional courses in consultation with your supervisors. The courses you plan to do, are documented in your Training and Supervision Plan. This needs to be submitted to the EngD Office for approval  one month after starting the programme.

The first year focuses primarily on course work and skills development. As the programme progresses, you will spend increasing time on your design assignment, while still having the flexibility to take courses during the second year.

The EngD programme ‘Design for Agrifood and Ecological Systems’ includes a set of compulsory courses, together containing approximately 12 ECTS. All EngD candidates need to successfully complete these courses before graduation. The compulsory courses of our programme are listed below.

Principles of Design

This introduction course in design teaches you basic concepts, steps, tools and methods in design. You will learn to name and explain different design tasks and methods. You learn to assess and reflect on the relative importance of each design task in relation to a design case. Besides, you will learn which methods are available to tackle a design step and learn how to implement them. This course is an 8 ECTS course.

Sustainability for Design

This one-week course explores what sustainability means and how it can be integrated into innovative system and product design. Through interactive lectures, games, and debates, students will define sustainability for themselves and apply it to real-world challenges. The course fosters collaboration across disciplines and helps participants connect their research to the broader sustainability context. With this course you will earn 2 ECTS

EngD Days

During this course on location you will get to know your colleague EngD candidates a lot better! You will work on fun assignments, learn about different general topics important for your EngD, and much more. This is a 0.9 ECTS course.

Ethics for Designers: Concept and Tools

The systems and technologies we design in Wageningen may have all kinds of foreseen and unforeseen impacts. When designing, engineers therefore need to become aware of their own normative position, and learn to recognize and acknowledge various stakeholders’ norms and values. Every design decision contains assumptions about how the world functions and what amounts to an improvement. In this course, we provide concepts and tools for reflection to identify and engage with these assumptions for the goal of creating ethically responsive designs. This course is 1 ECTS.

• Read more about the course 'Ethics for Designers: Concepts and Tools'

Presenting with impact

Knowing how to convincingly and attractively present your idea is an indispensable skill. Scientists must be able to explain their work effectively and memorably to both their peers and non-specialist audiences. This presentation skills training is designed to provide you with practical tools to design and deliver inspiring and captivating presentations.

• Read more about the course 'Presenting with Impact'

The free choice course component consists of approximately 18 ECTS and could be followed at WUR, other 4TU universities and other (inter)national partners and graduate school. Visit the 4TU.Stan Ackermans Institute to find programmes and tracks offered by the other technical universities within the 4TU initiative.

Additional credits can be gained by attending conferences, joining discussion groups and work visits. Check the Training and Supervision Plan for the amount of credits which could be written for each category.