Student testimonial
After my Bachelor’s Facility Management I was not done with learning yet
Student Management, Economics and Consumer Studies
Prior Education: Facility Management, Hanze University of Applied Sciences
The choice for a Master’s
After my Bachelor’s Facility Management at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen I was not done with learning yet and I wanted to do a Master’s. This, at the same time, was a challenge for me. I decided to do the Master’s Facility Management. This was possible in Deventer at the Saxion University of Applied Sciences or at Wageningen University. However a Master’s at a research university drew me more. In Wageningen Facility Management is a specialisation of the Master’s program Management, Economics and Consumer Studies. The minor in Wageningen is relatively new and thanks to the small student count I hope to stand out on the job market in this field of work.
Experience
In Wageningen, besides that one learns more about conducting research and becomes well prepared enough to write a thesis, there is also a lot of attention for work in the field. A closer look is taken at the underlying meaning of Facility Management which is incomparable to what I have learned in my Bachelor’s. An example is the effects of certain colours and pictures of nature in hospitals on patients. Unknowingly they can make a patient feel more at home. Or how you can design a waiting room in order for people to experience the wait as shorter. These kinds of things I find interesting. Furthermore, I have also taken courses such as Mathematics, Statistics, Management and Marketing, Financial and Business Management and Innovation. To me the year has flown by and all of the courses have been doable. This despite of having had to work harder than during my Bachelor’s. There is more course material, the pace is higher and because the subjects are taught in English, it took me more time to fully understand the course material. Ofttimes other people tell me that they did not chose for a Masters because of the English but my experience is that you learn quickly. Moreover the University offers a variety of courses allowing you to catch up on your English.
Thesis
In September I will start my second year and in January I will start my thesis. What I will be researching exactly is still unclear, but in a hospital, at TNO or at Sodexo I would find interesting organisations. My interests lie mainly in how people experience their surroundings and what effects the surrounding has on people, but also in the offering of good services to people. What kind of a job I would like to do after my studies I do not really know due to the fact that Facility Management is so broad. However, I will find out eventually. One thing is for sure, without a doubt I would remake the choice to start this Master’s.
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