Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology

The world is your playground. No one seems to be surprised these days if you say you work in Barcelona or are stationed in Paris. Because of world developments there is a growing demand for young internationally-oriented environmental specialists. You could be one of them.

The Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology (ESSET) programme is about environmental science with an international character. As a matter of fact, you will work together with students from all over the world. In our project-based learning system you will study four years fully taught in English.

The main subjects are:

  • Sustainable energy (technology)
  • Soil, water and air pollution and clean up technology
  • Consultancy skills
  • Intercultural Communication

All this is supported by courses in (physical) chemistry, maths and biology and trainings in language and skills

Project-Based Learning and Personal Skills
In the professional field, working on projects in teams has become very common. Problems are often too big to be solved by one person, so cooperating in a project team is essential for an effective solution. We use Project-Based Learning as an educational system. We offer a very practical, hands-on course in which you will deal with real-life situations. This may include setting up an Environmental Energy Plan for multinationals such as Nestlé, investigating new sustainable energy sources or developing an environmental management plan.

Another important aspect of your future career will be self evaluation and self improvement. Professionals on a bachelor level have to be able to define their own strengths and weaknesses and continue to improve their skills and knowledge. The ESSET program also helps you to develop the skills you need for this.

Reasons to choose ESSET at Avans University of Applied Sciences:

  • Full accreditation by the NVAO
  • Truly international community
  • Highly qualified lecturers and staff members
  • Small groups – team assignments of no more than 10 students with weekly lecturer instruction, courses have a maximum of 26 students (exceptions excluded) and laboratory courses have a maximum of 24 students.
  • Intensive guidance of the student by personal coach and study counsellor
  • Personal approach, small scale

Are you an ESSET candidate?
You are if you:

  • want to keep the planet safe for future generations
  • are interested in science subjects
  • have an open mind towards other cultures
  • are a team player
  • are a bit adventurous
  • are self-motivated
  • are independent

Studying in English: quite a challenge?
All classes for the Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology (ESSET) programme are taught in English. At first this may be a bit of a challenge for you. But you'll be surprised to find out how soon speaking English will become second nature to you. During the first year we also offer some courses in English to help you along.

Also check the possibility to follow our Preparatory Course.

Level
Hbo-bachelor

When does this programme start?
End of August

Duration
4 years (shorter programme is possible depending on prior education)

Location
Breda, the Netherlands

What are the costs?
Check the tuition fees and the living expenses.

Scholarship
Read all about our scholarship programme. In 2011, 30% of non-EEU students in our programme received a “best performing” scholarship.

More information
Are you interested in studying a degree programme at Avans University of Applied Science, but you still have more questions? Our International Office can help you. Please contact them by email at internationaloffice@avans.nl or by telephone
on +31 (0) 76 523 80 01.

For specific information about the study programme Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology or to contact a teacher or a student, please send an e-mail to: esset.ATGM@avans.nl.

Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology (ESSET) is a four-year Bachelor of Applied Science Programme taught in English. Each year has a different focus.

Year one
In the first year we focus on some basic science skills (maths, chemistry, physics, biology) and on basic language and (intercultural) communication skills. We also introduce the main environmental problems (air, water and soil pollution and sustainable energy) in projects and courses.

Year two
In the second year you will be following more advanced coursework and work on more advanced projects than in the previous year. New environmental areas of interest (like biodiversity, climate change, environmental simulation, geographical information systems) are introduced. In this year you will also be prepared for your work placement.

Year three
The third year begins with a 5-month work placement. These work placements are individual. The work placements are as varied as the students themselves and range from working for an environmental consultancy to performing research with a research organisation/university. In the second half of the third year you do the compulsory minor Environmental Consultancy.

Year four
In your fourth year you can do the minor Sustainable Energy. It is also possible to do a minor in another program or another university instead of the minor Sustainable Energy. You can even choose to do another work placement instead of a minor. In the second half of the fourth year you will complete your graduation assignment (this is also in the form of a work placement outside school). On completion of the graduation assignment, you will receive your degree of Bachelor of Applied Science.

Curriculum
Here you can find an overview of the projects and courses of the ESSET programme. This is a provisional version, small changes may occur before the start of the programme.

For Dutch students we offer some of the courses in Dutch (next to the English version) in year 1, this is optional for Dutch students. You can also choose to do some of the projects in year 1 in Dutch project groups where you can speak and write Dutch. Also, for Dutch students we offer courses in Dutch environmental law and policy, these courses are compulsory for Dutch students.

Students that have a diploma equal to Dutch VWO are eligible to start in the second year (see menu item admissions requirements), they have a special programme in the first semester and then continue with the regular second year of ESSET.

Work placement
In year 3 you will do your work placement. You will have the opportunity to look behind the scenes of a real company. During a period of 1 semester you will be working within a company in either the Netherlands or abroad. The aim is to get to know your future working environment, and to apply (individually) your knowledge and skills to a big project. In year 4 you can do another work placement like this instead of a minor.

Graduation assignment
The second semester of year 4 is the graduation assignment. The graduation assignment is also a work placement, but more dedicated to one specific project, with more personal responsibility for the process and result. Here you need to show what you have learned by working on a real environmental problem in a company (government, research, consultancy).

Examples of graduation assignments and work placements

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diplomas and certificates

Dutch Havo (higher general secondary education) or an international equivalent

  • Economics & Social Science with Chemistry
  • Natural Science & Technology
  • Natural Science & Health

Dutch Vwo (pre-university level diploma), International Baccalaureate (IB) school diploma (at least 24 points) or an international equivalent

  • Economics & Social Science with Chemistry
  • Natural Science & Technology
  • Natural Science & Health

A shorter programme (3 years) is possible with a VWO diploma.

Dutch Mbo (level 4) (intermediate vocational education) or an international equivalent
Dutch students who want to get used to English as the language of communication have the opportunity to do part of the first year programme in Dutch.

All students can opt for a double degree programme.

Foreign students: to compare your diploma to Dutch HAVO, VWO or MBO, please consult the Nuffic Country modules. If we are not familiar with your foreign diploma we will contact the NUFFIC (the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education) to have your documents evaluated.

Mathematics and Science
In addition to the minimum diploma requirements, adequate knowledge of Mathematics and Science subjects like chemistry, biology and physics is important.

English
Naturally you will also need good writing and conversation skills in English. Non-EU students must be able to produce a certificate such as TOEFL (minimum score of 550) or IELTS (minimum score of 6.0). An interview is also part of the application procedure.

Intake interview
We will carefully examine whether your educational background fulfils the basic requirements. Once you have applied we may invite you to an interview. This is a practical way for you to find out whether the programme meets your expectations. For us it is a way to find out whether you have the personality and skills to be successful in our programme.

Yiyuan DongName: Yiyuan Dong
Country: China
Started the ESSET programme in: 2010

Global warming, melting ice-caps. I want to help to solve these problems, so I chose Environmental Sciences. I am learning a lot during the ESSET programme, which takes you step-by-step to the next level. Lab work was completely new for me, but I like it a lot! Interacting with other cultures and a lot of independent project work are also strong points of this programme. Breda is a very friendly city and I have taken part in many student activities and parties, such as the gala before the Christmas holidays.

Kaiva FolkmaneName: Kaiva Folkmane
Country: Latvia
Started the ESSET programme in: 2011

I chose this study programme because I want to be "future-proof." Not only are environmental sciences interesting, I also want to do something good for society in the future. The ESSET programme is perfect for me, because I feel that the Netherlands is a crossroads of different cultures. I particularly enjoy the practical courses we follow, such as Laboratory Skills. Breda has a lively city centre and you can get almost everywhere with your bike!

Erh-Kang FuName: Erh-Kang Fu
Country: Taiwan
Started the ESSET programme in: 2010

I want to learn more about new smart solutions to prevent environmental pollution and to promote sustainable energy. The ESSET programme offers a great mix of theory and practical projects. It's great that we work on real problems. I especially liked the beer brewing experiments! Studying in Breda is also fun and there are lots of social activities. It is also very easy to travel around Europe.

Jorn van HaperenName: Jorn van Haperen
Country: the Netherlands
Started the ESSET programme in: 2010

I chose to study environmental sciences because I like both chemistry and biology and this programme is the perfect combination of both. The main advantage of the ESSET programme is that you learn to work with different cultures and develop your intercultural communication skills. I especially liked the Sustainable Energy project, where we developed a plan for the Netherlands to make energy supply sustainable in 2050.

Razan Qistina Dayangku Name: Razan Qistina Dayangku
Country: Brunei
Started the ESSET programme in: 2010

I chose to study environmental sciences because I always liked science a lot in high school. I also want to contribute towards solving problems for society. I'm particularly interested in Sustainable Energy, which is an important part of the ESSET programme. Student life in Breda is just great, there are a lot of activities and since Breda is so centrally located, I also enjoy visiting other cities in the Netherlands and Europe.

Maarten KleemansName: Maarten Kleemans
Country: the Netherlands
Started the ESSET programme in: 2011

Biology, Chemistry and more: I really like all courses of the ESSET programme. I joined the international student group at the very start, and I don’t regret it. It is fun to work together in an international atmosphere. I have also joined the student social organisation Virgo, where I meet many new friends.

Once you have completed your ESSET studies you can, for example, apply for a post-graduate programme leading to an MSc degree (Master of Science). These master’s programmes are held in high regard all over the world. We are currently working together with several universities to develop a short master’s degree programme for ESSET graduates.

Masters & post-graduates
Once you have completed your ESSET studies you will receive a Dutch bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and your exact title will be Bachelor of Science. The degree is fully recognised by the Dutch Ministry of Education and can be compared to a BS (Honours) degree (UK), Bachelor degree (USA) or the Diplom-Betriebswirt(in) FH (Germany). This enables you, for example, to apply for a post-graduate programme leading to an MSc degree (Master of Science). These master’s programmes are held in high regard all over the world.

There are several opportunities in the Netherlands to continue your studies after you have obtained your bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science.

Many programmes are two years, while some are one year. In some cases you will be required to follow a preparatory course before you can access the master’s programme. For some universities these preparatory courses can be taken while you are still studying at Avans.

Some of the opportunities are listed here:

Wageningen University:

  • Climate studies
  • International land and water management
  • Soil science
  • Urban environmental management

Delft University of Technology:

  • Applied earth sciences
  • Industrial ecology
  • Sustainable energy technology (together with TU Eindhoven and UT Twente)

Utrecht University:

  • International development studies
  • Sustainable development
  • Energy science
  • Toxicology and environmental health

University of Groningen:

  • Energy and environmental science

Radboud University Nijmegen:

  • Environmental sciences

Some examples:

Erwin Smits

Erwin SmitsMy name is Erwin Smits and I graduated in 2009.

After graduation I decided to follow a master’s degree programme at Utrecht University (http://www.uu.nl )

The title of my current study programme is Master in Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. The mission statement of the master’s programme is “to educate scientists who will be able to make a substantial contribution to the transition to a sustainable society through their scientific research and their skills in the area of societal interventions”.

Read more

 

Lina Stanevičiūtė

Lena Staneviciute

My name is Lina Stanevičiūtė and I graduated in 2011.

After graduation I decided to start a master’s degree programme at Kingston University in London. This master’s programme is known as the Renewable Energy Engineering Msc.

http://www.kingston.ac.uk/postgraduate-course/renewable-energy-engineering-msc/

I am currently studying for an Msc in Renewable Energy Engineering, on a course comprising 4 core modules – renewable energy systems, solar energy, wind energy technologies and biomass and fuel cells technologies.

Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My name is Erwin Smits and I graduated in 2009

After graduation I decided to follow a master’s degree programme at Utrecht University (http://www.uu.nl )

The title of my current study programme is Master in Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. The mission statement of the master’s programme is “to educate scientists who will be able to make a substantial contribution to the transition to a sustainable society through their scientific research and their skills in the area of societal interventions”.

Within this master’s programme I am following the Environmental Policy and Management track (currently entitled “Environmental Governance”). The main focus is placed on governance, which represents the ability to create a structure whereby all the stakeholders involved (the state, business, and society) cooperate to move forward on issues of sustainability. The content of the courses is based on: theories in relation to policy-making and agenda-setting, international environmental regimes (e.g. the Kyoto protocol), case study analysis, institutional analysis, and much more. More specific topics addressed in classes relate to creating impact assessments, reconstructing policies, quantitative analyses and others.

In short, the main aim is to learn different theories in relation to (sustainable) policy-making and to issue advice on how current practices can be improved (e.g. by including more governance activities). I guess most time is spent on reading a vast amount of literature. The remaining time is spent in lectures (about 12 hours a week) and writing papers, either by yourself or in small groups. In total the average workload is about 50 to 60 hours a week. But as long as you are interested in the topics above it is really interesting and not that bad.

To give an example of a current project I’m working on: the European Union has an agenda to implement (more) sustainable tourism in Europe. The reason for this is to be more competitive in the tourism sector by attracting more tourists. The goal of the assignment is to develop an impact assessment: an experiment to test whether sustainable tourism indeed leads to more tourists visiting a certain destination. In addition to setting up the actual experiment by making a number of tourism enterprises sustainable, it is also necessary to take unintended effects of the agenda into account. Examples include: an increase in governance (positive) or increased pressure on the environment due to more tourists (negative), investigating what the impact of these effects might be and thus making suggestions as to how to improve the agenda.

What I like most about my study programme is the fact that it attempts to find solutions to boost sustainable development in a global society from a multidisciplinary perspective. You learn to be very critical, which will certainly help you later on in life. Also, the master’s degree is an international research master’s programme, which means that a variety of nationalities have come from all around the world to follow the same programme. This provides a great opportunity to learn about different cultural backgrounds, experiences and views on issues.

The most important thing about my studies at Avans was the practical experience in terms of cooperation with the public and private sector. Most people in my programme who have no experience of applied sciences do not really have a good understanding of how things actually work in the field. During my studies at Avans I had plenty of opportunities to find out. And it was as a result of my participation in the minor in sustainable development that I eventually decided to start my current master’s programme.

If you are interested in sustainable development, the master’s programme is an excellent option. In addition to my chosen track of environmental governance, there are other options such as: Energy and Resources, Global Change and Ecosystems, and an International Development track.

 

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

  

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My name is Lina Stanevičiūtė and I graduated in 2011

After graduation I decided to start a master’s degree programme at Kingston University in London. This master’s programme is known as the Renewable Energy Engineering Msc.

http://www.kingston.ac.uk/postgraduate-course/renewable-energy-engineering-msc/

I am currently studying for an Msc in Renewable Energy Engineering, on a course comprising 4 core modules – renewable energy systems, solar energy, wind energy technologies and biomass and fuel cells technologies. The remaining 4 modules are optional and are related to general engineering subjects, such as materials science, computer-aided design, fluid dynamics and project or business resource management. The course is split into weekly blocks: each module consists of just one week of lectures, and the work is subsequently based on self-study, individual or group assignments.

My favourite aspect of my studies is taking an engineering-based approach to environmental solutions. This course encourages the student to take into account various aspects of problem-solving, starting with project planning and legislation, and ending with specific technical solutions and design.

I have noticed that the focus on group projects at Avans has proven to be very helpful when completing assignments with new group colleagues who are used to different learning approaches. Secondly, I have found that my knowledge of environmental problems, solutions and policy has given me a big advantage over my fellow classmates, who mostly have a mechanical or electrical engineering background.

While choosing my master’s degree programme, I discovered that the bachelor’s degree I earned at Avans University of Applied Sciences allowed me to choose from a wide range of specialisations.

Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology offers excellent job opportunities:

  • Government agencies: development and implementation of environmental policies
  • Industry: EHS positions
  • Consultancies: consultation ranging from technical solutions to environmental licensing to policy making

Some examples:

Arnaud Godet
Arnaud GodetMy name is Arnaud Godet, and I graduated from Avans University of Applied Sciences in 2008.

I am currently working at SAFEGE Belgium

Safege is an engineering and consulting company that provides sustainable services and solutions in the field of water, infrastructure, environment and institutional development. 

 Read more 

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Geert van Lith

Geert van Lith

My name is Geert van Lith, and I graduated from Avans University of Applied Sciences in 2010.

I am currently working at Maris Projects

Read more

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Renaud Vallier
Renaud VallierMy name is Renaud Vallier and I graduated in Environmental Technology and Management from Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda in 2008.

I work for Cegelec – GSS Energy in France

I’m currently working as a Project Manager in the wind energy sector.

Read more

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 Kevin van Hees

Kevin van HeesMy name is Kevin van Hees and I graduated in Environmental Science from Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda in January 2010

I work for Witteveen+Bos. 

Witteveen+Bos offers its clients consultancy and designs for water, infrastructure, spatial development, environment and construction projects.

Read more


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Pierre Dunker
Pierre DunkerMy name is Pierre Dunker and I graduated from Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda in 1997.

I’m currently working as a freelance facilitator, training personnel in basic environmental sciences and technology at Environmental Services Curaçao.

Read more

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Benny Roelse
My name is Benny Roelse and I graduated in 2009.

I’m currently following a master’s degree programme in Industrial Ecology at Delft University of Technology.

My graduation project (EDGaR, Energy Delta Gas Research http://tbm.tudelft.nl/en/research/projects/pondering-the-ideal-mix-of-gas-and-renewable-energy) is currently about analysing new sustainable (biogas) technologies in relation to the natural gas grid of the Netherlands for the next 50 years. The analysis is being carried out according to the Strategic Niche Management framework.

My current project is interesting because over the next few decades (30-40 years), the Groningen gas fields will be depleted. I find it fascinating to examine the latest trends in the energy market and which new sustainable technologies can compete with conventional technologies by analysing niche dynamics.

In the fourth year of my programme at Avans University of Applied Sciences, the minor in Sustainable Development inspired me to study a Master of Science in Industrial Ecology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Arnaud Godet
My name is Arnaud Godet, and I graduated from Avans University of Applied Sciences in 2008.

I am currently working at SAFEGE Belgium

Safege is an engineering and consulting company that provides sustainable services and solutions in the field of water, infrastructure, environment and institutional development. Safege is a subsidiary of Suez Environment and has a global presence in over 20 countries. The Europe & Africa Division of Safege, based in Brussels, has set up a project management unit (FWC Unit) for the purpose of managing framework contracts (FWC) (1) with the European Commission (EC).

I currently work as a Project Manager Assistant within the FWC Unit.

My mission mainly consists of providing support in the commercial development and management of FWC projects dealing with environmental and water areas (2), with the aim of winning contracts and ensuring the proper implementation of the requested engineering and/or consultancy assignments. My daily activities include coordinating and recording the consortium activities; liaising with partners, technical teams and clients; searching for qualified experts and drawing up tenders.

When we are awarded a contract, my job consists of facilitating the mobilisation of the technical team, providing support in the preparation of contracts, monitoring the project progress status and project critical points as well as monitoring project performance and the delivery schedule.

Here are some examples of EC-funded projects I have worked on:

  • Honduras – “Mid-term evaluation for the Project of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Watershed of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor in the Honduran Atlantic (PROCORREDOR)”
  • Congo (Brazzaville) – “Evaluation of the institutional support programme for protected areas valorisation (PAVAP)”
  • ENPI East Countries – “Preparation of a report on the opportunities and options for promoting a Green Economy in the Eastern Partnership countries”

One of the things I particularly like about my job is the wide range of projects and environmental fields involved in this type of business. By working on environmental projects linked to the EU external aid programmes, I also get to continuously learn about the environmental situation worldwide.

Last but not least, this job is more oriented towards project management, which is a very challenging and exciting aspect for me.

Things I have learned at Avans that I currently use in my work are:

  • The technical background in environmental engineering that I have acquired through a wide range of courses in (almost) all environmental fields
  • The ability to work as a team member, which I have clearly improved during my studies at Avans through the many academic projects we carried out
  • The ability to manage a project from cradle-to-grave
  • Language skills: English, this was the language in which all courses were taught in Breda; and Spanish, which I learned during my bachelor’s degree work placement in Mexico.

Some other comments I have:

(1) A Framework Contract is a procurement tool put in place by the European Commission for recruitment of technical assistance (TA) services. Its purpose is two-fold:

  • A fast-track procurement procedure for recruitment of short term TA services, thus avoiding lengthy procedures applicable in other procurement methods, but which entails a budget limitation; and
  • Provision of an immediate response to emergencies, thus rapid mobilisation of expertise (typically within 2 weeks from signature of a Specific Contract for delivery of services).

The beneficiaries of the FWC projects I work on are third countries benefiting from the EC external aid programmes, such as Latin American, African, Asian-Pacific, Middle-East and Eastern European countries.

(2) The offers and projects I work on mainly deal with the following environmental areas:

  • Sustainable management, protection of natural resources or ecosystems (forests, fight against desertification, lakes etc.)
  • Climate change
  • Nature protection and bio-diversity
  • Marine environment, management of coastal areas
  • Urban environment
  • Waste management
  • Water management
  • Supply, waste water treatment
  • Environmental risks/disaster management

The services requested on these projects usually cover the following:

  • All phases of the EC Project Cycle: identification, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes or projects
  • Preparation of Terms of Reference
  • Evaluation of grant proposals
  • Public financial management
  • Legislation, regulations, law enforcement
  • Institutional building

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Geert van Lith
My name is Geert van Lith, and I graduated from Avans University of Applied Sciences in 2010.

I am currently working at Maris Projects

At Maris Projects we process waste into sustainable biomass/products. We develop, research, design, build and operate a total installation for the processing of organic waste. The products we create are food, feed and fuel - for instance bio-gas, bio-oil, algae and fertilizer. My job at Maris Projects involves researching new possibilities for different kinds of waste streams, project development, project design, project guidance and project start-up (in the Netherlands, India, China and Indonesia). My job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, with a combination of theoretical and practical work. My office-based duties include reporting on projects, producing subsidy reports, designing installations and so on.

What I like most about my job is the variety. I carry out both practical and theoretical work. I don’t spend all day at a computer, I also carry out testing and manual labour. At Maris Projects you are encouraged to think independently, so you can influence the project. I also enjoy working in a fast-moving environment: if something is not working, we will continue with a different approach.

The most important things I learned at Avans, and that I use in my work, are higher level thinking skills, reporting techniques, environmental law and the technical aspects of my study programme.

In our field of work, there is always a lack of good people who have a practical way of thinking. Study programmes should be more technical than theoretical. Gaining some practical experience is always a great way of understanding complex problems. People who only think in theoretical terms will never come up with a good solution that will work in practice.






 

 

 

 

 

 



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My name is Renaud Vallier and I graduated in Environmental Technology and Management from Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda in 2008.

I work for Cegelec – GSS Energy in France

I’m currently working as a Project Manager in the wind energy sector. My job consists of identifying new projects to build, and leading the construction phase for wind farm infrastructure across France.

Example of a project: Electrical and Civil Engineering infrastructure for the construction of a 12 MW wind farm (6 wind turbines) in Champagne-Ardennes, France.

  • Electrical devices and cabling
  • Roads and platforms
  • Excavation and Foundations

What I like most about my job is:

As a project manager, you play a key role in liaising between the design office and the shop floor

Developing renewable energy projects.

The following aspects of my studies at Avans are useful in my current job:

Project management

Energy sciences.

 


 

 

 

 

 





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My name is Kevin van Hees and I graduated in Environmental Science from Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda in January 2010

I work for Witteveen+Bos.

Witteveen+Bos offers its clients consultancy and designs for water, infrastructure, spatial development, environment and construction projects. My role is to consult with government agencies regarding sewer systems or surface water systems, varying from policy making to developing practical solutions or designs. Government agencies are responsible for the sewer systems, as well as the qualitative and quantitative regulation of the water system (surface water and ground water). Governments are able to perform many activities themselves, but in some cases they outsource these activities to consultancy agencies, usually because they don’t have the capacity or specific expertise within their own organisation. For example, municipalities are required to draw up a ‘Sewer Management Plan’ for a period of about 5 years, to set out activities and investments for the upcoming period in order to maintain a well-functioning sewer system. As part of Witteveen+Bos, I support municipalities in producing these plans. I also design sewer systems as part of building projects and I carry out research projects with the aim of improving water quality or protecting areas from flooding. One project I am currently working on involves research into the transport of salt water to freshwater systems as a result of sluice operations, commissioned by a water board in North-Holland.

What I like most about my job is the variety. Each project has a different focus, which allows me to keep expanding my knowledge.

As a consultant it is important to produce a good project plan at the start of a project. This is something you learn at an early stage at Avans, which is certainly an advantage in my daily tasks. As part of a commercial organisation it is very important to establish what clients actually want (what are they looking for?) and to define clear project goals and activities. Without a good project plan, there won’t be successful project results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My name is Pierre Dunker and I graduated from Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda in 1997.

I’m currently working as a freelance facilitator, training personnel in basic environmental sciences and technology at Environmental Services Curaçao.

Up until August 2011 I spent 6 years working as an Environmental Engineer at the Isla Refinery on Curaçao and 2 years working as an Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator at a US navy base for a company called DynCorp International.

Before that I worked as a Technical Advisor in environmental project and management consultancy for the Innovation Center Curaçao and two other partnering consultancy agencies.

What I like about my job is that it has strong foundations and that environmental challenges are solved by people I was able to inspire. At the end of the day, the environment is everybody’s business.

I can’t think of anything that wasn’t useful from my studies at Avans. However, the one aspect that I enjoy most at the moment is my communication skills, which I use frequently for education purposes.

I would also like to say that my education and training at Avans successfully equipped me to function and blend in easily in the job market. My career over the years on my native island of Curaçao has gained me respect and I can look back with pride on the results of projects I was involved in.

 

If you have decided to follow this study programme at Avans University of Applied Sciences, you can enrol for it here.

Before you enrol for this study programme, make sure you have informed yourself about the Rules and Regulations of Avans University of Applied Sciences.


For general information please contact our International Office:
e. internationaloffice@avans.nl 
t.  +31 76 523 80 01

For specific information about the Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology study programme, please send an e-mail to: esset.ATGM@avans.nl

 

The ESSET course programme has 2 minors. Both minors take 6 months and are each worth 30 ECTS.

Environmental consultancy

Sustainable energy