Inspiring Final Presentations by Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences Minor Students

The Mechatronics Innovation Campus Schiedam (MICS) served as a case study over the past six weeks for 44 students from the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. Through this project, they gained practical experience in Program management, including components like stakeholder analysis and the setup of an organizational chart. On November 5th, they presented their inspiring findings to the MICS area developers: the Municipality of Schiedam and SDK Vastgoed.

“It’s incredibly inspiring to see how this new generation of (technical) talents views a development like MICS. What really stands out is the desire to create a pleasant and sustainable work environment where both employees and visitors feel welcome. Central to this is the idea of connection. The campus should be inclusive and open to everyone, where technology is visible and facilities are shared. We saw a wide variety of ideas and presentations with different focuses, yet the challenges that were highlighted were mostly accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainable design.”
– Rick van Kempen, Development Manager at SDK Vastgoed

Enriching input

During the Program management minor, the students spent six weeks working on practice-based assignments centered around the MICS case. Participating students developed, among other things, a mission statement and a stakeholder engagement plan to outline a fictional – yet realistic – program for MICS. By collaborating across different disciplines, the students gained valuable insights and were able to apply their knowledge directly to real-world challenges.

A new generation of talent

The minor students’ poster presentations offered inspiring input and diverse perspectives on the organization of MICS as a program. These presentations illustrated vivid examples of collaboration between education, business, and government, capturing the vision of the future Mechatronics Campus. By actively involving education, this approach contributes to the development of professional talent prepared for the workforce. Moreover, it brings fresh insights from a new generation of technical talent.

The city as a learning partner

The Municipality of Schiedam also plays a vital role in this collaboration. Through their involvement, the students were able to work on projects that are significant to the city and their local environment. This not only provided the students with insight into municipal policy but also underscored the importance of local engagement and sustainable urban development.

About MICS: At MICS (mics.nl), we are building an ecosystem where students and professionals come together to learn, innovate, and exchange ideas. Together, we are working towards a future where knowledge and practice reinforce each other.