Dual masters: ideal combination of work and study, coming soon: Dual Master programmes that combine a Master's degree with a salaried position at a participating company.
| Auteur | Mu Tian |
| Functie | Editor |
| Organisatie | De Haagse Hogeschool / The Hague University |
Combination
From September 2008 The Hague University (THU) will be offering two Dual Master programmes:
• Master’s in Accounting and Controlling (MAAC)
• Master’s of European Law and Policy (MAELP)
Essentially, the Dual Master programmes will target students completing Bachelor’s degrees and will combine the Master’s degree with real work experience at a company participating in the programme. Contrary to the situation with an internship, the Master’s student will actually be a salaried employee at the company. A Dual Master programme will also differ from a part-time Master’s, where the students’ work situation need not necessarily be related to the study.
Sharp increase
Frans Dijkstra, Manager of Master Programmes at THU says there is a clear demand for such Dual Master programmes: “We’ve noticed a sharp increase in bachelor’s students wanting to enroll to a Master’s – eight per cent five years ago and now 45 per cent. It therefore makes sense to enable these students to follow their Master’s here at THU, where they already know their way around and feel at home.”
Mutual advantages
The Dual Master programme will have significant advantages for both students and participating companies, explains Dijkstra. “Bachelor’s graduates won’t be forced to choose between doing a Master’s and finding a job; they can do both. And of course the employers, the participating companies, make a substantial contribution towards the cost. The participating companies, meanwhile, will benefit by recruiting the top of the Bachelor’s students – an added stimulus for students to do their best. Moreover, these companies won’t have the cost and uncertainty of recruitment procedures, and they can bond with the students in a unique manner.”
Enthusiastic reactions
The THU tested the waters amongst students at the end of 2007 and they reacted very enthusiastic. “We are currently taking the next step, which is to approach the mainly multinational organisations whose co-operation we want to enlist as employers. Initial reactions from the companies we have approached so far have been very positive.”
Why MAAC and MAELP?
There are two reasons for kicking off this initiative with the MAAC and MAELP, says Dijkstra. “First, both are established, proven and smoothly running programmes. Second, there must be a demand from the market, and this is certainly the case with these two programmes. The Dual Master programmes will add value to both the MAAC and MAELP by making them more accessible.”
Practically orientated
To the best of Dijkstra’s knowledge, the THU will be the only university in the Netherlands offering a Dual Master. Other academic universities tried similar pilots several years ago, but failed. “As purely theoretical universities, they were not practically orientated, and they did not have the necessary relationships with companies. At the THU, on the other hand, we have always enjoyed strong links with the business community. Other advantages we enjoy are our large size, our location close to many international organisations, and a reputation for providing solid, practical education.”
Success
Dijkstra sees the new Dual Master pilot as just the beginning. “If it is a success with the MAAC and MAELP — and I am assuming that it will be — we shall be expanding its scope to include more of our Master’s programmes. Eventually it will be quite normal for school leavers to ‘go the distance’ and obtain their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with us. We now deliver about 250 Master graduates a year; in less than ten years this could be 2,000.”
For more information please e-mail our master's
office: ms. Carola van Duijn:
c.vanduijn@hhs.nl.