{"id":883,"date":"2017-01-25T14:47:24","date_gmt":"2017-01-25T13:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/?p=65141\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:05","slug":"masters-worden-meer-op-praktijk-gericht","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/01\/25\/masters-worden-meer-op-praktijk-gericht\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Masters are more aimed at practice’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEsther Dijkstra<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

There will be more emphasis on the connection with practice, also in master programmes. \u201cThe world around us is changing so fast that as a university, you don\u2019t want to educate students for a job that won\u2019t exist later\u201d<\/p>\n

A one-year master, focusing on one specific subject and without a (compulsory) internship. Now still widely available all over the campus, but extinction looms. In future, there will be more emphasis on the connection with practice. Rector Magnificus Huib Pols referred to this in his speech during the Dies Natalis: \u201cThe connection with our surroundings is \u2013 literally \u2013 the foundation of our university.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t
\n

Will nominal become even more normal? Will problem-based learning self-destruct? And how can students be better prepared for a changing labour market? Six experts share their thoughts on what the higher education landscape will look like ten years from now. Read the other predictions<\/a> on our website or in EM #5<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Interesting participants on labour market<\/h3>

One of the predecessors in terms of focus on practice is the Toga aan de Maas programme at Erasmus School of Law. This is a double degree programme, with students completing two full master programmes and learning practical skills during visits to over 25 legal firms and courts. \u201cThe world around us is changing so fast that as a university, you don\u2019t want to educate students for a job that won\u2019t exist later,\u201d says Ruben Houweling, Professor of Labour Law and one of the initiators of Toga aan de Maas. He therefore expects that students graduating in 2027 will need different skills than current alumni. \u201cBy making the connection with practice, you prevent students failing to fulfil the requirements of the labour market. Students learn skills and have a broader education, making them much more interesting participants on the (inter)national labour market.\u201d<\/p>\n

Downside<\/h3>

According to Houweling, there are some pitfalls to be aware of over the next ten years. \u201cWe will always be an academic institution and we cannot deny our main purpose, so the balance between theory and practice is very important. But that conflict does offer plenty of opportunities for programmes to uniquely shape their connection with practice.\u201d Claire Hofman, coordinator of the Toga aan de Maas programme, also sees a downside. \u201cThese \u2018active academic learning programmes\u2019 really work well because of their small scale. The question is how to organise a programme like Toga aan de Maas for 200 to 500 students without compromising on the quality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the other predictions in this special<\/h2>