Connecting space to society and gaining problem-solving experience: that’s the goal of LDE Space & Society, a new honours programme for bachelor’s students in Leiden, Delft and Rotterdam. What does the programme look like? And what do students hope to learn?
Students from all backgrounds
‘Honours education is about actively absorbing information. The classes consist of interactive lectures, debates, brainstorming, and collaborative forms of learning.’ Assistant Professor in Space Law, Dimitra Stefoudi, says about the programme. She recently became acting coordinator of: the new LDE Space & Society Honours Programme, a joint programme by Leiden-Delft-Erasmus.
In the last few weeks, second and third-year bachelor’s students from all disciplines could apply for the new programme, which exists of 15 EC on top of their bachelor. Tonight, the kick-off finally takes place. All participants listen attentively while the instructors introduce themselves. They, too, come from different universities and have different backgrounds, varying from space engineering to business administration.
To ensure an open and interactive environment on this first day, Stefoudi invites everyone to participate in speed networking. In short rounds, students ask each other what they study, why they chose this track, and occasionally share some fun facts about space.
Fascinated with space
It’s a nice warm-up round before the real work starts. In the coming months, the students will get to know the space sector and explore its applications for society. After diving into the ‘space fundamentals’ – space law, technology, business and applications – students team up to tackle a real-world challenge in the space sector.
These so-called space challenges will address various topical subjects: from climate monitoring with satellites to creating a business plan for a space engineering start-up. It all depends on the students’ own interests and the availability of partner organisations where they can address their preferred challenge.
Tjeunkin, second-year student in economy, law and philosophy at the Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), hopes to ‘create something useful’ for a company or government. ‘Hopefully related to space debris or satellite information systems.’ Ever since he was a kid, Tjeunkin has been fascinated with space. ‘Space has something intriguing. There’s still so much unknown – and that’s a challenge that cannot be solved all of a sudden.’
‘We need new strategies’
Second year student Brynn from Leiden University shares this passion for space. He had considered studying astronomy, but chose psychology instead. Brynn can’t wait to learn how space technology can improve society. ‘To me, space is a place where we can test new theories and technologies. I hope this track will give me insight into the extensive applications of space.’
Willem Hulsink, Associate Professor at the Rotterdam School of Management (EUR) and one of the instructors, hopes that the creativity of students like Brynn and Tjeunkin will help the sector move forward. ‘This field is rapidly progressing, which means we need new strategies.’
Hulsink hopes that the new programme will spark curiosity in students – and that it will teach them a great deal about working together in practice. To find solutions for their space challenges, the students will have to think outside of their own fields and work together with other disciplines. ‘I hope that students will learn that they need each other.’
Text: Lin Kokshoorn
Photos: Eric van den Bandt
