Getting to know each other
On August 29th, the day started off by the MADE IT board members introducing themselves to the new students and the other way around. MADE IT organized several games at the Marineterrein for the students to get to know one another a little better. After this first introduction, all students went on a photo hunt by bike. In groups of 4 to 5 people, the students hunted for specific point in the city of Amsterdam that they could recognize from photos they received from MADE IT. The day ended with drinks at Hannekes Boom.
Introduction to the Institute
On Monday 30st, the MSc MADE Education Team welcomed the new student to the MSc MADE program. Arjen Zegwaard explained how to MSc MADE program is organized. Then Anita van Oosten held an interactive session in which the new students got to know more about the urban challenges they will be working on during their studies.
Moreover, the students were introduced by Kenneth Heijns (AMS Managing Director), and online by Eveline van Leeuwen (AMS Scientific Director) and Stephan van Dijk (AMS Director on Innovation), to AMS Institute and the urban solutions we work on. The urban challenges that Amsterdam and cities worldwide face today need fitting solutions to accelerate the underlying transitions.
The students were also welcomed by Frank Tazelaar (Head of Sustainability, City of Amsterdam), who held a keynote about the importance of new talent and linking pins in the city.
After a short presentation from MSc MADE alumni and a building tour in the AMS building, the day continued outside. The students joined Plastic Whale with cleaning the city by fishing for plastics in the Amsterdam Canals. The plastic that was collected will be used as building materials for boats and office furniture. The day ended with drinks and bites at Clubhouse at the Marineterrein.
Why students joined MSc MADE
With such a varied group of people, their reasons for joining the MSc MADE program also varied from student to student. But many students have in common that they aspire sustainable future cities and aim to get there by either becoming a business entrepreneur, a public policy consultant or a researcher in the academic field. With a focus on interdisciplinary approach and an international field, MSc MADE aims to support students to become real metropolitan innovators.
We are very excited to see what novel ideas and innovative solution the 2021/2022 year students will come up with. We look forward to working together on sustainable future cities!
“It's is a pleasant experience to get to meet people from both different educational backgrounds and different cultures, as well as to collaborate and learn from them.”
