International Water Technology 

At the end of 2006, in collaboration with the Saxion Universities of Applied Sciences in Enschede, The Netherlands, Norit NV launched the new 'International Water Technology' course. The first students will commence their studies on 1 September 2007. So what was the reason behind this joint initiative? Harry Futselaar, Business and Technology Development Manager, answers this question. “The Universities have been watching with concern as the interest in technical courses declines year after year,” he says. “This trend also has direct consequences for companies such as Norit. After all, when we consider current growth, the demand for well-qualified employees will increase in the future. We are confident that the 'International Water Technology' course will permit us to turn the tide together, especially since more than 30 students already signed up for the course starting in September of this year."

The course, which falls within the Chemical Technology department, was designed and developed in less than a year. Norit, a company renowned as ‘leading in purification’, played a decisive role in this process and is particularly satisfied with the outcome. “The aim of the course is to develop process engineers who can work internationally,” Futselaar explains. “To achieve this, the curriculum encompasses the entire water industry – from water supply through the recycling of waste water, with the focus on very specific technical solutions. Other aspects such as legal regulations and water management are deliberately not scheduled in the curriculum. Course graduates will possess sound technical background knowledge, which will enable them to enter the employment market immediately - an employment market that will welcome them with open arms.”

Norit was not just involved in preparing the 'International Water Technology' course; the students will clearly notice Norit’s influence in the course work. Together with other companies from the water sector, Norit will help to integrate the necessary specialist knowledge, and will arrange work assignments and final graduation projects. The reference to practical applications is of general benefit to students at the Universities of Applied Sciences. For its part, Saxion possesses the relevant means to impart the necessary knowledge in the fields of chemistry, biology and engineering. Together, the partners will construct a network of knowledge in which Norit employees will also have their place.

“A further new element in this course concerns the long-term research projects that students will tackle,” Futselaar says. “These are projects within topics that will be suggested to us by the industry, and which students will be able to spend some time looking at practical applications. I consciously refer to ‘the industry’ because we expect other companies from the water sector to participate in the program as well. We believe this is a very good idea, as students who have early contact with the whole field of work can make a rapid and well-founded choice on finishing their studies."

For further information:

Saxion Universities (www.saxion.nl/iwt)