Collab Step Launches New Master’s Program In Bioscience Engineering
UAntwerp, UGent and KU Leuven are launching a new master’s program in bioscience engineering
The new Master of Bioscience Engineering: Sustainable Urban Bioscience Engineering (abbreviated: SUBE) will start next academic year. UAntwerp (coordinator), UGent and KU Leuven jointly offer this English-taught multidisciplinary course. This is a first for UAntwerp. You could already follow the bachelor’s degree in bioscience engineering, but this is the first master’s programme. At UGent and KU Leuven, the range of bioengineering courses is being expanded with a new theme.
The world’s population is urbanizing at a rapid pace, which puts great pressure on our environment and health. We use too many raw materials, produce large amounts of waste, the quality of our air and water is deteriorating, our energy demand is increasing, the climate is changing and these are all challenges for the city as a living environment.
UAntwerp, UGent and KU Leuven are pooling their expertise in a joint master’s program in bioscience engineering. “With a multidisciplinary approach, our students will gain in-depth knowledge and skills to tackle complex urban environmental issues. The training will teach them how to devise sustainable (eco)technological solutions in an international perspective,” says Tom Tytgat (training manager, UAntwerp).
Multidisciplinary
The content of the master is multidisciplinary, with a strong cross-fertilization between theory and practice. The students will work closely with the professional field. In the first master year there are three multidisciplinary projects under the name of CityLabs. Each university coordinates one CityLab on a specific urban environmental issue: the effect of an urban environment on water, atmosphere, soil, urban greenery and biodiversity (UAntwerp), the optimization of the use of raw materials in cities, with a focus on materials, water, nutrition and energy (UGent) and the impact of an urban environment on human health and the quality of life in a city (KU Leuven).
In the second Master’s year, students personalize their study path with course units of their choice, an internship and a Master’s thesis. In that year they can also gain experience outside Flanders.
Three in one
For the programme, which is organized jointly by the three universities, students can use the facilities and infrastructure of the three institutions. Upon successful completion of the course, they receive an interuniversity diploma of Master of Bioscience Engineering: Sustainable Urban Bioscience Engineering. Foreign language students are very welcome, as the language of instruction is English.