Global Project and Change Management

Semester 1: Water

The theme of the first semester is water. A theme you will discover inside and outside the classroom as the environment, the province of Zeeland, is the manifestation of man’s abilities to live with water.

You will explore this theme through the topic Living Lab Water, in which you will work on a water-related project in which you apply your newly learned skills from the various modules in this semester. In previous years students have worked on a project related to the water quality at Lake Veere in which they proposed various solutions to Rijkswaterstaat, the executive organization of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

The modules in this semester include:

• Applied Project Management I
• Climate, Society, and Sustainable Development
• Introduction to Research
• Introduction to Sustainable Business
• Personal & Professional Development I

Semester 2: Energy

Throughout this semester you will work on a project as part of Living Lab Energy. You will apply your newly acquired change management skills to a real-world project in the energy sector. Last year, students analysed the stakeholder networks of citizen-initiated solar and wind cooperations. This resulted in an inspiring stakeholder meeting that brought together various involved parties and facilitated exchanges of learning and inspiration.

The modules in this semester include:

• Applied Change Management I
• Climate, Society, and Sustainable Development II
• Research Methods I
• Sustainable Business
• Cultural Communication and Behaviour
• Personal and Professional Development II

The second year is centered around the themes of vitality and food. During these semesters, you will explore complex regional and global challenges. How can we reduce global food shortages? In what ways can agriculture adapt to the consequences of climate change? How can we design neighborhoods that promote happy, healthy, and safe living for all generations? And what technological innovations can support the elderly in leading vital, independent lives?

Semester 1: Vitality

You will work with an organization active in the region on the topic of vitality and use your change management skills to work on a project with a group of your peers. In previous years students have worked on projects ranging from how to create vital neighbourhoods to how to increase student mobility on campus.

The modules in this semester include:

• Applied Change Management II
• Climate, Society, and Sustainable Development III
• Innovation for Sustainability
• Communication and Facilitation Techniques
• Personal and Professional Development III

Semester 2: Food

During this semester you will individually work on a food-related project of your choice in Living Lab Food. During this Living Lab you can put all that you have learned in the first two years at GPCM to use and make an impact in a project with a topic of your choice.

• The modules in this semester include:
• Applied Project Management II
• Climate, Society, and Sustainable Development IV
• Research Methods II
• Entrepreneurship
• Personal and Professional Development

Semester 1: Minor
You have the opportunity to take a six-month minor. A minor is a semester period in which you are able to choose to either deepen or broaden your knowledge and skills by following another 30 EC programme. This can be with a minor programme offered at HZ University of Applied Sciences, at a university of applied sciences in the Netherlands, or at one of the many partner universities abroad.

You can discover the complete selection of HZ minors here

Semester 2: Value Creation

You will participate in the Value Creation semester at HZ. Whilst working in small groups, you will identify and research innovative and sustainable solutions to challenges in the region. Together with fellow students and stakeholders, you will (further) develop a new initiative or product to contribute to a more sustainable world.

Recent examples of Value Creation projects

Students in the past have worked on Value Creator projects in which they focussed on for example:

• Creating change in the food systems by focussing sustainability and health
• Creating a world wide network of surfing communities to create a more eco- friendly approach to the sport
• Creating a dialogue space between people from different political parties to speak with one another on the topic of gender equality

Semester 1: Internship

In this semester, you will complete an internship of 20 weeks, which could be with a governmental organization, a non-profit or a company. You will work as an intern for approximately three days a week. One day a week will be dedicated to working on your individual project You have the flexibility to choose the location, whether in the Netherlands or abroad.

Semester 2: Graduation research

In the second semester, you will focus on your graduation research, which can be done at any organization of your choice, including the one where you completed your internship. During this research phase, you will primarily focus on your individual research project, with less emphasis on day-to-day tasks. This final semester is your opportunity to showcase the competencies and skills you've developed throughout the programme as a Global Project and Change Manager.

In the Netherlands, the standard of higher education is maintained through an accreditation system that ensures legal regulation and quality assurance. All programmes at HZ University of Applied Sciences are examined and approved by the accreditor, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). This means that they meet the quality requirements for accredited higher education set by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, ensuring that you are always choosing a programme of high standard.