The first conversation I had with Mrs. Gretchen van der Spek, then the Admission Manager of TiasNimbas Master programme, was about my vision for myself in the next 5 years after joining TiasNimbas. I told her that by that time I would be sitting in a plane on its way to China, a final leg of a road show with my company Board of Directors to settle an acquisition transaction; an acquisition which will increase the diversity and market of my company in Asia region.

I joined TiasNimbas because I would like to develop myself further, and I feel attached to the value the school holds, “Never Stop Asking”, being ambitious or excellent must start with questions. TiasNimbas taught me to always develop new solutions to new challenges; one solution doesn’t fit for all.

Sitting in a room with dozens of highly qualified people, who are eager to learn more, to know more, and to share knowledge between one and another; my fellow classmates in TiasNimbas were fun, outgoing, and dedicated people. They came to TiasNimbas filled with high expectations, and the school did meet, to a great deal, our expectations. The Professors were highly qualified, welcomed for discussions, and were willing to help us to improve.

Having spent a study year in TiasNimbas has improved me considerably, both individually and professionally. I developed certain skills and gained important knowledge, to be able to enter the professional business world in the high level.

I would like to invite you to be ambitious, to fill yourselves with the hunger to know more, to develop yourselves further, by joining TiasNimbas. It’s more than a school, than a campus; it’s the mindset and the mentality to always pursuing excellence. Welcome to the family, welcome to TiasNimbas Business School.

Andrea Guna (Indonesia)
Master in Marketing Management 2008-2009
Current Job: Investment Analyst, PT. Angkasa

We would like to inform you about Erasmus Mundus programme in Environmental Pathways for Sustainable Energy Systems (SELECT). This programme offers advanced education in the field of sustainable energy systems for the future. A number of scholarships are still available for this programme if interested students apply soon!

SELECT aims at delivering education for high competency and quality engineering skills in the field, including industrial interaction throughout the programme. Students graduating from the SELECT programme will have gained experience in the following topics:

• Training in multidisciplinary problem analysis and solving.
• Advanced team building in a multinational setting, along with stimulating international experience.
• A novel and multidimensional way of learning involving real and virtual classrooms.
• Close collaboration with industry during thesis work.
• A unique network of fellow students, SELECT alumni and industry specialists in the field of sustainable energy.

The SELECT Master’s programme is a cooperation between the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden (KTH), Technical University of Turin (PoliTo), Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands (TUE), Technical University of Catalonia in Spain (UPC) and Helsinki University of Technology in Finland (TKK). It is a two-year Master’s programme including compulsory mobility for the students. Students from all over the world are welcome to apply.

For more information, please visit: http://www.kth.se/studies/master/em/select?l=en_UK.

If a student is interested in this programme, they should contact the coordinator of this programme (mundusadmission@kth.se) with a cc to InnoEnergy@tue.nl.

HAPPY QUEEN’S DAY

On April 30 the Dutch celebrate the birthday of their Queen, Queen Beatrix, although it is not her actual birthday but her mother’s, Queen Juliana. Queen Beatrix’s birthday is in fact on January 31, however, when she ascended to the throne in 1980, she decided to keep the previous date so that the people can enjoy the traditional outdoor festivities in the sunny spring instead of cold dreary winter.

On this day, the Dutch play games, listen to various concerts, fairs, etc on every city. The queen and the family sometimes visit one or two town each year and take part in a game if possible. The most splendid and candid celebrations are usually happening in cities like Amsterdam, Den Haag, Utrecht and Rotterdam. However, the long-waited activity during this day is the ‘free-market’, a time when people are allowed to sell anything they want outdoors, as long as it’s not food or alcohol. The market attract enormous crowd and become a sort-of giant flea market.

What’s important, only on Queen’s Day you are allowed yourself to go crazy with dressing up. Apart from the flags and decorations in the traditional national colors of red, white and blue, the whole country turns orange. Everywhere you will see people adorn in something orange marking the joyous occasion. Why orange, you ask. Because orange is the color of the Dutch Royal Family, dated back from Willem van Oranje (William of Orange). It also symbolizes the pride of being Dutch.

And how do the Indonesian students there celebrate the iconic day you may ask? Some try their luck by participating in games or showing off their abilities as street performers on the street, some sell their old items/art crafts/secondhand goods in bulks, some even donning something orange and join the throngs of orange-colored-people. This is the moment that you can only find when you are in Holland. It’s fun time. It’s party time!

So, ready to join the oranjegekte now? (Note: oranjegekte means orange craze)