Econometrics student graduates summa cum laude with an average mark of 9.7

Friday 20 May will see Ward Romeijnders being presented with an exceptional Master’s degree in Econometrics, Operations Research and Actuarial Studies (EORAS) from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at the University of Groningen; Ward has graduated ‘summa cum laude’. He earned this magnificent accolade thanks to the 10 he was awarded for his thesis and an average mark of 9.7 for the rest of his coursework. The 22-year-old will complete his second Master’s (a Research Master’s) in August, after which he will be starting a PhD at FEB.

His thesis supervisor Professor Gerard Sierksma is extremely impressed by Ward’s achievement: ‘I see very few students who understand the trickiest mathematics before I’ve even started on my explanation.’ The professor rarely awards a thesis a 10, but the quality of Ward’s work was so high that this was the only appropriate mark: ‘It is really a scientific article in the guise of a thesis. His thought processes are those of an experienced researcher. The department and Faculty are exceedingly proud that Ward is staying on as a researcher after he graduates and we are confident that he will fulfil our high expectations.’

Hard work and talent
‘My family and friends are obviously thrilled, and so am I,’ says Ward. ‘I have achieved this thanks to a combination of hard work and talent.’ After finishing secondary school (the Willem Lodewijk Gymnasium in Groningen, where Ward passed his final exams with 8s and 9s), his interest in mathematics, and especially applied maths, made him decide to study econometrics. He felt at home with the subject from the very first day: ‘Fellow students who had worked just as hard as I had were getting lower marks for their exams. I’ve been a student-assistant since my second year, helping first-year students with maths.’ Ward earned his Bachelor’s degree with an average mark of 9.3.

Thesis on helicopter transport

Ward’s specialist subject for his Master’s was Operations Research. He wrote a theoretical thesis about a practical problem: trying to find the most efficient flight schedule for transporting people by helicopter to and from oil platforms in the North Sea. ‘When compiling a model for this process, you have to take account of all the variables and restrictions that go to make this a highly complex problem. A helicopter only stores a limited amount of fuel and cannot fly very far, it can only carry a certain number of people, and the number of passengers on the outward and return flights will not always be the same. It’s quite a challenge trying to come up with the most efficient solution.’

Addressing an international conference

In the past, Ward’s thesis supervisor Sierksma also conducted research into models for the problem of helicopter transport: ‘However, the method that Ward has designed is far superior to anything published in the scientific literature up until now, making this a very special achievement. He thoroughly deserves a 10.’ His Master’s thesis has already been accepted for an international scientific conference on scheduling in Arizona in August. Ward will be attending the conference to present his results to fellow scientists in person. In September, he will be starting a PhD research project at the Faculty of Economics and Business.

Cum laude and summa cum laude

A student of the University of Groningen is eligible for the accolade summa cum laude if he or she attains a minimum mark of 9 for both the thesis and as an average for all the coursework (or 8 for cum laude). All marks must be above 7 and the student must pass every course at the first attempt.