Preparing science students for society

The Science Business and Policy (SBP) master's program of the University of Groningen prepares science students for a career outside academia. SBP has been offered for more than two decades and provides a multidisciplinary curriculum in the second master year, using work-based learning (WBL), which is rare in academic education. Students undertake real-world projects and complete a full-time work placement. SBP differs from the traditional research-oriented master's path (ROM), that focuses on academic research.

In her thesis, Saskia Grooters reviews the  impact of the SBP-program from perspectives of three key groups: besides extended surveys of students and alumni also employers, and professors were interviewed. Analysis of work placement reports reveals that SBP students effectively address practical problems across various sectors, and their theoretic preparation correlates with their final reports quality. Alumni survey data show that while both SBP and ROM students are satisfied with academic level and research skills, SBP alumni felt more competent in soft skills and better prepared for non-academic careers. SBP alumni reported higher satisfaction in terms of income, status, appreciation and job prospects. 

Employer interviews highlighted work placements. Companies value students' contributions to workplace dynamics and useable science advices. SBP alumni are seen as highly employable. Academic staff support the program, particularly for students aiming for non-academic careers, noting that WBL enhances academic and practical skills. Grooters concludes that there is need for diversification in educational profiles and  SBP can serve as example for other WBL-programs worldwide. Further research is recommended to explore applicability to other academic disciplines and contexts.

Dissertation: https://hdl.handle.net/11370/b6182657-dfaa-4d52-999a-2a36aa85f0f3