Politics, Organizations and Learning Histories

• A track in Politics, Organizations and Learning Histories with a clear professional and societal relevance
• An excellent and proven programme that has a distinctive methodology – learning history – at its heart, which enables you to apply historical knowledge and methods to analysing organizational processes
• A clear focus on contemporary developments in the field of politics, policies and (non) profit organizations
• A unique focus on employability with courses on methods and professiona

A study period abroad can be combined with the placement and/or the Master's final assignment. You could also follow a seminar at a university abroad.

On completing the Master's track Politics, Organizations and Learning Histories, you are equipped with academic and professional knowledge and skills that are required to work for institutions and (non) profit organizations in the public domain. In addition to being able to apply a distinctive methodological know-how in historical research and methods, our graduates are able to implement their expert knowledge in everyday working environments. The Master's track provides you with the expertise and tools to find positions within administrative bodies, (semi) public institutions etc., giving you a clear advantage on the job market.

Research in the Department of History covers the earliest human history to the present, focusing on regions from a global perspective. The international staff are all involved in teaching the Master’s track Politics, Organizations and Learning Histories, offering you the possibility to specialize in a wide range of topics, and are often involved in the field of politics and policies as well. The track is grounded in long-term research on the way in which organizations can learn from the past to prepare for the future through history (story) telling. This research-driven approach to teaching is exemplified by Rik Peter’s Learning Histories. Getting a grip on your organizational culture (2023), which brings together more than twenty years of experience with this method. You can find more information on the webpages about staff members and their research and about the activities of the Research Centre for Historical Studies.

This wide-ranging expertise of our staff allows students to choose their own thesis subjects on historical topics ranging from international political developments to business histories. It is also possible to conduct a research project, of which recent examples are analyses of the reinvention of the relation between citizen and government by the Dutch Tax Administration (1980-2010), the ethical implications of the use of artificial intelligence by the Dutch Railways, or the Groningen’s District Policies (1970-2015).