Secondary-school pupils visit Faculty of Science and Engineering

On Friday 10 November prospective students from all over the country came to the Open Day of the University of Groningen. The Academy Building, Pathé Cinema and the Zernike Campus received at least 12,000 visitors, 7400 of whom were secondary-school pupils.

On the Zernike Campus the prospective students could attend taster lectures, presentations on degree programmes and workshops on how to choose their programme. Bernoulliborg was filled to bursting with enthusiastic budding scientists. Science LinX’s permanent exhibition in the lobby was the main information point for all the BSc programmes that the Faculty of Science and Engineering has to offer. Study advisors, lecturers and students were ready to answer any questions. ‘We’ve seen Computing Science, Chemical Engineering and Biology’, said one school pupil as she and a group of friends found their way to the next stall.

Technology

Michelle (17) said she was almost certain that she was going to study in Groningen, but wasn’t quite sure what: ‘I went to Astronomy and am going to Artificial Intelligence later. I don’t know which programme I’ll end up choosing.’ Like Michelle, many prospective students were keeping their options open. ‘I’m still comparing’, said Marjan (17). ‘I came for Computer Science. I think it’s interesting and I’m going to develop a maths app for my profile assignment.’ Karlo (16) was also looking around: ‘I went to Physics, Computing Science and Artificial Intelligence. The information was really good, but I’m still not sure which programme I’ll end up choosing, but it will definitely be something to do with technology.’

Distance is often a factor in students’ choice of degree programme, but this is not always the case. Marjan: ‘I actually live a long way away from Groningen, but it seems like a great city and the University has a very good international reputation.’ Michelle, however, lives in Groningen: ‘But I don’t come into town very often. It will be nice to study nearby though.’ Karlo also has links with Groningen: ‘My sister is studying Life Science & Technology here, so it would be great to come and live near her.’ They need information to make the decision. Karlo: ‘The information at the degree programme presentation was really good. It definitely helped.’

Still unsure?

The next University of Groningen Open Day is on 2 February 2018 . You can also register for Student for a Day or follow web classes . Contact the Science Support Desk if you have any questions about your profile assignment or want to contact a researcher at the Faculty. Or find out about research at the Faculty by visiting our Permanent Exhibition in Bernoulliborg.

Article: Mónica Espinoza Cangahuala