It smells like soup and noodles in the attic of the medieval Martenahuis in Franeker, Friesland. The students of the one-year master's programme Environmental and Energy Management at the Cartesius Institute (part of the UT-institute Centre for Clean Technology and Environmental Policy) continue work on their management case while eating lunch. The quick hot meal they prepared in the small Cartesius kitchen, is eaten behind a computer of the PC-room or in a small room off the lecture hall. The thirty master's students come from all over, except from the Netherlands. South America, South Africa, and especially China.
'Call me Daniel', a Chinese guy stretching his legs in the lecture hall says. Daniel has a Chinese bachelor's degree and a few years of experience as a computer specialist at a research institute. 'But I find that work too limited.' With his master's degree in his pocket he hopes to increase his chances of a more interesting and above all more practical job. 'Ever since China joined the world trade organisation an increasing amount of companies has to comply with stricter environmental regulations. There is a lot of work in this area. And it is on the increase. I live near Beijing and I would like to contribute my bit to decreasing the enormous amount of pollution in that area. Such practical work, for which this masterÆs trains you, suits me much better.'
Daniel pays the substantial tuition fees himself. His compatriot Yu Jing is the lucky recipient of a Nuffic-grant. 'Arranged through the Dutch embassy in China', she says, while sliding her soup aside. Jing works in China for a petrochemical consultancy office and was in the Netherlands previously for a three-months course at the Maastricht School of Management. And that whetted her appetite. The Chinese petrochemical industry produces a lot of energy, but also uses a great deal of energy. In that regard China is still partly a developing nation. Here I fortunately learn a lot about efficient use of energy. 'After this master's programme she will return to her employer. 'That I take this programme is good for my company and good for my country.'
transl. DvA
