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The international programme Engineering and Policy Analysis (EPA) offers students a challenging interdisciplinary curriculum. The central focus is on analysing and solving complex problems that involve many parties with conflicting interests. Such problems require solutions that not only solve the technological aspect of it but also to address the societal and political aspects of it by interactions and participation of different parties involved. Free access to information on the internet and the costs of internet access on your mobile are examples of such issues.

Interdisciplinary approach

Therefore, at the heart of the EPA programme lies an interdisciplinary approach, in which technology is no longer sufficient for solving the problem; we need to consider organisational, legal, administrative, commercial and managerial aspects as well.

An interdisciplinary programme is broader than (monodisciplinary) engineering studies such as chemical, mechanical, or software engineering. This makes the EPA programme an interesting, but at the same time complicated, field of study and work. The EPA modules therefore are prepared and taught by staff from a wide range of disciplines: mathematicians, technologists, economists, lawyers and social scientists.

Knowledge and skills

During the course of the EPA programme students are expected to obtain specific knowledge and skills as described below:

• Being able to demonstrate a systematic and critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights in technology and public policy in their academic discipline, field of study, area of expertise or professional practice. This involves being critical and interested in current affairs, technology, and the relationship between technology and society. 
• Understanding and gaining insight in essential facts, concepts, theories and principles relevant to the analysis and management of large-scale systems, along with the economics, policy and decision making taking place in such systems. 
• Knowing how to address complex issues in a systematic and creative way, being able to quickly get a grasp of a wide variety of subjects and to think at a high level of abstraction.
• Making sound judgements in the absence of complete data is another skill to be learned in this interdisciplinary programme. This may be difficult for students who are used to research specific topics in great detail, thus, the programme makes sure to provide the students with the sufficient tools and knowledge as to master this skill.
• Being able to clearly communicate with both, specialist and non-specialist audiences, both academic and professional communities. It is much more important in the EPA programme than in monodisciplinary programmes to have good oral and written communication skills given the variety in audiences and interactions that EPA graduates are expected to have within industry, public and private sectors. Fluent writing and speaking in English is therefore an essential requirement.