EPA Double degree with Harbin Institute of Technology in China
The EPA programme offers a double degree programme with Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). This provides students with an opportunity to earn degrees from both universities and have the experience of living in and getting acquainted with conducting policy analysis in both countries.
Students will spend their first two semesters in Delft to obtain a firm basis in policy analysis. They will spend their third semester in Harbin where they will be taught key differences in decision-making, problem-solving, management and innovation policy from Asian and Western perspectives. They will write their master thesis at one of both universities, with supervision from both.
2011-2012 EPA-Courses in Harbin in the second year
Third semester: Harbin, China
The third semester distinguishes the Harbin double degree programme from the regular EPA programme, as the focus is on comparative analysis of governance systems. The semester begins from late August and ends in mid-December which precedes Dutch time schedule. In the HIT double degree programme, much attention is paid to typical Asian and Chinese features to prepare policy analysts for jobs in both Western and Eastern cultures. Comparative elements are completed with courses on advanced cross-cultural management, service systems engineering, and a course on gaming and simulation for infrastructure development. An introduction to Chinese language and culture is also part of the programme.
The double degree programme provides students with an opportunity to study in two very different educational and cultural settings preparing them for future work in international organisations. Non-Chinese students will experience life in a rapidly developing nation and learn about Chinese law, policy making, politics, and project and process management.
Thesis projects in Harbin typically focus on analysis and management of complex issues in the Chinese context. Examples of thesis projects are:
- Research regarding the requirements for a successful public-private partnership for highway construction and maintenance in China.
- Provision of sustainable drinking water for Harbin city
