Green Chemistry course summary

During the first year, you acquire a strong foundation in the field of green chemistry and develop a range of skills that you can apply within the chemical laboratory. You work on projects in small teams and gain practical experience right from the start. Throughout the year, you are supported by your study career coach and lecturers, who help you to further develop your professional skills.

Semester 1 - Green Chemistry essentials: skills, knowledge and ethics

The first semester will provide you with a solid basis in chemistry, green chemistry, laboratory skills, and statistics. You will gain experience in the 12 principles of green chemistry and sustainability, and engage in discussions about environmental issues as well as ethical dilemmas in the professional field.

Semester 2 - Green synthesis: from laboratory to industry

Together with your teammates, you will synthesize, purify, and characterize an organic compound using micro-experiments, with a focus on the corresponding reaction mechanisms, and provide advice on greener synthesis methods. During a short internship, you will delve into one of the many companies in our network and offer recommendations to help them become more sustainable.

Subjects

• 12 principles of Green Chemistry
• Sustainability
• Research
• Ethical dilemmas
• Study career coaching
• Working in a laboratory
• Organic chemistry
• Waste prevention
• Management skills
• Dutch
   

In the second year of the Green Chemistry programme you will further explore various sustainability issues and examine them from a chemical perspective. You will also take a minor and carefully consider your career orientation.

Semester 3 - Minor: choose your own subject

During your minor you focus on a specific subject or expand your knowledge by taking an additional subject. This allows you to truly take charge of your education by ‘customising’ your course. You can choose from various minors in the technical domain at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, such as Sustainable Polymers, Circular Plastics, I'M A.I. - Artificial Intelligence for Everyone, Waterproof – Engineering safe sustainable water, and Composite Design Solutions.

Semester 4 - Designing tomorrow: innovative sustainability strategies

Develop a strategy to address a sustainability issue and come up with creative and innovative ideas to find a solution for a cleaner world. You will work closely with the professorships Water Technology and Circular Plastics, looking into ways of optimising various processes while focusing on alternative chemicals, solvents, and reuse.

Subjects

• Life cycle analysis (LCA)
• Polymertechnology/polymerchemistry
• Micro-experiments
• Reusability
• Circular processes
• Design of experiments
• Dutch
• Professional skills
  
   

During your final year you gain experience in a professional setting by doing a graduation internship in a company of your choice. You will demonstrate that you have become a Green Chemistry professional.

Semester 5 & 6 -  applied research: transforming ideas into industry impact

For your graduation internship, you will arrange your placement independently, but we have an extensive network of interesting companies where you can work on exciting projects and learn from experienced professionals. During this internship, you will collaborate with a business or organisation to tackle an unsolved problem while conducting in-depth research. This experience will provide you with practical exposure in a professional setting and allow you to develop and showcase essential skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and the ability to work independently. By successfully completing your graduation project, you demonstrate that you are ready to enter the job market in the field of green chemistry. You will not only gain valuable experience but also learn the ins and outs of the industry from seasoned professionals.