Evert Westerhuis
University of Groningen IEM Alumni

Why did you choose to study Industrial
Engineering and Management and why the University of Groningen?
I chose Industrial Engineering and Management because I wanted to finish a technical and challenging study in which I could identify application in reality and in which I hoped not to lose interest due to scientific isolation. I chose the University of Groningen as it has the studies I ambitioned. I felt much less for the technical universities in our country as they appeared unsocial and narrow minded. Groningen University is a high quality scientific institute with a free mind.

What did you particularly find challenging about IEM in Groningen?
I found the parts where different disciplines and scientific methods are combined particularly challenging. For example a combination of statistical model fitting, computer programming and strategic planning or the mathematics of Markov processes for caching in IT systems. These combinations of disciplines are quite unique for IEM and make the study more interesting.

What were the pitfalls?
I had a hard time framing my bachelor and master thesis. I have the impression that other studies give more specified (or more constrained) problems or subjects, allowing an easier, more straightforward and more complete application on a specific scientific technique than on “application in reality”. The difficulty of applying science in reality is frustrating in an IEM Master Thesis research takes much more time. I think it is a pitfall that the Master thesis easily takes too long.

What specialisation did you choose and why?
I chose the IT specialization as it was a much more challenging curriculum at the time.

How was student life in Groningen?
Great, I had much fun and opportunity to develop my nonstudy related talents.

Where did you carry out your Master’s thesis project? What was the content?
I did my Master’s thesis at Shell International Exploration and Production. The content was about the theoretical explanation of the improvement in decision-making by intensifying communication in groups of people through organizing them as collaboration centers.

How do you see the career perspectives of an IEM student?
Since the IEM program is relatively new, IEM students sometimes have difficulties explaining what their study is about. Some people neither understand the content nor value the curriculum. A big advantage of the IEM engineer is the great financial and strategic insights learned during the education combined with a welltrained mathematical and technical mindset. This is very useful when growing to managerial positions and often people miss either the insight or the structured mindset.

Did you have any trouble finding suitable
employment? What is your current job?
I had no problems finding suitable employment. I am currently Project Manager at Shell Global Solutions International. I manage engineering projects with very challenging capital values.

What would you advise new IEM students?
Remember the structural thinking after your graduate; it is embedded in many courses, but usually not explicit. There are many similarities. Don’t be afraid to use and explain the scientific techniques at your work (like trending, programming, heuristics, strategic models).