Information for Companies

Do you face an innovative technological design challenge that requires unraveling? A collaborative project with Wageningen University, supported by an Engineering Doctorate candidate, may be the solution.

Our fulltime two-year Engineering Doctorate (EngD) programme creates the possibility to hire a professional who can design and develop complex new products and processes, offering innovative solutions to your technological design issues.

Would you like to explore our programme and discover what an EngD can do for your company? Please contact us at engd@wur.nl.

An EngD programme at WU

The 'Design for AgriFood and Ecological Systems' programme at Wageningen University is a two-year post-master designer programme in which the EngD candidate develops a complex new design in collaboration with an industrial partner, leading to the academic degree of an Engineering Doctorate (EngD).

The programme offers academic research and design in a professional context, combining a training component and a supervised design assignment to develop an inventive, complex design that provides innovative solutions to your technological design issues.

The candidate is responsible for developing a solution in consultation with your organisation and the University. The core principle of the EngD programme is that the candidate, the set of courses and the expert coaching all come together with one goal: providing the best possible solution to the design problem.

In addition to the technological content, the tailored training component of the EngD programme ensures that candidates acquire important professional skills such as project management, communication and conflict handling. EngD candidates are trained to become innovative technological designers, and the EngD programme provides them with a solid foundation for an accelerated start in an industrial career.

Why hire an EngD candidate?

EngD candidates working

The candidates are highly skilled engineers who utilize science and advanced research facilities available at the university to solve complex technological design problems. Your company will define the design project, which our candidates will execute, under the supervision of both your organisation and one of our highly experienced design scientists. The end result is an innovative design, usually a proof of concept or an improved product, process, or control system.

What are the benefits of hiring an EngD candidate?

  • You will receive innovative solutions to your technological design issues.
  • You will establish a strong relationship with the candidate, and at the end of the project, you will be in an ideal position to potentially offer the candidate a position within your company.
  • The design projects will be supervised by one of our highly experienced design scientists, who have the latest insights and access to advanced research facilities.

The EngD programme for your employees

EngD candidates working
It’s also possible for employees in your organisation to pursue an EngD doctorate, either full-time or part-time, to continue their professional development. With the correct background, your employee can smoothly enroll in the EngD programme, create a design for your organisation, and obtain the academic degree of an Engineering Doctorate (EngD).

What are the costs?

Employed at the university

EngD candidates will be given the opportunity to undertake a salaried program in which they complete a design project tailored to your needs. As the industrial partner, you will be asked to cover the costs incurred by each project.

When an EngD candidate is employed by Wageningen University, the net costs for the two years are approximately €129,000. Additionally, there are variable costs for developing the design and use of the advanced research facilities that vary from design to design.

Employed at a company

If an EngD candidate is employed by your organisation, your organisation is responsible for the working conditions and salary of the candidate.

The additional costs for the EngD program per candidate are €12,000. Additionally, there are variable costs for developing the design and use of the advanced research facilities that vary from design to design.

Interested? Join our programme!

For more information and to discuss your situation, please contact us at engd@wur.nl.