The Master Kick-Off is taking place again this year, but in a revamped format: after two years, master’s students once more have a separate, multi-day program fully tailored to their needs. In the past two editions, the Master Kick-Off ran concurrently with the bachelor’s introduction week. Evaluations showed that in that setting, master’s students often felt a bit lost and weren’t sure where they fit in.

Getting to know each other

For that reason, the programs have been separated. This year, the Master Kick-Off will take place from Monday to Wednesday, following the bachelor’s Intro Week. “The first two days are organized by us, and on Wednesday, students can attend the Vibes Festival, as access is included in the ticket,” says Anne Oor from the Central Introduction Committee (CIC).

This year, the CIC wants to put more emphasis on students getting to know each other. The program therefore starts on Monday morning with Mix & Mingle, a joint session where students meet peers from their study programs through various activities. TINT, the foundation focused on wellbeing and purpose, helped organize this session.

“Field trip” to companies

After the morning introductions, students head out in the afternoon for an extensive Company Tour: a total of 900 students will visit 34 companies. “We already had a company tour last year, but this year it’s been greatly expanded,” says Oor. Extra attention was given to matching the tour to the different study programs, which required a lot of customization.

TU/e is using eight buses to transport students to the various locations. Because many groups visit multiple companies, the logistics are a considerable undertaking. At the same time, traveling together has an additional benefit: it gives the afternoon a “field trip” feeling and makes it easier for students to start conversations with each other, according to the organizers.

Each company has created its own program with a lot of variety: from tours of cleanrooms and labs to lectures and interactive workshops. The High Tech Campus is also participating, with four thematic tracks—AI, Health, Sustainability, and Semicon—each featuring multiple companies. This gives students a broad overview of possible next steps after their master’s, as well as options for internships and graduation projects. Throughout the tour, guides accompany the groups as the primary point of contact and to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Festival and T-shirts

Tuesday afternoon features the annual highlight of the Master Kick-Off: the Master Challenge. Students work in groups on multidisciplinary challenges proposed by industrial partners and other regional stakeholders. On Wednesday, master’s students can attend the Vibes Festival, where they can mingle with first-year bachelor students as well as new students from Fontys, Summa College, De Rooi Pannen, and SintLucas.

Participants pay €45 for the three-day program, which includes lunch, two dinners, and a pub crawl. For those who prefer a quieter experience, there is a more relaxed program called the Tangent Track, held at the LAB-1 cinema and event location, featuring activities such as board games.

This year, master’s students also receive their own T-shirts. Last year, some students walked around without a recognizable shirt, while bachelor students were clearly identifiable. “I’m glad we can offer shirts to the master’s students this year,” says Oor. According to her, the program now feels much more complete: “With more emphasis on socializing, an extensive company tour, and a festival, the Master Kick-Off aligns much better with the bachelor’s Intro Week and meets the expectations of master’s students.”