International Facility Management

You can find more information about planning, curriculum and subjects in the complete programme. We will explain below what you can expect in each year.

Year 1 – Propaedeutic phase

Year 1 is the propaedeutic phase. The two first year modules are offered on an alternating basis. 

Knowing the Fundamentals of Facility Operations. This module is an introduction to Operations Management and Management Information Systems in facility management organisations, in combination with practical training in the in-school training company Sibelicious. You will work in several outlets such as catering, Service Desk, store room, restaurant and kitchen. You organize, cater for, manage and provide service to real customers, who come in daily for lunch, dinner, a meeting or a conference. In addition, you will learn the basic principles of emergency response. 

Understanding the Facility Management Industry. You will learn how to deal with the basics of Finance, Economics, Marketing, Business Law & Ethics and Investigative Abilities in relation to the facility management industry.

Competencies learned in these modules are brought together at the end of the year in a final project. In a small group of students you will make a prototype or renewal of a facility environment.

Years 2 and 3 - Main phase I

Years 2 and the first semester of year 3 are referred to as main phase I. Main phase I consists of  a total of three modules, the second and the third of which are offered on an alternating basis. 

Developing People and Organisations
Take a close look at behavioural aspects of working with people in organisations. (Courses: Oganisational Behaviour, Business Law & Ethics, Investigative Abilities and Economics)

Managing Business Performance and Innovation
Learn how to deal with customer relations, service marketing and pricing strategies. (Courses: Accounting, Operations Management, Management Information Systems and Marketing)

Exploring the International Facility Industry
In this five-month practical placement you will experience living and working in a real life, cross cultural facility environment abroad. 

Year 3

The second semester of year 3, main phase II, focuses on the module of Creating Excellence in Facility Management. The main focus of this module is strategic management. It examines the corporate strategic possibilities of organisations and encourages you to integrate, at a strategic level, what you have learned in previous courses, based on investigative abilities. 

Year 4 - Graduation phase

In the final year, the graduation phase, you choose a personalised context in which you will perform your bachelor’s thesis and you have the possibility to complete a personalised curriculum component (e.g. a minor, work placement, advisory report, business plan). Under the supervision of a personal coach, you will work on your final thesis, which you will defend at the end of the year.

Pre-master's

In your fourth year you can also opt for a pre-master’s programme of a Dutch research university to gain direct access to their master’s programmes.  

In addition, BUas also offers its own pre-master's programme Strategic Business Management and Marketing (SBM). If your academic results are good, you will be offered the opportunity of attending this pre-master’s programme. Successful completion of this track will give you direct access, after Breda University of Applied Sciences, to various Master of Science programmes in business-related studies in management and marketing at several partner universities. A few examples are the universities of Maastricht, Tilburg, Brussels (B) and Warwick (UK). In this way, it will be possible for you to earn an academic master's degree within five years' time or, after having completed an accelerated three-year track, even within four years' time.

Study load and coaching

Study load
The study load differs per theme but you will spend an average of 32 hours per week on school. This means attending lectures, working on projects and assignments and preparing for assessments. During the practical weeks 'Food and Beverage' weeks, you will be working full-time in the kitchen, restaurant or at the reception of our school.

Study coaching
To help you develop your personal and professional skills, you will take part in the Management Development Programme that runs throughout years 3 and 4 of your studies. 

Topics addressed in this programme include report writing and referencing, Excel and other relevant IT skills, time management, (interpersonal) communication skills, teamwork, learning styles, and leadership styles. As you move on to the final stages of the programme, the focus will shift towards the industry, where decision-making, advanced leadership, negotiating and entrepreneurship are key elements. 

Within the framework of the Management Development programme, you will create a Personal Development Plan. You will be supervised in this process by your study coach, who will also generally monitor your progress and development throughout your academic experience. 

Student counsellor
The student counsellor provides information, advice and guidance relating to educational and occupational choices, study conditions and student grants. This is also the person to turn to if you wish to discuss any personal problems that may be affecting your life as a student.

You will benefit from the intensive three-year programme in two respects: you gain one year in time, and save one year of tuition fees.

• after vwo (pre-university): you will start in year 2 and also receive basic knowledge and skills from year 1.
• after propaedeutic year (economic programme): you will start in year 2 and also receive basic knowledge and skills from year 1.

The differences between the three- and four-year programme can mainly be found in your first year of study. The three-year programme starts with modules from the second year of the regular programme. To ensure that basic knowledge of the first year is covered, some additional classes are scheduled and relevant study material is made available to you. Furthermore you will receive a short introduction to the facility industry with practical components in our in-school training company Sibelicious.

For both the regular four-year programme and the special three-year programme a minimum of 60 ECTS credits need to be completed during the first year of study. Changing from one track to the other during the course of study will not be possible.

Year 1

This year will be your propaedeutic phase. 

Developing People and Organisations. Take a close look at behavioral aspects of working with people in organisations. (Courses: Oganisational behaviour, Business Law & Ethics, Investigative Abilities and Economics)

Managing Business Performance and Innovation. Learn how to deal with customer relations, service marketing and pricing strategies. (Courses: Accounting, Operations Management, Management Information Systems and Marketing)

Introduction to and orientation in the facility industry. Through a combination of company visits and working in the in-school training company Sibelicious, you will be introduced to the practical side of the facility industry. Furthermore a variety of learning activities will be offered to provide you with a theoretical foundation in relation to the programme. During the practical training part, students will work in several outlets such as catering, Service Desk, store room, restaurant and kitchen. You organise, cater for, manage and provide service to real customers, who come in daily for lunch, dinner, a meeting or a conference.

Year 2

Year 2 of the three-year track is the main phase and focuses on the following components.

Exploring the International Facility Industry. In this five month practical placement you will experience living and working in a real life, cross cultural facility environment abroad.

Creating Excellence in Facility Management. The main focus of this module is strategic management. It examines the corporate strategic possibilities of organisations and encourages you to integrate, at a strategic level, what you have learned in previous courses, based on investigative abilities.

Year 3 

Your final year is your graduation phase and is also referred to as ‘ Owning your Career'. During the graduation phase of your track, you choose a personalised context in which you will perform your bachelor’s thesis and you have the possibility to complete a personalised curriculum component (e.g. a minor, work placement, advisory report, business plan). Under the supervision of a personal coach, you will work on your final thesis, which you will defend at the end of the year.

To experience your theory in the real world, you will go on three international field trips. Only then you can see, look and feel what it’s like to work in the facility business.

The main goal during the field trip in the propaedeutic year is to introduce you to the international facility management industry and to familiarise you with the various aspects it consists of. Special attention is given to facility / service concepts, cross-cultural aspects, and sustainable development within the facility industry. Getting in touch with the industry and reflecting on the observations and interactions with it, are an important part of the activity.

The field trip in main phase I focuses on project management in a cross-cultural context, in which group dynamic skills and leadership skills are (further) developed within an international setting. You will be introduced to or get in contact with the international facility management industry.

Together with your fellow students of Hotel Management, you will take part in the third study trip during main phase II. In this trip you will further experience the way in which several departments work together, with overlapping disciplines such as finance, marketing, revenue and sustainability. 
 

Studying abroad for a while gives you an opportunity to broaden your horizons. You live in an international environment, meet people with different cultural backgrounds and accumulate knowledge. In addition, you will considerably enhance your command of modern foreign languages. The long and the short of it is that studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity... Why not seize it?!

Exchange programmes are offered by the University of:

• Helsinki, Finland
• Jyvaskyla, Finland
• Flagstaff, USA
• Kufstein, Austria
• Dublin, Ireland