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

The two first year modules are offered on alternating basis. 

Knowing the fundamentals of Facility Operations. This module is an introduction to Operations Management and Management Information Systems in facility management organizations, in combination with practical training in the in-house 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 congress. Next to that, you 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.

Year 2 & Year 3 - Main phase I

Year 2 and 3 consist of a total of 3 modules, the second and the third of which are offered on alternating basis. 

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)

Exploring the International Facility Industry
In this 5 month practical placement you will experience living and working in a real life, cross cultural facility environment abroad. 

Year 3 - Main phase II

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

You choose a personalised context in which you will perform your bachelor’s thesis and 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.

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 following lectures, working on projects and assignments and preparing for assessments. During the practical weeks 'Food and Beverage' you will be working full-time in the kitchen, restaurant or behind the reception of our school.

Study coaching
During your years at International Facility Management, you will build up a portfolio. Your student career coach helps you to evaluate this portfolio. We expect a professional, service-oriented attitude. You will be assessed on these aspects throughout the course of your studies.

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 personal problems that may be affecting your life as a student.

In-school training company - 'Sibelicious'

In our in-house training company Sibelicious you get to learn what Facility Management is all about. Together with your fellow students, you will work in several outlets such as catering, front 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 congress. Next to that, you will also learn everything about emergency response. 

In your first year you will be managed by your second year peers. In your second year you yourself will take up the manager’s position and be responsible for budgets and dealing with the staff from a specific Sibelicious department.

You will get to know all the different aspects of the business – from the first contact with the client, to drafting a proposal and budget, right up to the execution of an actual event and the after-care. The front desk is a separate section of Sibelicious where you get to take charge of the coordination of cleaning, maintenance, and distributing office supplies.

Management Development Programme

When you study International Facility Management, you will take part in the Management Development Programme. With this programme you can develop your personal and professional skills, in order to get the best out of yourself. The Management Development Programme will be continuously ongoing through your 3 or 4 years of study.

The first year of the Management Development Programme will, among other topics, address report writing and referencing, Excel and other relevant ICT skills, time management, communication skills and teamwork. In addition you will be introduced to different learning styles and you will learn how to reflect, in order to manage and steer your personal development, by setting SMART goals.

During the second year of the programme, you will continue to develop your skills in (interpersonal) communication, teamwork and leadership and you will start your preparation for your international placement.

In the final stages of the programme the focus will shift towards the industry, where decision making, advanced leadership, negotiating and entrepreneurship are key elements.

Throughout the Management Development Programme, you will create a Personal Development Plan (PDP). This document is characterized by a dynamic and evolving content that will be, together with your results, the point of departure in your meetings with your Study Coach. Your coach will monitor your progress and development during your academic experience.

Study trips

To experience your theory in the real world, you will receive 3 international study trips. Only then you can see, look and feel how it’s like to work in the facility business.

The main goal during the field trip in the propaedeutic year is to introduce the students to the international facility management industry and to familiarize them 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 study trip in main phase I focusses on project management in a cross cultural context whereby group dynamic skills and leadership skills are (further) developed within an international setting. Students are 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 several departments working together, with overlapping disciplines like finance, marketing, revenue and sustainability. 

You will benefit from the intensive 3-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 3- and 4-year programme can mainly be found in your first year of study. The 3-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 be shortly introduced to the facility industry with practical components in the in-house training company Sibelicious.

For both the regular 4-year programme and the special 3-year programme a minimum of 60 EC’s need to be completed during the first year of study. Changing from one track to the other during the course of study is not possible.

Year 1 – 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-house 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 students 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 congress.

Year 2 – Main phase

Exploring the International Facility Industry. In this 5 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 - Graduation phase

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 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.

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