Ask the Programme Committe! Placed on 7 November 2025

Having trouble with your studies?

Have some feedback about the programme that you would like be taken seriously?

Then reach out to the student members of the Programme Committee (PC) of Applied Mathematics!

The Programme Committee is an advisory board for the Programme Director and has to be heard regarding all educational matters. This includes course programmes, study load, timetables, resolution of complaints and course evaluations. This committee reviews subjects, votes on changes to the Bachelor and Master programmes and, most recently, helped prepare all documentation regarding the midterm evaluation of the programme of Applied Mathematics.

This committee is composed of 8 members, 4 students and 4 staff members. Currently the student members are:

• Fleur ter Braak
• Marieke Snoeren
• Iris Swagemakers
• Emile van der Veer

These students represent AM students' interests within the committee, and have a good understanding of regulations of the university and of the programme as stated in the Education and Examination Regulations (EER). Hence, if you have questions regarding the programme, have some feedback or simply need someone to talk to regarding struggles with the programme, reach out the them!

You may find more information about the Programme Committee via the following link: https://www.utwente.nl/en/bam/organisation/programme-committee/

Looking for Symposium committee 2026! Placed on 9 October 2025

Will you be joining the Symposium committee of next year?

Traditionally, Abacus organises a yearly mathematical symposium. A symposium is a day full of interesting scientific talks, typically within a certain mathematical theme. The tasks of the Symposium committee entail, but are not limited to, deciding on about a theme for the symposium, arranging speakers, finding sponsors, and arranging a location and catering. The committee would meet approximately once a week and will get more busy close to the day of the symposium.

Does this read like an interesting and fun committee for you, or would you like to learn more about what a Symposium committee does? Send an email to intern@abacus.utwente.nl, or approach one of the board members in the Abacus room!

Without a new symposium committee, a symposium cannot take place this year!

New MSc Coordinator Placed on 12 September 2025

Just before the summer, the role of MSc Coordinator became vacant as Lisette van den Broek became the MSc Coordinator of Robotics. As sad as it is to see Lisette go, we wish her all the best in her new role.

However, we are also very happy to introduce Aleida Braaksma as the new MSc Coordinator of Applied Mathematics! We wish her great success in this new role look forward to working together with her. We leave it to Aleida herself to properly introduce who she is and how you may reach out to her for any questions:

My name is Aleida Braaksma and I am happy that I am now the coordinator of the programme I was once a student of. I have studied Applied Mathematics here at the UT and graduated in 2010. During that time, next to learning a lot from my studies, I have also grown personally and thoroughly enjoyed my student life by being an active member of a student association. My graduation project introduced me to the field of healthcare logistics: organizing healthcare in such a way that patients experience good service (e.g., quick access, short waiting times) while the valuable time of healthcare staff and resources is used optimally. After graduating, I have been a healthcare logistics consultant for one year. Subsequently, I did research for four years and obtained my PhD in healthcare operations research from the UT in 2015. Following that, I have worked as a postdoc in healthcare operations research at MIT (Boston, USA) for two years. Since November 2017, I am back at Applied Mathematics, first as an assistant professor, and now as Master Coordinator and teacher. You may know me from Module 8 (Stochastic Models – Dynamic Programming and the Project) or Markov Decision Theory in the Master.

As Master Coordinator, I am responsible for the organizational aspects of our Master programme. So if you have questions about admission, procedures, missing information, rules and regulations, program/course contents, or if you have complaints, please contact me. You can find me in Zilverling 4013 (not on Wednesdays) or reach me at master-am@utwente.nl.