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Happy Holidays & See you in 2026! Friday 19 December 2025 15:50
The board of W.S.G. Abacus wishes you a very Mery Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We hope you can all enjoy from a deserved Christmas break of 2 weeks and will see you back in the Abacus room in 2026!
Researcher Researched and bouquet for Hans Zwart Thursday 18 December 2025 10:46
On the 4th of December, the Education Committee celebrated Hans Zwart and his work and dedication to students through a Research Researched in his honour. During this activity, we walked with Hans through many of the aspects of his carreer: from his PhD and view of research prizes to his view and approach to education and how he catered to students. Finally, Hans was celebrated one last time by receiving a bouquet of flowers for all his efforts towards students.
As his time at the UT is coming to an end, we want to thank Hans on behalf of the many students he has inspired for his kindness, enthusiasm and genuine interest in the students' well-being. Thank you, Hans!
Hans Zwart will be back to hold his public farewell speech on March 27.
AMEP Nominations Friday 5 December 2025 09:44
The Applied Mathematics Educational Prize (AMEP) is almost here and we need YOU (the students) to nominate candidates for this event!
The AMEP sees three beloved teachers give a short presentation about mathematics around one singular theme. These three finalists, however, are purely up to you. So go to AMEP vote and nominate your three favourite staff members to ensure that they make the final!
You may vote until January 18th.
Q1 Flowers from the Education Committee Thursday 27 November 2025 11:03
In Quartile 1 Hil Meijer received the most votes from students, and has been awarded a bouquet of flowers from the Education Committee!
Student who voted for him spoke highly of his involvement in the students’ learning process for the course Nonlinear Dynamics. Students also showed great appreciation for his genuine interest in them whenever he visits the Abacus room.
We thank Hil Meijer a lot for his efforts and for finding time in his busy schedule to still show involvement with students.
Ask the Programme Committee! Friday 7 November 2025 09:46
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! Thursday 9 October 2025 16:48
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 Friday 12 September 2025 15:09
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.
New Board Monday 8 September 2025 14:40
On Tuesday the 2nd of September, our change GMA took place. The 57th board got discharged, and the 58th board was charged as follows:
Chairman & Officer Internal Affairs: Damaris ter Haar
Secretary: Daan van Kats
Treasurer: Feike Harmsen
General Adjunct: Nathanael Skrepek
We want to thank the 57th board for their hard work of the past year, and we look forward to a great board year! 💛🩵
(FLTR: Nathanael, Daan, Damaris, Feike)
Bouquet from the Education Committee Tuesday 8 July 2025 10:40
As the academic year comes to an end, one final bouquet had to be handed out by the Education Committee. This has, very rightfully so, been received by Anne Zander, who this quartile was involved with both teaching and supervising students (both MSc and BSc).
Students wanted to show their gratitude to Anne, who they highly praised for her patience and understanding. She was spoken of as a good lecturer who takes interest in her students, makes time for them and creates a pleasant atmosphere in her class, where asking questions is welcome and, in fact, actively encouraged. The students she supervises also spoke highly of her gentle ways. the useful tips and direct but never harsh feedback, saying that Anne is a great role model as well as a kind and empathic person with whom they genuinely enjoy working.
With this bouquet of flowers, the Education Committee would like to thank Anne Zander for all of her efforts and hard work.
Bouquet from the Education Committee Wednesday 4 June 2025 11:01
Albeit delayed, the Education Committee has recently awarded a bouquet for quartile 3 to Felix Schwenninger for his continuous commitment to high quality education and for his genuine interest in students' well-being and development across mathematics. Although Felix was not involved in teaching within the programme during quartile 3, students still wanted to showcase their appreciation for him as a follow-up to his nomination for the AMEP (Applied Mathematics Education Prize).
The Education Committee would like to sincerely thank Felix Schwenninger for all of his efforts and hopes that students will continue to appreciate his hard work.
