International student team help make EMR bid book even more powerful

In preparations for the Euregio Meuse-Rhine’s bid for the Einstein Telescope, the bid book team recently received additional support. Six master’s degree students from Maastricht University’s PREMIUM Excellence programme are studying how the EMR bid can be presented in the strongest possible manner. Their international and multidisciplinary perspective should help finetune the key arguments and unique qualities of the EMR candidature.

The master’s degree students are from the Philippines, Italy, Luxembourg, two students from the Netherlands and one student from Turkey. Their assignment is to compare the EMR bid with what the other candidate locations have to offer. This will result in a set of recommendations, which will make the EMR bid book even stronger.

Impactful project

For the students, the project is a special experience. ‘The impact of this project is much greater than other projects I can do during my studies,’ says Jules Terrens from Luxembourg. The master’s degree student in International Business with a focus on strategy and innovation finds the practical use of this assignment particularly challenging: ‘Many projects remain quite theoretical and only have an internal impact on the organisation. This project can have a real impact on the future of an entire region. That’s what makes it special.’

Guusje van Ravenstein from the Netherlands, a master’s degree student in International Law with a specialisation in International Trade and Investment Law and European Business Law, also sees the unique scale of the project. ‘My studies focus largely on international cooperation and politics, and that all comes together here. At the same time, the project also has a local impact on everyday life in the region. That’s what makes it even more interesting.’

Compare to get stronger

The team are analysing how the Euregio’s candidacy compares with those of other possible locations for the Einstein Telescope in the German state of Saxony and Italy’s Sardinia. They look at several aspects, such as the communication strategy, regional activities, international support and how the public thinks about it. Based on this analysis, the students formulate recommendations to make the narrative and unique qualities of the EMR candidacy even clearer. ‘So it is not about competitive analysis,’ Guusje explains. ‘We mainly compare the different locations. From that comparison, we are looking at how the Euregio’s bid can be made even stronger.’

International outlook

The international composition of the student team is an advantage in this regard. Italian student Gaja Ghiringhelli, for instance, brings valuable knowledge about the Italian context and helps the team better interpret the information and developments surrounding the Italian candidature. Those different backgrounds and fields of study enable the team to analyse the project from multiple perspectives. ‘It is precisely this combination of disciplines and perspectives that strengthens our research,’ says Guusje. ‘Everyone views the bid from their own field of study and background.’

Roles within the team

The six students are collaborating on the project from different disciplines. Each team member has their own role. Jules, for example, maintains contact with the bid book team and acts as a point of contact for the client. Guusje monitors the project planning and worked out the project plan. Gaja Ghiringhelli provides structure within the team by recording meetings and collecting action points. Julie Schollaart manages the shared documents and monitors version control, while Rainier Ambrocio provides updates on the PREMIUM programme’s Instagram page. This enables other students to follow the progress of the project. İlkhan Özcan focuses on team cohesion and supports collaboration and engagement within the international student team.

Learning by doing

The PREMIUM programme is known for its rigorous selection. Students voluntarily participate alongside their studies, without receiving course credits. The emphasis is on gaining practical experience and on personal development. ‘We are happy to go that extra mile, because the programme provides a perfect bridge between our studies and our future career,’ says Jules. In addition to performing the project, students also receive guidance from a mentor and a coach. They support the team in collaborating, planning and skills such as presenting and networking.

The students’ research is divided into six themes, ranging from communication strategy to sustainability and regional characteristics. ‘It’s a complex project,’ says Jules. ‘That is why it was important to first have a good understanding of how the organisation works and what is expected of us. Now that we have that in focus, we can really start our research.’

Progress

The collaboration with the bid book team is going smoothly, according to the students. ‘We were given a very warm welcome and a lot of support in setting up our research,’ says Guusje. ‘That helps enormously to make rapid progress.’ In fact, the team is ahead of schedule. The students will present their first preliminary results in mid-March. The final recommendations will follow at the end of May.

‘It feels good to contribute to such a meaningful project,’ says Jules. ‘When the Einstein Telescope eventually comes to this region, it is special to know that we have been privileged to be a small part of it.’