Education

Ever closer to the new Joint Master’s Degree GRACE

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GRACE will be the first joint master’s degree programme in E³UDRES², the European alliance of nine higher education institutions. The opening of enrolment applications is one of the final steps currently being taken prior to the official launch. This international master's programme hopes to welcome its first students in the autumn of 2025.

GRACE stands for Gamified Reality Applications for Real-world Challenges and Experiences. This Joint Master’s Degree is an innovative programme consisting of four semesters. Students will be immersed in the world of Extended Reality (XR) and gamification. The programme is being jointly offered by Saxion, the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten (Austria) and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia).

This programme reflects the strength of European cooperation: innovation, mobility and cultural exchange

Tim Roosen, Deputy Director Joint Master GRACE

Tim Roosen, Deputy Director Joint Master GRACE, explains: “We have worked together intensively these past years to create GRACE. This programme reflects the strength of European cooperation: innovation, mobility and cultural exchange. Participating in GRACE is essential to Saxion to maintain its leading role in technological education.”

Organisational marathon

The development of GRACE started more than 2.5 years ago with the consortium regularly meeting in Austria, the Netherlands and Latvia to design the programme. This has led to some key milestones.

To start with the kick-off in September 2024: initiating the joint planning phase of the curriculum. During these hybrid meetings lecturers and staff of the three partner institutions discussed GRACE’s educational strategy and unique mobility concept. There were also consultations between the three institutions’ examination boards.

After this the accreditation visit took place in November, a crucial moment for GRACE in the context of the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes. During this visit an international accreditation committee – consisting of experts from Austria, the Netherlands and Latvia – carried out a deep ranging assessment of the programme. During eight intensive rounds with more than 25 participants, including representatives of Saxion students, the curriculum, mobility structure and cooperation between partner institutions were all comprehensively evaluated. The committee expressed its appreciation of the unique concept of GRACE and gave a provisional positive recommendation.

These steps testify the solid foundations of GRACE. The consortium hopes to successfully complete NVAO accreditation in the Netherlands in April 2025.

Saxion and GRACE

Saxion plays a key role in the development and positioning of GRACE. Saxion’s expertise in XR and gamification has contributed to creating a unique programme that prepares students for challenges in a digital and international world. Thanks to the international cooperation with partner institutions, GRACE provides students with an experience where mobility, innovation and culture merge.

For those interested the Enrolment Portal is open until 1 February 2025.

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