USE

USE stands for User, Society and Enterprise. Technology, and therefore also you as an engineer, always has to do with users, society and business. USE shows the broader context of technology. You take at least 4 USE courses during your course: one basic course and one USE learning track, which consists of 3 subjects and 5 Studium Generale activities.

As an engineer, you develop technology for users in order to contribute to solutions for social problems and economic opportunities for companies. Consider, for example, the development of robots in medical care. In addition to developing the technology, it is important whether patients accept the robots, whether it fits within the standards of good care and whether there are any companies in the Netherlands that can and want to develop the robots. As a Bachelor's student, you therefore follow the USE basic course and at least one complete USE learning track, consisting of an exploration course, an in-depth course and an application course/project.

You can follow a USE learning pathway from your second year of study. More information about the programming of the different packages can be found in the descriptions of the packages

Each USE learning pathway focuses on one subject. Here the interaction between technology and environment becomes clearly visible and focuses on one or more perspectives (U, S, E). A USE package consists of three parts of 5 ECTS (from 2014 also 5x participation in Studium Generale activities).

Exploration:
In this phase you explore the topic and internalize the central insights and discussions on the topic. In addition, you do a number of case studies where you study the interactions between technology and environment. These case studies can take place in different technology areas.

Depth:
Here you acquire the relevant knowledge (theories, methods and techniques) of parts of the social sciences, management and humanities. The deepening of the package often consists of a choice of different types of in-depth courses.

Application:
Finally, you apply the previously acquired knowledge and skills to a project, within a relevant technology area. These projects can be either design or research oriented. Several projects are offered by different faculties for one learning track. This allows you to connect to multiple technology areas.

Participating in at least 5 activities marked with a USE logo by Studium Generale is part of your USE learning path.

The Studium Generale office is tasked with promoting the social, intellectual and cultural education of students. In collaboration with students, SG organizes lectures, discussions, concerts, exhibitions, theater and film performances for students.

You can register online at Studium Generale to participate in these activities. Studium Generale registers the activities in which you participate on site. If you have followed 5 activities at the end of your project subject, you can fully complete the USE learning track. Of course, even after completing five programmes, you are still very welcome at Studium Generale activities. These are intended as scientific, social and cultural broadening.

NB If you as a student are exempt from the USE learning track because you follow the Educational Minor at the Eindhoven School of Education (ESoE), then you still have to complete at least 5 Studium Generale activities marked with a USE logo in addition to the coherent package to follow. This is the box SG100 in Osiris. Completion of the coherent package is separate from completion of the SG100 course. You are responsible for this yourself.

(If you started your Bachelor College program before 2014, you do not have to follow the SG activities as part of your USE learning path.)