Honours
Skills Academy
The Skills Academy offers UU students the opportunity to develop skills from other disciplines in addition to their studies. Most modules are open to all UU students and consist of small modules of 2.5 EC at honors level. You can apply from the second year of your bachelor; master's students can also participate.
Register
You can register through this link. Registrations will open on Monday, 9 December at 9 a.m. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, we believe a disciplinary group is important. Module capacity is limited, so register soon.
Contact
You can reach the Skills Academy through skillsacademy@uu.nl.
1. Is it only possible to receive ECs for Skills Academy modules if I take part in an honors?
All students who participate in and successfully complete a Skills Academy module receive ECs, regardless of whether they are enrolled in an honors course. In some cases, ECs earned through Skills Academy modules can count toward the honors course or programme of your study or faculty.
2. Is it doable to take part in a Skills Academy module alongside my thesis?
A Skills Academy module accounts for 2.5 ECs, equivalent to approximately 70 hours (about six days) of study in total. This includes class attendance, preparation, and completing assignments. Based on the experiences of previous students, combining a Skills Academy module with your thesis is manageable.
3. Does failing a Skills Academy module affect my master record?
If you do not pass a module, an NVD (Not Completed) will be recorded in Osiris. In general, this will not affect your study results, although this may vary for specific programmes. Check the Education and Examination Regulations (OER) of your programme for details.
4. Are there costs involved in following a Skills Academy module?
There are no additional costs for participating in a Skills Academy module, except for any potential material costs needed for the module. These will always be communicated in advance.
5. Do I receive credits for completing a Skills Academy module?
Yes, you will receive ECs after successfully completing a Skills Academy module. To successfully complete a module, you must attend the sessions and complete the required assignments.
6. Can you miss a Skills Academy module session?
The courses in the Skills Academy modules are based on experiential learning, making attendance crucial. As a rule, you may not miss more than one session. If you miss more than one, you will need to complete an additional assignment to pass the module.
7. Can you use a Skills Academy module in the free elective space?
In principle, ECs from Skills Academy modules can be used in the free elective space of your bachelor’s or master’s program. However, always confirm with the coordinator of your program whether these ECs will be accepted.
8. Is it possible to follow more than one Skills Academy module?
Yes, you can take more than one Skills Academy module. However, if you apply for two modules in the same period (e.g., period 3 or 4), you will receive lower priority for your second choice. Consequently, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to complete three modules and earn 7.5 ECs in a single period.
9. Are the Skills Academy modules offered in Dutch or English?
Most Skills Academy modules are offered in English, but some are only available in Dutch. You can check the language of each module on the Skills Academy website or in the Osiris description.
10. Can I apply for all Skills Academy modules regardless of my programme?
In principle, all Skills Academy modules are open to all students, but there are exceptions. Some modules may not be open to students from certain faculties. Check the Skills Academy website or the Osiris description for details about eligibility.
11. Is it possible to follow Skills Academy modules online?
No, all Skills Academy module sessions are held on-site and cannot be attended online.
12. Where can I sign up for Skills Academy modules?
You can sign up for Skills Academy modules by clicking the link provided on the Skills Academy website.
13. Do Skills Academy modules appear on my diploma?
Yes, completed Skills Academy modules will be listed on your transcript of records.
14. What are Edubadges, and can I apply for one after completing a Skills Academy module?
An Edubadge is a digital certificate that you can earn after successfully completing a Skills Academy module. It can be added to your LinkedIn profile. You will receive an email from the Skills Academy with instructions on how to claim your Edubadge.
Modules
Explore the impact of digitisation on society by working with big data. You'll gain experience in data visualisation, algorithms, and machine learning.
- Course description: SA.001.B en SA.001.M
- When: in period 3 on Tuesdays between 5 and 7 pm
- not open to USE students
Explore how governments use digital technologies, including their opportunities and risks. You’ll develop a vision for a specific application and present it orally at the end of the course.
- Course description: SA.002.B and SA.002.M
- When: in period 4 on Tuesdays between 5 and 7 pm
- only open to students from the faculty of Law, Economics, and Governance
Learn what good preparation looks like, and what you can do during meetings to keep them as efficient as possible.
- Course description: SA.003B and SA.003M
- When: in period 3 Wednesday 12/2 and 26/2 from 5-7 pm, on Wednesday 12/3 from 5-8 pm , on Monday 24/3 and Wednesday 9/4 from 5-7 pm
This module focuses on turning research into visuals to engage a broader audience. Learn to summarize complex information in images and communicate effectively through visuals, no drawing skills required.
- Course description: SA.006.B en SA.006.M
- When: in period 4 on Wednesdays between 5 and 7 pm
Strengthen your ethical awareness and capacity to judge and act on that awareness. The focus is on your personal, social, and professional role in an open and inclusive society.
- Course description: SA.008.B and SA.008.M
- When: in period 4 on Tuesdays between 5.15 and 7.45/8 pm
- primarily designed for students enrolled at the faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, but also open to students of all disciplines
With the rise of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, Open-Source investigation methods are crucial. Learn open-source investigations skills and how they are being used to address global challenges ranging from environmental harm to human rights violations and conflict-related research.
- Course description: SA.009.B and SA.009.M
- When: in period 4 on Wednesdays from 5 – 7 pm
The focus of this module is to equip you with the ability to apply basic financial and accounting principles in various professional situations to stay in control of your budget. Excel is used for this as a powerful tool.
- Course description: SA.010.B and SA.010.M
- When: in period 3 on Tuesdays between 5 and 7 pm
This module will familiarize you with the skill of “futuring”; the process of active future-making. Learn several futuring techniques like scenario planning, modelling, science fiction, back casting and experiential futuring.
- Course description: SA.013.B SA.013.M
- When: in period 4 on Mondays between 5 and 7 pm
The Conflict Management and Negotiation module teaches you to recognise your conflict and negotiation preferences and understand negotiation dynamics. You'll apply this knowledge in a simulation involving multi-party negotiations.
- Course description: SA.014.B SA.014.M
- When: in period 4 on Tuesdays between 5 and 7 pm
This module helps you master public speaking skills and enjoy the process. It goes beyond basic tips like "speak clearly" to cover various aspects of effective speaking. By the end, you'll present on a topic of your choice.
- Course description: SA.015.B SA.015.M
- When: in period 4 on Mondays, time will follow
In deze (Nederlandstalige) module leer je wetenschappelijke informatie helder en aantrekkelijk te presenteren. Je oefent verschillende schrijftechnieken en krijgt inzicht in hun effect op lezers. Ook werk je aan het verbeteren van je schrijfvaardigheid, bijvoorbeeld door nieuwsartikelen, columns en opinieartikelen te schrijven.
- Cursusbeschrijving: SA. 016.B SA. 016.M
- Wanneer: in periode 3 op donderdagen tussen 17.00 en 19.00 uur
Design Thinking is a way of working that ensures creativity in finding new and innovative solutions across a broad range of fields. This module will teach you to understand the design thinking methodology principles and mindset, and how to apply design thinking to a particular case or challenge.
- Course description: SA. 017.B SA.017.M
- When: in period 4 on Tuesdays between 5 and 7 pm
Today’s issues require a multidisciplinary approach. By learning Connective Thinking, you'll analyze complex problems using systems analysis, moving beyond simple cause-effect reasoning to predict outcomes like policy impacts or climate change.
- Course description: SA.018.B SA.018.M
- When: in period 3 on Thursdays from 5 and 7 pm
This module uses a systems-psychodynamic approach to uncover the hidden emotional dynamics in organizations, helping you understand (group) dynamics beyond formal agendas and rules through experiential learning.
- Course description: SA.019.B, SA.019.M
- When: in period 4 on Wednesdays between 5 and 7 pm (with the exception of the meeting on 04/06 which takes place between 5 and 8 pm)
In today’s tech-driven world, constant access to databases impacts how we read and connect information. This module teaches four reading strategies—slow practice, speed reading, connective thinking, and diffractive reading—to help you navigate vast information effectively.
- Course description: SA.020.B, SA.020.M
- When: in period 3 on Tuesdays between 5 and 7 pm
This module will train you in using digital ethnographic research tools, to analyze the interactions you have had in digital media. You will be able to use (research) tools and techniques such as participant observations, digital ecosystem mapping and multi-media storytelling.
- Course description: SA.021.B, SA.021.M
- When: in period 4 on: Tuesday 22/04; Thursday 24/04; Tuesday 13/05; Tuesday 20/05 and Thursday 22/05 between 5 and 7 pm
In this module you will be introduced to the research skills needed to practice professional journalism in a modern digital world. Through lectures, newsroom meetings and role-plays you will be able to investigate, design and produce innovative news stories for the Dutch and global market.
- Course description: SA.022.B, SA.022.M
- When: information will follow
In this module, you'll learn to create engaging data visualizations on sustainability and analyze visuals from bodies like the IPCC. Using tools like Flourish and Python, you'll create your own visuals for a group report on a sustainability topic of your choice.
- Course description: SA. 023.B, SA.023.M
- When: in period 3 on Tuesdays between 5 and 7 pm
- not open for students who have taken the course Integrated Assessment of Climate Change (GEO4-2340)
UU-Wide Honours Programmes
Utrecht University offers a variety of honours programmes.
UU-Wide Honours Programmes