Association

1. Eligibility

The IEM-Project is open exclusively to Master’s students of the University of Groningen enrolled in one of the following programmes:

• MSc Industrial Engineering and Management
• MSc Mechanical Engineering
• MSc Systems and Control

There are no minimum GPA or ECTS requirements. Participation is based on motivation, CV, and availability.

Each consultancy case is carried out by two students. The total number of participants depends on the number of cases acquired for that edition.

2. Project Structure

Each case consists of:

• 14 weeks duration
• 10 hours per week per student
• 280 hours of consultancy work per case (2 students)

Students work directly with a participating company and are supervised by:

• A designated company project manager or contact person
• The IEM-Project board

The project is not an officially registered university course. There is:

• No formal university supervision
• No official academic coordinator
• No final grade

Upon successful completion of the case and required deliverables, participants receive 5 extracurricular ECTS. These ECTS are awarded outside the formal curriculum and do not count toward the minimum ECTS required for graduation.

3. Case Rounds & Timeline

There are two case rounds:

• Round 1: Starting October 2026
• Round 2: Starting February 2027

Intermediate progress meetings are organized during both rounds to ensure quality and alignment.

4. Nature of the Consultancy Cases

The specific content of each case is determined by the participating company.

The IEM-Project aims to acquire cases aligned with the expertise of the participating Master’s programmes, including topics such as:

• Operations & process optimisation
• Strategic analysis
• Engineering design challenges
• Technical system improvements
• Multidisciplinary innovation projects

Companies define:

• The scope of the assignment
• The required deliverables (beyond the mandatory report)
• The level of data access
• The frequency of contact or on-site presence

Possible deliverables depend on the company’s request.

A final presentation to the company is always included.

If required by the company, a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) may be signed.

5. Selection Procedure

Participants are selected based on:

• CV
• Motivation
• Availability during the full project period

Selection and case assignment are decided by:

• The IEM-Project board
• A board member of TBV Lugus

Availability during the full 14-week period is mandatory.

6. For Partner Companies

Participating companies receive:

• A dedicated two-student consultancy team
• 280 hours of structured project work
• A final written consultancy report
• A formal presentation of results

Companies pay a participation fee for the case. This fee contributes to financing the concluding intercontinental study trip. For more information, send an email to iemproject@tbvlugus.nl

The IEM-Project maintains flexibility in project setup to accommodate company needs regarding scope, confidentiality, and collaboration intensity.

7. Intercontinental Study Trip

The IEM-Project concludes with a study trip in the summer of 2027.

• Duration: 14–21 days
• Visits: Approximately two local companies and one university
• Focus: Professional exposure and cultural experience

The trip is largely financed through the acquired consultancy cases.

Participants are required to provide a €750 deposit, which serves as a financial safeguard for unforeseen expenses. This deposit is generally returned after the trip, fully or partially, depending on any unforeseen costs incurred.

Personal expenses such as dinners and drinks are not included.

Previous destinations can be found under the “Former Trip Locations” section of this website.