The multidisciplinary background of SUBE students is a strong asset in navigating complex urban and green-blue challenges.

The field of urban planning, blue-green infrastructure, and data-driven planning is rapidly evolving in response to emerging academic developments, shifting spatial policies, climate challenges, and changing societal dynamics. During their internships, SUBE students clearly demonstrated the added value of their multidisciplinary background in navigating this complexity, bringing valuable perspectives to complex, real-world challenges. They consistently proved that their strong scientific and practical engineering foundation enables them not only to quickly acquire new skills, but also to think across disciplines and adapt seamlessly to diverse project and client contexts.

A SUBE-intern gives you a fresh look on existing problems!

As a small organization with a lot of work, we have strict expectations for our interns. Their work needs to be an added value, on top of our regular work. With this purpose, SUBE-interns are ideal, as they are schooled specifically for a holistic and modern approach to the problems of the 21st century. After taking the time to get acquainted with the profile of our intern, we decided on a topic that fits both the interests of our organization and that of the intern.

During her internship, the SUBE-intern conducted applied research on green playgrounds, focusing on how natural elements and user perspectives can strengthen the quality and impact of public green spaces — fully in line with VVOG’s mission to support sustainable and high-quality urban green infrastructure.

This resulted in a report with a fresh and future-proof look on current problems. We can directly use the insights generated by the intern, while taking pride in preparing a new talent for our sector!

SUBE profiles combine scientific depth and business mindset to translate sustainability into actionable investment insights and long-term value creation

Our experience with a intern from the Master SUBE showed how valuable it is to have profiles that can bridge science and business in an investment context. They bring systems thinking and a strong analytical foundation, while also being able to translate evolving sustainability frameworks into practical tools for due diligence, portfolio management, and strategy. In private equity, where topics such as climate and biodiversity increasingly impact risk, regulation, and value creation, this combination is particularly relevant. SUBE graduates are well equipped to help the business community in moving from high-level sustainability ambitions to concrete, actionable integration.

SUBE students bring fresh insights and strong practical knowledge in sustainability

As a leading consultancy in sustainability and urban development, we at Sweco have experienced firsthand the added value of the Master’s programme in Sustainable Urban Bioscience Engineering (SUBE).

When SUBE students begin their internships, they already possess applied knowledge and skills in nature- and ecosystem-based solutions, climate adaptation, and urban biodiversity. Their ability to quickly familiarise themselves with complex urban challenges has proven particularly valuable to our team.

During their internships, SUBE students have actively contributed to a range of concrete projects in both urban and peripheral contexts, including BREEAM sustainability certification for new developments, the use of climate adaptation tools such as the Climate Portal Project Tool by VMM, biodiversity audit reporting, digital mapping of wetlands, and policy-related projects such as the Neighbourhood Sustainability Meter.

Their value lies in their strong academic foundation, complemented by practical experience and innovative thinking. Internships serve as a bridge between academic knowledge and professional practice. During their time with us, students develop both technical and interpersonal skills, making a valuable contribution to our mission of collectively transforming society.

The SUBE Master’s programme thoroughly prepares students for the professional field by incorporating current issues such as urban biodiversity, climate adaptation, and sustainable urban development into the curriculum. The combination of theoretical knowledge and practical tools enables them to develop and implement effective sustainability strategies across diverse projects in our sector.

The SUBE programme is invaluable for the sustainable development of society. By training experts who possess both theoretical and practical skills, this Master’s enhances the sustainability of urban areas and the well-being of their residents. For these reasons, I highly recommend that other organisations collaborate with SUBE students or alumni.