Curious about what it’s like to study the Master in Sustainable Urban Bioscience Engineering (SUBE)? Explore inspiring testimonials from our students as they share their unique experiences, insights, and achievements.

• Internship experience
• Doing part of your Master’s thesis research abroad

Stay tuned—this page is updated regularly with fresh perspectives and stories!

🌍 Real-World Experience in Urban Sustainability: Internships as a key strength of our programme 🌍

At SUBE, we believe that practical, hands-on experience is essential to shaping the future of sustainable cities. As part of our second-year curriculum, students undertake internships with innovative organisations at the forefront of sustainability challenges. This immersive opportunity allows them to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts, 🌿 develop professional networks, and contribute meaningfully to sustainability projects. 🌱

We are thrilled to share a great example of this partnership in action! 🚀 The Ecological Entrepreneur recently welcomed Louis Helssen, one of our talented students, as an intern. His work will focus on supporting the company’s initiatives in ecological development, further demonstrating the value of work-integrated learning. 🌟

We’re proud to see our students making an impact and growing as professionals in their fields 🌱 The internship experience is a cornerstone of our programme, preparing our graduates for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow’s sustainable cities. 🌆

He will be contributing to our third iteration of research focused on the drivers and hurdles businesses face when implementing sustainability initiatives. This year, we are delving deeper into the influence of external factors such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), as well as the pressures from the market and value chain.

“I’m thrilled to join The Ecological Entrepreneur as a bioscience engineer intern! I can’t wait to dive into the innovative work they’re doing in sustainability and learn from such a passionate team.”

Here’s to a successful journey towards sustainable innovation, Louis!

🌏✨ Exploring Food Systems Abroad: A Journey to Indonesia ✨🌴

As part of their master’s thesis, SUBE students Fran Van Dyck and Janelle De Decker travelled to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to collaborate with Rikolto and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on the project Development of a Roadmap Towards a Sustainable Food Environment in an Urban Context. Travel with them as they share their unique experience, combining academic research with cultural immersion! 📚✈️

💬 “Choosing a master’s thesis topic with an international research internship was an easy decision for us. We wanted hands-on experience abroad, and Indonesia (Yogyakarta) seemed like the perfect fit! Our project, titled Development of a Roadmap Towards a Sustainable Food Environment in an Urban Context, was a collaboration with Faculty of Bioscience Engineering UGent, Rikolto, and Universitas Gadjah Mada, supervised by our promoters dr. Liesbeth Jacxsens and dr. Carl Lachat. The research focused on two key aspects: one of us studied the urban food environment, including the buying and eating behaviours of primary school children, while the other focused on food safety and its implications for sustainable practices.

🌞 A typical day in Yogyakarta as a thesis student was full of new experiences. Mornings often started with fieldwork in tropical surroundings, collaborating with locals who shared unique insights for our research. We investigated food consumption at schools, the impact of canteens and street vendors, and collected health-related data. Now back in Belgium, we’re building on these findings to complete our thesis.

🍜 Living in Indonesia was also an incredible cultural experience. From navigating bustling streets on scooters to indulging in dishes like kakap asam manis and gado-gado (our newfound addiction!), the journey was unforgettable. Beyond academics, we had life-changing adventures: releasing turtles, climbing volcanoes, surfing, and even witnessing an active volcano erupt! Adjusting to the slower pace and different customs wasn’t always easy, but immersing ourselves in the culture was deeply rewarding.

🙌 Our advice for future students: Be open-minded and embrace the unknown. It’s challenging, but the experience is incredibly worth it!”

📸✨ Check out some snapshots from Fran and Janelle’s journey below!