Tackling real-world problems through Interdisciplinary Collaboration (TIC)

Tackling real-world problems through Interdisciplinary Collaboration (TIC)

About TIC

What is TIC?

TIC is a course for 2nd and 3rd year Bachelor students, Master students and professionals from all disciplines and backgrounds. The course promotes interdisciplinary and cross-level collaboration while solving a real-world problem. Participants connect with an external, societal partner to get to know the context of the challenge and to work on their prototype-solutions.

When

Start of Period 2: November 10 2025 – February 1 2026
(time slot AD, Wednesdays and Fridays)

Registration via Osiris: Sept 15 2025 – Sept 26 2025

Pre-registration is possible via the registration form on this website and professionals can akso pre-register via this form. Formal registration for professionals is possible via ‘Osiris-Zaak’ from September 15 to October 27. See UU-website for that link to Osiris.

Register now!

Are you a student? Watch this video to get to know TIC:

Are you a professional? Watch this video to get to know TIC:

In today’s world we face numerous complex societal and environmental challenges. Lights and wheelsThese challenges require the input and actions of a broad range of actors, working together across sectors and disciplines. In the TIC course, students and lifelong learners will collaborate with societal partners and receive training to become interdisciplinary and innovative problem solvers that contribute to solutions to real-world problems.

Tackling real-world problems through Interdisciplinary Collaboration (TIC) is a 7.5 ECTs elective course for year-3 Bachelor students, Master students and lifelong learners from different disciplines. The course promotes interdisciplinary and cross-level collaboration while solving real-world challenges related to Utrecht University’s four strategic themes.

The course offers a mix of (guest) lectures, interviews, workshops and discussions. In interdisciplinary groups of 4-5 students and lifelong learners, theoretical knowledge is applied in order to solve real-world challenges. You can find the program of the course here.

One line of workshops focusses on different stages of the process from defining to solving the problem. The solution could be a prototype, a video, a symposium, a policy document, etc. Another line of workshops is directed towards (inter)personal and professional development. The course format creates space for curiosity, enthusiasm, and creativity to come up with innovative ideas that contribute to the needs of today’s society.

Each edition of the TIC course offers four thematic challenges connected to the university’s strategic themes. The following TICs will be included in the 2025-2026 edition:

  • Investing in the future (Institutions for open Sciences)
  • Youths on the Move (Dynamics of Youth)
  • Nature based Solutions (Pathways to Sustainability)
  • One Health (Life sciences)

All challenges are interdisciplinary and welcome students and professionals from all backgrounds. Upon registration, participants will be asked to indicate their preference for two of the Thematic Interdisciplinary Challenges. For the assignment of participants to the various groups, the TIC team seeks to create mixed groups and take into account the indicated preferences.

Watch the testimonials on this website to learn about experiences of previous students!