At the start of the academic year, first-year students received a warm welcome from the PME department and Dispuut Taylor. The week began with a presentation introducing both the High-Tech Engineering department and Taylor at the Mechanical Engineering faculty. Following the presentation, a treasure hunt was organized to help students familiarize themselves with Delft and the sprawling ME faculty, which can feel like a maze. This activity not only helped students bond but also offered a nice prize for the winning team. The day wrapped up with the year’s first Taylor Drinks, enjoyed outdoors under the warm summer sun.
Throughout the week, students attended presentations focused on student well-being and various academic tracks within the High-Tech master’s program. Tuesday afternoon brought an engaging lineup of games—Chinese checkers, beer pong (with water), 30 Seconds, and card games—creating the perfect setting for students to connect in a relaxed atmosphere.
On Wednesday, ASML led a case study where students, grouped in large teams, were challenged to design a wafer handler system, offering a hands-on glimpse into High-Tech Engineering. The case study was followed by a networking session with five ASML representatives over drinks, providing a great opportunity for students to ask questions and make connections.
Thursday’s activities, held at the Art Centre, centered on helping students work on their study programs, supported by staff and second-year mentors. The day concluded with intriguing experiments presented by the PME research group.
The week ended with a lively sports day organized by Taylor. Teams competed in volleyball, dodgeball, hockey, soccer, basketball, ping pong, and touch rugby. The winning team was awarded medals and celebrated with a well-deserved cake.
It was nice to see such enthusiasm from the new students, and we are all looking forward to the exciting year ahead.