I do not think there was a better choice for me than International Facility Management

Kamilė Uikytė, is a fourth year student International Facility Management. Originally from Lithuania. From a young age, Kamilė was curious about other countries, so after finishing high school she decided to travel rather than study. That decision took her to Cyprus and then Germany, and living abroad naturally led to start looking for a university abroad too. The Netherlands felt like the right fit, largely because of the English language and international environment.

The choice 

'Choosing a bachelor's was not simple for me. I was drawn to several completely different directions, from engineering to designing, and I struggled to find one programme that would feel right. Then I came across International Facility Management at Hanze, and it clicked immediately. Facility management is broad to cover everything I cared about, so my gut told me this is where I have to study. I ended up in Groningen, a vibrant, international city where I felt like the place to be.

Learnging essential skills

I do not think there was a better choice for me than the International Facility Management bachelor, and for three reasons. First, buildings had always interested me, but the purely technical side never really pulled me in. Facility management instead focuses on functionality and people's experience of a space, which I found far more engaging. Second, the programme puts a strong emphasis on sustainability, a topic I did not know much about going in, but my interest grew genuinely with every project. To help build a sustainable future, we covered many aspects of the topic throughout the programme, from technology and emerging trends to circularity and beyond. Third, the programme also includes courses on finance, marketing, and human resources, all essential skills for anyone aiming to become a manager. Overall, as I said, I could not have found a more suitable programme for me.

Professional and personal development

What stood out most during my time at Hanze is how much attention goes into professional and personal development, not just academic knowledge. Skills like presenting, creative thinking, and understanding cultural differences are taught as their own courses, and they have made a real difference in every project since. On top of that, there have been countless extra opportunities such as conferences, international projects, that let me keep traveling alongside learning. Every time meeting and collaborating with students or professionals created unforgettable memories. wa Every semester also includes coaching sessions, where we reflect on what we have learned, how we have grown, and what we might do differently next time. That built-in space for reflection has helped me actually notice my own progress instead of just completing semesters.

Tackling actual problems

Working on real social issues alongside other students has probably taught me the most. Tackling actual problems from organizations, rather than hypothetical case studies, forces you to deal with the complexity of real stakeholders, real constraints, and real people who are affected by the outcome. This experience made me more comfortable with ambiguity and much better at collaborating with people who do not think the way I do.

Share your talent, move the world

The "share your talent, move the world" philosophy has also been very present in my experience. Teachers and coaches genuinely think alongside you rather than just grading from a distance. When you have hit a wall on a project or wanted to explore different directions, there was always teachers' support and guidance.

So if I had to say why someone should choose this programme: if you're curious about sustainability, hospitality, and people's wellbeing, facility management is a genuinely perfect fit. It gave me room to explore all the interests I could not choose between.'