Master in Innovative Textile Development

The Master in Innovative Textile Development trains you to become an expert in textile innovation and after graduation, you hold a Master of Science degree. The unique feature is a focus on innovation in textiles in the broadest sense: both technical textiles and textiles for clothing. With this, it provides a unique master programme in the Netherlands and Western Europe. It will give an excellent springboard to the international textile market.

This study programme is accredited by NVAO

What can you do later?

You can work in a wide variety of positions and roles in which innovation is important.

Is this the Master for you?

The Master in Innovative Textile Development will be fit for you if you have a Bachelor of Science in fashion and textiles, but also if you have a bachelor of science in some other field.

Course content

The Master in Innovative Textile Development trains you to become an expert in textile innovation and after graduation you hold a Master of Science degree. The unique feature is a focus on innovation in textiles in the broadest sense: both technical textiles and textiles for clothing. With this it provides a unique master programme in the Netherlands and Western Europe. It will give an excellent springboard to the international textile market.

Textiles theory

Each quarter will include coverage of textiles theory, some of which will form part of the project. All textiles theory will be tested in a written exam.

Focus of the projects year 1

The first year is divided into 4 quarters of 10 weeks each. For each quarter, the student will be part of a project group of approximately 4 students. Each student will perform a different role in each of the 4 quarters. Each project is developed closely with a company, which acts as the client. At the end of the quarter the project team presents their product, process or concept to the expert team, which comprises the client, tutor, textiles lecturer and project lecturer. The projects focus on:

Project

Business and organisational skills such as commerce, entrepreneurship, research and communication.

Project 2

Technical competences like prototyping and testing as well as project work.

Project 3

Design competences like conceptualisation and design as well as project work.

Project 4

​Technical aspects such as analysing, prototyping and testing as well as professional competencies such as responsibility.

Research

You will learn what research is, you will learn more about research methodologies, how to organise a research according to a specific format. These are all individual assignments. We will use several subjects in the field of research.

• Research design

• Literature research

• Research methodology

• Research perspective

Co-creation

The Master in Innovative Textile Development has been co-created in collaboration with the textile industry. Companies told us about their strong need for graduates at master level who are able to develop innovative materials, products, business models and production processes in a textiles context. Firms including Teijin Aramid BV, Vlisco Netherlands BV, DyeCoo Textile Systems B.V., SPG Prints Group and MODINT, trade association for the fashion, interior design, carpet and textile industry, have all helped to design the programme content.

They all are very enthusiastic about the launch of this unique master:

• Zaki Adda, Training and Development Coordinator at Vlisco “Co-creation is essential. In order to survive we need to be involved.”

• Monica López Lorenzo, Manager New Business Development at Teijin “We need to co-create. The future of our business lies in working together.”

• Jef Wintermans, Managing Director Economic and Technical Business at MODINT “The master programme has the potential to make valuable contributions in terms of textile-industry innovations on the one hand and solutions to problems in other sectors, through innovation applications for textiles (crossovers), on the other. Hence the programme also clearly helps to achieve objectives in other top sectors, in particular in High Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM) and the creative industry.”

Master thesis project

In the final half year you work on your master thesis project, e.g. externally at a company or within Saxion’s research group Sustainable & Functional Textiles. We can help you to find a placement for your master thesis project at a company from within our extensive network. This can be either in the Netherlands or abroad, in line with your preferences.

Facilities

In the circular lab you will experiment and gain insight into various technical and social issues in the textile industry. A wide variety of equipment is available in the laboratory to work on projects and conduct research. As a student you are very welcome to come and visit the lab.

Saxion University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest institutions of higher education in the Netherlands, with close to 27,000 students (and still growing!). Saxion has three campuses in the East of the Netherlands - one campus in each of the three Dutch cities of Deventer, Enschede and Apeldoorn. We are very proud of our diverse student body. Our international student population tops 2,500 students with a total of 95 different nationalities.

Great career prospects

Our campuses are located within the innovative heart of Europe, nesting innovative industries for more than 100 years. It is now housing startups and offers promising career prospects. Saxion’s way of teaching is closely bonded with the working field, which prepares you to enter tomorrow’s job market with the strongest professional skills. At Saxion we deploy problem-driven learning, and our study projects are developed in tight collaboration with the work field. You will learn through a practice-based approach and build practical experience. This type of education is specific to Universities of Applied Sciences (HBO in Dutch).

Excellent locations

Saxion is located in the Netherlands on three different campuses. All three Saxion campuses (located in the cities Enschede, Deventer and Apeldoorn) are within walking distance from the train station. The Dutch train network is excellent so it's easy to travel to and from Saxion, to other cities and even other countries! Saxion’s campuses are in areas where housing is cheaper and easier to find than in the rest of the Netherlands.

Affordable and accessible student housing

Our campuses are located in lively cities in the east of the Netherlands. This area provides a bubbly city life with more affordable and accessible housing compared to other student cities in the Netherlands. We also support and assist our international applicants in their search for their housing with webinars and other informational material.

A genuine second home

We understand that studying abroad can be a challenging experience, which is why our International Office offers a range of support services for our international students, starting right from the start! These include help with landing smoothly in the Netherlands and at Saxion, finding housing, applying for insurance and getting a Visa. Saxion is an open community for one and all, a genuine second home for our international students!