Safety & Security Management - The Hague University (THUAS)

The programme
Public safety, international security and industrial safety are the three pillars of SSMS. In years two and three, you’ll get an insight into contemporary security threats, such as hybrid warfare and transnational crime. Hands-on group projects and expert guest lectures will give you the experience you need for niche careers that most people have not even heard about. Get ready to challenge yourself and push the boundaries

Year 1
To be an SSMS professional, you’ll first have to attain a basic understanding of safety and security. This is why year one prepares you with introductory courses like International Law, Criminology, Psychology, Economics, Policy Making, Business Administration and management courses. Before you even think about advising commercial companies and governmental institutions on their safety and security policies, you’ll have to understand their organisational structures and cultures.
AT THUAS you will work in dynamic groups to tackle SSMS topics from a practical perspective. Safety and security management is all about anticipating and identifying risk, which can only be done if you do the groundwork. For example, after studying the basics of criminology, psychology and security management, we hone your professional skills in the ‘Getting the problem right’ project. These introductory practical elements will get you investigating safety and security management issues before moving on to resolve bigger issues in the second and third years.

Topics: Intro in safety and security / Public governance / Security risk management / Fundamentals of applied research / English language / Introduction to professional abilities / Study and career advice / Political science / Sociology / Policy making / Fundamentals of applied research / Introduction to law / Criminology / Psychology Introduction to applied research design / Project 3 and professional abilities 3 / Business administration / Quality management / Economics / Project 4: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Year 2
Year two is all about building on year one’s foundations, learning how to handle pressure and take on new challenges. You’ll be introduced to Industrial Safety, an important springboard for your future career. This could be as straightforward as evaluating new safety and security protocols at a car manufacturer, or as complex as designing crisis scenarios at Schiphol Airport. In the second half of year two, you’ll learn how international institutions and nation states tackle everyday safety and security issues. You’ll take part in group exercises assessing risks and threats for major international events. International safety and security management is as much about politics as it is about intelligence and you’ll need the self-discipline and determination to read between the lines.

Topics: Society today / Culture and diversity / Interactive policy / Project 5: Professional abilities 5 / Research methods 5 / Safety risk management / Safety theories / Safety practice / Crisis and disaster management / International relations and geopolitics / Civil war and conflict studies / Project 7: Professional abilities 7 / Research methods 7 / Crisis communication / National security systems / Managing international conflict / Project 8: Professional abilities 8

Year 3
Year three is all about the ‘how’ of SSMS. You’ll discover the professional skills needed for safety and security management. For example, modules in year three cover the practicalities of change management, media and communications and cyber security. You can take minors such as ‘Applied Intelligence’ , ‘Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism’ and ‘Advanced Criminology’. You’ll take on a more advisory role, consulting with companies on their current safety and security issues.
Last year, for example, the Organisation for the Prohibitions of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) visited THUAS and asked students to analyse emerging industries and detect potential risks. The University also welcomed European directors from multinationals like Siemens and Tesla, who came to share their current concerns and glean our students’ knowledge and creativity.

Topics: Applied Intelligence / Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism / Advanced Criminology / Change management / Media and communication / Thesis research skills / Research project / Advanced English writing / Interorganisational cooperation / Rethinking safety and security / Cyber security / Thesis research tutorial / Consultancy project

Year 4
The first three inspiring years at SSMS culminate with a hands-on international internship in year four, which will ultimately define your career. You’ll have access to a professional network of around 40 internationally focused organisations, including the NATO Joint Force Command Naples, NLD Land Warfare Centre, the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (international security), the Dutch Explosive Ordnance Disposal Command, and the Financial Intelligence Unit (public safety) and KIWA, Tesla, Siemens, and Petrogas (industrial safety). You can also tap into The Hague’s rich resources. THUAS is right in the thick of the International City of Peace and Justice - the political and cultural heart of the Netherlands. Our city is home to the Peace Palace, International Court of Justice, Binnenhof (parliament), 115 embassies, multinationals like Shell, Siemens and ING and many international NGOs.

Thuas makes an effort to ensure that your internship will be a springboard to your future career. You could start off at the NATO School in Oberammergau, designing professional military training programmes. Or go to the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Vattenfall, Eurocontrol (the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation), or Amazon. You can employ these new hands-on skills in your thesis exploring a specific safety and security issue at a host company. These organisations will give you the responsibility to solve problems and develop new innovative ideas during your internship.
Topics: Thesis study group 1 / Internship / Research proposal / Thesis study group 2 / Thesis

Career prospects
As an SSMS graduate you’ll be highly employable in a range of exciting positions in various sectors, be it commercial, military or international government. Whatever career path you choose, it will be likely that you’ll be on the frontline dealing with people’s lives. In any case, you’ll be well qualified to identify risk situations and recommend, implement and evaluate feasible safety and security interventions. You could become a safety and security expert in the field of urban development and management, conflict mediation, or climb the career ladder at a police and security organisation, or within an international airport or insurance company. The opportunities are endless.