1. The LNMB (Dutch Network on the Mathematics of
Operations Research)
The Dutch Network on the Mathematics of Operations Research (in Dutch: Landelijk Netwerk Mathematische Besliskunde; abbreviated LNMB) is an interuniversity co-operation in which all Dutch universities and the Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI) in Amsterdam participate. The LNMB has been established in July 1987. From 1987 until 2001 the University of Groningen was its administrator, from 2002 until 2006 the University of Maastricht, and from January 2007 the University of Twente acts as administrator of the LNMB.
The tasks of the LNMB are twofold. Firstly, the LNMB offers courses for PhD and Master students, and is responsible for the annual Lunteren Conference on the Mathematics of Operations Research. Secondly, the LNMB is an organization of full and associate professors in the field of Operations Research. The universities and the CWI are represented in the General Board out of whom an Execitive Board is chosen.
The LNMB has 98 members and 144 PhD students. The LNMB courses are
also accessible, on payment, to other interested people. An independent judgment by NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) has proven that the LNMB graduate education programme is of a high international standard.
2. PhD courses and diploma requirements (general information)
The programme of the LNMB PhD courses consists of a biennial cycle and in each cycle 18 courses are offered. The subjects of the courses are in the following areas: Combinatorial Optimization, Stochastic Operations Research, Mathematical Programming, Game Theory and Applications of OR.
The programme is flexible in the sense that new PhD students can start with their programme at the beginning of any trimester. Furthermore, the individual programmes can vary; each student can choose his of her own parts of the education programme. In each trimester a combination of various subjects is taught. In general one can follow each of the courses without any prerequisites of the other courses. The courses take place on Monday in Utrecht.
The courses are intended for PhD students in Operations Research. However, Master students in mathematics, econometrics or computer science who acquired enough prerequisites are also welcome. Further information can be obtained from the director of the LNMB or from the lecturers of the courses. Furthermore, government and/or business employees who want to follow a course may participate. Participants are expected to make exercises (homework) during or at the end of the course to show that they have understood the contents of the course. The credits (including for the attendance of the course) for participants who have passed the exercises successfully have been set at 4 EC per course. In case the courses are only attended (or when the exercises are not passed successfully), then the workload is set at 1 EC. At the end of each course the participants receive a certificate with the grade and the credits involved.
The following regulation holds for the course fee. Participants from the departments of the Dutch universities which finance the LNMB don't pay any course fee. Other participants pay for each course a fee of 500 euro. The director of the LNMB is authorized to grant a reduction of this fee at occurring situations.
Application to a LNMB PhD course can be done by filling in the application form in the back of this information guide and sending them to the LNMB’s secretarial office (for the address: see the inside of the information guide’s cover). PhD students who participate for the first time in LNMB courses, also have to fill in the form for New PhD Students, which can be found in the back of this guide. The forms are also available at www.lnmb.nl.
In addition to the courses, the PhD programme includes the Lunteren Conference on the Mathematics of Operations Research. During this conference prominent - usually foreign - researchers lecture on special topics or on recent research. PhD students can give a so-called PhD presentation. In such a presentation one can present his or her research results. Attendance in the Lunteren Conference is credited by 1 ECTS.
PhD students who have sufficiently participated in the LNMB PhD programme and have given a PhD presentation will receive a diploma. Here, ‘sufficiently’ means total credits of 25 ECTS. Under certain circumstances the supervisor may submit a motivated request to give the diploma to a PhD student although he or she did not meet the requirement of the PhD presentation. After consultation with the director, it is possible that credit points from a related PhD network also count as credit points for the LNMB diploma.
3. Master courses (general information)
From September 2004, the LNMB provides Master courses in Operations Research. These courses are intended for Master students in Mathematics or Econometrics who want to take one or more courses in Operations Research. Usually, the Master thesis adviser will propose or decide that a student will participate in LNMB Master courses.
Due to the small number of Master students in Operations Research at each individual university, a national concentration is efficient and can help to guarantee a qualitatively high education. This is the main purpose of the LNMB Master courses. An additional advantage for the students is the contact with professors and students from other universities. The LNMB Master courses are part of the Dutch Master Programme in Mathematics, which is a coordinated programme of the Departments of Mathematics of the Dutch universities.
Any semester (Fall and Spring) three of four LNMB Master courses are given. The subjects of the courses are taken from the following areas: Mathematical Programming, Combinatorial Optimization and Stochastic Operations Research. The programme is flexible in the sense that new Master students can start with their programme at the beginning of any semester. Furthermore, the individual programmes can vary; each student can choose his of her own courses. The courses take place on Monday in Utrecht.
Although the courses are intended for Master students, PhD students are also welcome. It is up to their thesis adviser to propose or decide that a PhD student will attend such a course. Further information can be obtained from the director of the LNMB.
The students are subjected to an examination that usually will consist of making exercises during the course and also a written or oral examination. The credits for participants who have passed the examination successfully have been set by the LNMB at 6 EC per course. A final decision about the credits and the grade is formally up to the university of the student.
Application to an LNMB Master course can be done by filling in the application form in the back of this information guide and sending them to the LNMB’s secretarial office (for the address: see the inside of the information guide’s cover). Master students who participate for the first time in LNMB courses, also have to fill in the form for New Master Students, also in the back of this guide. The forms are also available at www.lnmb.nl