It has been a long-cherished wish to move the IBMS department from Sittard to Maastricht, and since the start of this academic year this wish has come true.

The IBMS staff invested a lot of time and energy in realizing this move for the current academic year. Now, 3 weeks after the start, we must admit that not all conditions that are required for a professional implementation of the curriculum have been met.

As director of our faculty I would first of all like to thank everybody who made the move to Maastricht possible. I would also like to appeal to everyone to show some understanding for the shortcomings we are confronted with at the moment. I fully realize that improvements are necessary and would like to compliment the IBMS team for their flexibility. They show great professionalism in providing the students with the best possible education under the circumstances given. Also, a special word of thanks for our IBMS students who have shown a lot of understanding and willingness to cooperate.

At the moment a lot of efforts are being made to solve a number of problems. An example I would like to give is the wall that will be placed on the third floor during the autumn break. By placing this wall students and teachers will no longer be disturbed during the lectures by noise and activities taking place in the same room.

I would like to request everybody to inform us on any problems so that - if possible - we can try to solve them as quickly as possible.

Finally, I would also like to ask your understanding for any inconvenience you might experience during the construction activities that will be taking place in the next few months. For those of you who are curious about what plans we have in mind, please come to the third floor and have a look at the drawings.

It is going to be beautiful but we need a little bit of patience. Refurbishments are expected to be completed in February 2009 so that IBMS will then move to its definitive accommodation.

Let me end by wishing all of you lots of success in this academic year.

Kind regards

Margo Ploemen

Director HEAO Financial Management Faculty

Newsletter 9 July 2008

 Dear student,

We welcome you in the IBMS department at the Brusselseweg 150, 6217 HB, Maastricht, tel. +31 433466666. To help you to start up the school year 2008 you will find important information in this letter. A lot of information can be found on our website www.hszuyd.nl/ibms.

Although the building, a monument which in the old days has been a convent, will be under reconstruction in the first year of our arrival in Maastricht, facilities like the the library and the restaurant are state of the art and there will be enough rooms the facilitate the lecturing processes of IBMS. Because there is wireless access to the Internet throughout the building, IBMS will switch to an educational environment with notebooks. Although there will be a few computer rooms with desktop PC's left, students are advised to buy a notebook in case they don't already have one. From a practical point of view it will be made possible to use all types of notebooks.

Further information on the use of notebooks can be found on the website under IBMS/'Wireless network'.

Another practical point of interest is student housing. On our website you can find more information under 'Accommodation in Maastricht'.

To be able to buy your study books in time we recommend to go to the infonet (http://infonet.hszuyd.nl) and check the POD (printing on demand) system.

At this moment there is no access to this site but in the course of next week all information will be available. In case you do not have your own username and password you can use 'gast' (2x). In the enclosed documents you can find information concerning the standard procedure of ordering books and syllabi.

Students who do not live in The Netherlands are advised not to order their books in The Netherlands in order to avoid (potential) problems with filling in their bank account number, cost of delivery etc. Moreover, it might be cheaper if you order your books via an Internet bookshop like amazon.com or bol.com. You can also order your books via a local bookshop.

On Friday 29 August there will be an introduction day for all first year students. You are requested to be present at 10.00 hours a.m. During this day you will receive detailed information about the lecture schedule, the building, student facilities, regulations anso on. A simple lunch will be offered during the lunch break.

Lessons will start on Monday 1 September.

For urgent matters during the summer holidays you can contact, preferably by E-mail, secretary Mrs Angelique Cremers who will work part-time on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-5.30 p.m. (a.cremers@hszuyd.nl, tel. +31 433466666). Our buildings will be closed as from 26 July until 10 August, which means that nobody can be consulted during this period!

This announcement will also be published on the website in the section 'news' under 'newsletter'. In the near future updates on practical issues of moving to Maastricht, housing, notebooks, etc. will be published in this newsletter.

We are convinced that together with you we will build a splendid future for all of us in Maastricht!

Kind regards,

A. Cremers. secretary IBMS

R. Braeken, coordinator student affairs IBMS

M. Wilbers, coordinator curriculum IBMS