Mathematics of Operations Research
Source: https://www.utwente.nl/en/education/master/programmes/applied-mathematics/specialisation/operations-research/ Parent: https://www.utwente.nl/en/education/master/programmes/applied-mathematics/
Become an expert in mathematics of decision support, aiming for optimal decision-making in a wide variety of contexts.
Is it possible to avoid the occurrence of traffic jams in cities? How can you optimise healthcare planning within hospitals, especially with the global shortage of health workers? And what about distributing the increasing amount of green energy being produced locally (by wind turbines or solar panels) in such a way that the network doesn’t break down? If you’re interested in designing mathematical models that aim for optimal decision-making, the specialisation in Operations Research is the right choice for you.
Operations Research is the “science of the better"! A Master in Operations Research enables you to make the world a better place, e.g., by designing a sustainable healthcare system through the efficient use of capacity, or by designing the traffic systems of the future.
Dr. Anne Zander, Assistant Professor
What is Operations Research?
Operations Research can be seen as the mathematics of decision support. In this specialisation, you will learn to develop mathematical models and methods for the design, control and optimisation of complex systems, with the aim of improving efficiency, enhancing performance and making optimal decisions within industry as well as society. You will come across fundamental mathematical areas such as discrete and continuous optimisation, Markov decision process, game theory, queuing theory and random graphs.
Examples of courses you (can) follow during this specialisation:
- Sequential decision-making, where current decisions incur costs and affect the available spectrum of future decisions and thereby also future costs, is everywhere: How much product should you buy today to fulfil uncertain upcoming demand? Where should I move my character in an Arcade game? Learn more about the mathematical foundation of sequential decision-making in the courses Markov Decision Theory and Algorithmic Methods as well as Reinforcement Learning.
- Too lazy to develop new solution algorithms for your favourite application? In the Mixed-Integer Optimization course, you will get to know the most versatile solution method in Operations Research, allowing you to tackle various types of optimisation problems.
- Should I take the detour to avoid a traffic jam if all others probably do the same? How to share the revenues of a joint venture? In the course Game Theory, you learn what effects collective decisions can have on individuals and why understanding equilibria is key to modelling and understanding both economics and society.
You will be able to apply your knowledge in a wide variety of contexts. Whether you focus on predicting the number of patients needing treatment in a hospital, optimising the distribution system of an industrial company, or designing optimal train timetables; the fundamental models you will learn to design can be used in a broad number of applications.
Other master’s and specialisations
Is this specialisation not exactly what you’re looking for? Maybe one of the other specialisations suits you better. Or find out more about these other related Master’s:
- Master's in Computer Science - specialisation Data Science & Technology
- Master's in Industrial Engineering and Management - specialisation Healthcare Technology & Management or Production & Logistic Management