Chemistry

The higher professional course in Chemistry leads to a job as experimental laboratory
worker. The professional field of chemistry is the key element. It can be roughly divided into
three major components: analytical chemistry, research into and synthesis of molecules and
compounds and the development of products based on functional molecules or components.

Chemists working in research laboratories in government institutions and large companies are responsible for the practical implementation of a complete or partial research project. They develop and build experimental test setups, conduct and interpret experiments (or arrange for this to be done), draw conclusions and make recommendations. In research laboratories in the SME sector, the approach adopted is often less fundamental and more applied. In this case, the chemists tasks also include directing, organising and coordinating the work.

In other domains, including application or manufacture, the chemist is mainly employed as an experimental laboratory worker. This can be in environmental laboratories or quality control and production laboratories in the organic, biochemical and analytical fields or similar laboratories. This usually involves conducting complex and intricate experiments that challenge graduates’ practical skills and analytical ability. In the manufacturing domain, chemists are involved in product development and introduction, particularly the aspects completed in the laboratory.

National Educational Programme

Body of Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge

• Analytical chemistry: spectroscopy, chromatography
• Basic chemistry: atomic and molecular structure, reactions in water, chemical balance
• Biochemistry: biomolecules, protein and enzyme chemistry
• Physical chemistry (e.g. electrochemistry, phase theory, colloid chemistry)
• Information technology (e.g. chemometrics, experimental design, simulation and design programs)
• Physical applications (e.g. optics, electronics)
• Organic chemistry: synthesising functional groups, reaction mechanisms
• Polymer chemistry and materials science
• Statistics: data processing, normal distribution, confidence intervals, testing
• Thermodynamics and kinetics
• Health, safety and environment
• Mathematics: chemical calculations, functions, differential and integral calculus

Skills

• General laboratory skills: weighing, pipetting, making solutions (buffers), keeping a lab journal, chemical calculations
• Chemical analysis methods: spectrometry (e.g. UV/VIS, IR, AAS, NMR, ICP), chromatography
  (e.g. GC, GC-MS, HPLC) and other methods such as titrimetry, electrochemistry, enzyme analysis, bonding analysis
• Computer skills: word processing, spreadsheets, chemical drawing programs, presentation techniques
• Research skills and systematic approach to problems: problem analysis, preparing research
  questions, desk research, research planning and implementation
• Social and communication skills: collaborating, meetings, written reporting (lab journal, research report), oral presentation, project-based work
• Safe working in the laboratory in accordance with HSE rules
• Using standard laboratory equipment: pH meter, spectrophotometer, centrifuge, power sources, electrophoretic equipment
• Using setups for organic synthesis: reflux, distillation, extraction, evaporators

The Body of Knowledge and Skills is a summary of graduates’ basic knowledge and basic skills which has been prepared by the HBO-programmes in consultation with the professional field. These are obtained during the first two years of education.