Center for Human Movement Sciences
The Center for Human Movement Sciences (CHMS) fully joined the University Medical Center in 2010, following its 25th anniversary in 2009 at the University of Groningen (RUG). The University of Groningen is currently in or around the top 100 in several influential ranking lists.
The CHMS offers a 3-year Bachelor program Human Movement Sciences and two, 2-year master’s in Human Movement Sciences and Sports Sciences to over 600 students. These programs are ranked among the best Dutch programs in their field over the past 5 years (NSE). The Center is 29th on the Shanghai ranking for ‘human movement and sport sciences’ among ~300 universities, offering similar programs. Education and research are intensely connected in the Center, where PhD, master and bachelor students work in an academic learning community and inspiring environment, playing a pivotal role in our research success.
The Center is founder of the research program SMARTmovements as part of the research school SHARE of the UMCG. SMARTmovements adopts an interdisciplinary approach to the scientific study of human movement and its effects on performance, functioning, health, societal participation and quality of life. There are 24 scientific staff, 8 support staff and over 40 PhD candidates. As of 2014, the Center runs a competitive master-PhD program providing opportunities for talented master students to complete a PhD (currently 4 PhD places per year). The Center is penholder of the Sports Sciences Institute Groningen, and the Sports Sciences Innovation Center and plays a strong role in the national research agenda’s. Research output in the form of Q1 publications, grant awards received, and PhD promotions is substantial.
The Center strives to provide high levels of academic training and research to:
- develop fundamental theory and knowledge in human movement science,
- provide a high quality teaching programme committed to the education and training of the next generation of human movement and sport scientists and professionals,
- apply this knowledge to developing novel interventions, treatments, and innovations and improve human motor function in different settings,
- contribute to society by disseminating new knowledge, implementing new methods, and by innovating health care, labour, educational and sports practice, and industry.
At least as important as a pleasant working environment is a comfortable living milieu. Groningen is the 6th largest city in the Netherlands. With one in four residents being a student, Groningen is a historical university town in the North with a thriving art and music life, relatively inexpensive housing, peace and space. Residents complete nearly 60% of travel each day by bicycle, a figure high even by the standards of this bike-friendly country.