Everyone wins: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence students work on business cases
As a student, you may find yourself wondering what the future has in store for you. Will your CV be strong enough to land your dream position? Wouldn’t it be better to change that line about shelf stocking jobs into something more closely related to your studies? Good news: for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence students, getting relevant work experience is now easier than ever.
While students are on the lookout for CV boosters, businesses find themselves facing completely different concerns. Organizations of all sorts increasingly identify challenges and opportunities in the realm of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. This past year, at least one manager thought to themselves: Can we develop something that reveals hidden bias in our banking algorithms? Another asked: Is it possible to forward e-mails automatically to the right department? Employees with the right skills to tackle such questions can be hard to find, however.
Real-life applications, now with added realness
Putting one and one together, the bachelor’s programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence now offers the opportunity – in collaboration with Brightlands-based BSSC and BISS – for third-year students to complete a semester project with a company or organization. The mutual benefits are obvious: students profit from a taste of career, while organizations get valuable access to cutting-edge knowledge (and perhaps a head start on scouting their future data scientists and AI experts).
The new initiative complements the programme’s award-winning KE@Work track, which lets high-performing students take up a paid position at a company for two years, half time instead of participating in the regular project work.
Project-Centred Learning?
The Data Science and Artificial Intelligence bachelor’s programme revolves around project-centred learning (PCL). Students join forces in groups of 5 or 6 and work on two semester-long projects per year. These projects focus on real-life cases and incorporate the knowledge obtained through coursework, which covers topics ranging from artificial intelligence to applied mathematics and computer science.
Lift-off achieved
Last month, the first 30 participating students presented the results of their project work. Insurance company DELA, innovation-focused tech company Sitech Services, investment banking company BNY Mellon and the Dutch National Police Corps all provided projects for this trial round.
Following a successful pilot, the concept is set to continue next year. Would you like to be part of it? Curious students can explore the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence programme during the upcoming Bachelor’s Open Day on February 6. Interested organizations can get in touch with BSSC.
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