Information & Communication Technology (ICT) - HZ University

Out-of-the-box with your team
In addition to developing your own skills, you frequently work in multidisciplinary teams. We do this using the agile methodology. This is not: working according to that one described perfect approach. This is: meeting the needs of your client and creating an out-of-the-box solution quickly, flexibly and together with your team. Basically, the same thing you will later be doing for a company. In doing so, you do not only look at your projects, but also your own development as a professional.
Would you like to work in one of today’s most creative and trendsetting sectors? Do you get a kick out of technology, innovation, creativity, and would you like to invent, develop or program things? Then choose Information and Communication Technology at HZ!

The programme
Year1
You are introduced to the world of IT. You will learn an important skill for solving problems in IT: programming. Just like the corporate world, we use the agile methodology. This means that you evaluate both yourself and your project during biweekly sprints. At the end of year 1, you will be able to develop software in different programming languages. In the first year you focus on the following themes:
•Computer Science
Computer Science is the science that describes how a computer works. You will learn about the history and fundamentals of computer science and how to apply this in practice in your own software. We teach you the basics of programming, taking your level into account.
•Game Development
In this block you will learn everything about object-oriented programming while developing a game yourself. You work on your programming knowledge, and in the final weeks you will together with your team develop an educational game for primary school children.
•Modern Software Development
In order to quickly and securely develop applications such as mobile apps, games or web applications, frameworks like Unity, Java Play and Laravel are used frequently. You are introduced to development within the Laravel framework. You are introduced to the basic functions of the framework, such as MVC, routes and migrations. You directly apply your knowledge in practice by carrying out a project for an external client.

Year 2
Will you come up with an IT solution that suits the needs of your client? This year is dedicated to your own work environment and your client. You frequently work on assignments for real companies in project groups. You use the agile methodology: during biweekly sprints, you evaluate your project, yourself, and your role within your team. You do not only work on your knowledge, but also on your development as a professional. You focus on the following themes:
• Business value creation
During this semester your central focus is on the user. You can do this through Design Thinking, a process in which you focus on the user, work in teams, and which allows you to find creative and innovative solutions for your ICT issue. We also work on Continuous Integration. Looking at how to create value for your company and your client is an important theme during this semester.
• Data Science
You work on machine learning, cloud computing and data visualisation. You learn how to determine which requirements an application has to fulfil. During this semester, you will also investigate whether you are interested in entrepreneurship and think about ethics in your field.

Year 3
You choose one of the two specialisations: Software Engineer or Data Science. Your minor and internship (in the Netherlands or abroad) are centred on your chosen specialisation

Year 4
The first semester is dedicated to your specialisation. You conclude the programme with a graduation research project at a company.
Possible careers:
IT consultant / Data engineer / Software engineer / Cloud engineer
Web developer/Front-end or back-end developer