DkIT Computing Students Take Part in EU project in Belgium

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) are delighted to report that a group of ten of their Computing students recently took part in an exciting EU funded project, called Start-IT in Belgium. The students were from the BSc (Honours) in Computing in Software Development and the BSc (Honours) in Mathematics and Data Science.

The DkIT students joined a total of 50 students from all over Europe which included participants from Ireland, Finland, Germany, Poland and Portugal in this recent project. The aim of the Start-IT Antwerp project was to teach students soft skills and future skills in a multidisciplinary setting. The non-DkIT students were mainly from Computer Science and Business Studies undergraduate degree courses, however, some students from other disciplines also participated in the project.

The students from the various undergraduate degree courses and colleges were formed into inter-college, diverse, international and multidisciplinary teams. The student teams were tasked with producing a mobile app prototype along with a suitable business and marketing plan. The teams got to choose the focus of their mobile app. However, all mobile apps had to relate to sustainability within an eco-friendly city. The teams were also required to give three presentations during the project’s ten days.

The DkIT students really enjoyed both the experience and learnings of participating in an international project of this type, feedback from the students included, "I loved working in a multicultural real-world environment. It opened my imagination to the opportunities I might have as a software developer in the future." Another said "Participating in this project was a transformative experience, allowing me to develop confidence in public speaking, embrace open idea-sharing, and gain invaluable insights into diverse cultures. It was a journey of personal and professional growth that I'll always cherish”, “Being part of the Start-IT project was a great experience where I made great friends who came from different parts of Europe. It improved my design, business as well as communication skills. It also made me more dedicated towards protecting the environment." Another student further added "In Start IT, it's not just about projects but it's more of a personal growth journey. It pushes you beyond your comfort zone, exposing you to diverse experiences. It's about learning new skills and finding joy in connecting with others."

This Start IT Antwerp project is the last of a set of three projects that received funding from the European Union (under grant no. 2021-1-DE01-KA220-HED-000023215). The other two projects took place in Berlin (2023) and Porto (2022). A total of 30 DkIT students benefited from participating in these three projects.