Showcase of creative ICT talent at Innovations Insight

Hybrid education with working field

In the Fontys ICT InnovationLab, Fontys ICT creates a learning environment in which learning professionals, researchers and the business community work directly together. This collaboration ensures that talent is not only prepared for work in the field, but is also directly involved in innovative applied research. From different specialities, students work on projects, brought in by business partners, to develop as professionals by doing and learning by doing. Over 80 of these student projects were given room to present themselves and were judged by a jury of experts.

Competing for the SPARC award

Part of the jury consists of members of the Sharing Platform for Applied Research Cooperation (SPARC), the collective Partners in Innovation linked to the Fontys ICT InnovationLab. By organising themselves in this way, partner companies can contribute as a collective to the development of education, but can also give applied research the clout it needs to realise larger applications. SPARC has the role of a flywheel in the development of Fontys ICT as a knowledge institute and as a driving force behind the research of the associated professorships. Not for nothing is the award, which the best project receives, named after SPARC. The award was handed out to a remarkable project.

Moodlet - solution with impact in awards

From the hands of Monique Esselbrugge, alderman for education, mobility, city centre and design district of Eindhoven municipality, the student team of app Moodlet received the SPARC award. These students developed an app that helps manage stress for people on the autistic spectrum. For this project, teacher Evelien van de Garde and the students worked together with Regieorgaan SIA (part of NWO), Fontys Paramedische Hogeschool, Games for Health, Leo Kanner Onderwijsgroep, Samenwerkingsverband Autisme Zuidoost Brabant, Leermakers Zorggroep and Student+ to develop a solution with real impact on society.

Councillor Esselbrugge was impressed by the event and the social change power of the projects: "I found it very impressive and inspiring. This is how education should be, especially higher education. Much more cooperation with teachers and students, but especially with practitioners! You really see here what the solutions of tomorrow are through the eyes of today."

New partners

The partner network and thus the SPARC cooperative also welcomed three new members. TNO, DAF and safety region Limburg-Noord signed as Partner in Innovation and thus as members of the growing collective of organisations working hard for innovation in ICT and ICT education. Board chairman Martin Hundepool signed on behalf of SPARC. This brand-new partnership was then topped off with a toast.

More information about the Fontys ICT InnovationLabSPARC can be found on the websites. Innovations Insight is organised every semester as a final event, where students get to present their work. Projects from all Fontys ICT profiles, specialisations and minors are featured here.