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ICT Lab Utrecht has started as an innovative learning and working environment for secondary vocational education (MBO) students. In this Lab, MBO students learn and work in a business environment on ICT-related themes arising from the changing role of ICT in the economy. Additionally, ICT Lab Utrecht provides an accessible development/test/R&D environment for SMEs and other businesses in the Utrecht region. ICT Lab Utrecht is an initiative of Dialogic innovation & interaction in collaboration with the ICT College of ROC Midden Nederland, with co-financing from Economic Board Utrecht and CA-ICT.
MBO students in application development have enthusiastically started the new course 'productive learning' at the ICT Lab. Through thematic programming, ICT Lab Utrecht highlights ICT issues from various sectors and industries (especially outside the ICT sector) for students.
Improved connection to the job market
All sectors are rapidly changing due to ICT, from banks and retail to public administration, healthcare, and education. Consequently, the demand for IT products and services is increasing from the business sector. With ICT Lab Utrecht, Dialogic and the ICT College collectively achieve a better connection for MBO-4 students to the 'broader' job market for ICT professionals. The ICT Lab also contributes to a flexible pool of ICT professionals and developers for SMEs in the region. By involving industries outside the ICT sector, MBO students can explore job opportunities beyond conventional paths.
Growth towards a Centre for Innovative Craftsmanship
The ICT Lab is located at Dialogic on Hooghiemstraplein, next to the business centre with many ICT and creative SMEs. In the initial phase of this initiative, the focus is strongly on knowledge transfer and working on concrete or realistic cases, culminating in demos and proof-of-concepts. In a later stage, the involvement of local/regional businesses will increase, enabling scaling up and enhancing the regional testing and development role of the ICT Lab. The aim is to evolve into a Centre for Innovative Craftsmanship (CIV) through this approach in the period 2016-2018.
The ICT Lab Utrecht initiative was announced during the Get Connected event by the Economic Board Utrecht on April 21, 2016.