BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Studying and Then to Work
In 2006, Niels Boom began studying for his Bachelor's degree in Business Information Technologies. "BIT students not only look at what a company needs for process support, but also at the existing IT solutions. That is often more efficient and increases the chance for a successful implementation." Niels feels at home at the UT. "It is a university where the Education Director and professors really get to know you." You can actively and seriously participate in the quality and content of the programme." This personal approach, combined with the (sport) facilities on campus, made the choice for Enschede one of life's easiest decisions for Niels. In 2009, Niels organised a number of company dinners and events for a study association called Inbitween (BIT). "I am in the education commission of BIT (BITOC) and in 2009 I took a critical look at the obligation to own a laptop, at various changes to the programme and at the top accreditation of the BIT programme. In 2010, I will be organising an international study-related trip about Serious Gaming, Augmented Reality and new input devices for the Inter-Active study association. I will be finishing my Bachelor's and then I plan to start working hard towards my M.Sc. degree."
Education Director Business Information Technology
Business Information Technology at the University of Twente
(04:38 minutes, double-click to enlarge video)
Graduate at work
Floor de 'Jong' ('Young') is 25 years old, so she hasn't outgrown her name just yet. She is a Bachelor's student in the BIT (Business IT) programme and started her studies in 2002. "I chose for BIT because the combination of technology and management really appeals to me. Personally, I found the Technical Business and Public Administration programmes not hands-on enough. So I moved from The Hague to Enschede to study BIT!" Since March 2009 Floor has been working for Shell's Global Functions IT HRIT Learning Department. "I am a Business Analyst for Application Portfolio Management (APM). In 2009, I was mostly occupied with decommissioning legacy applications, but I was also looking into reducing the costs of applications, the financial process in our team and doing a bit of research into what APM is comprised of. And in addition to my work for Shell, I am also involved in recruiting for the company."
Her BIT study fits well with her work. "I operate between HR business and IT; a typical BIT role. I look at the landscape for learning applications and help decide how we a can deliver the best possible service to HR Learning. Stakeholder management and a strong dose of IT are really useful."
The future holds enough challenges for Floor, among them: the professionalisation of systems and the processes; more standardisation and less custom work; effective and efficient sourcing of IT support; and, as ever in business, communications can always be improved.
Using Gaming to Recruit Students
Roland van de Kamp has been in consulting for years, but actually he thinks that's too general a word. He calls himself an 'advice-giver'. And that is what he did for the last ten years as a member of Business and IT's Advisory Board of Practitioners. "I recently left the Board because it is time for new blood. Somebody from reality gaming would be a good addition, I think." Van de Kamp's suggestion is a serious one. Attracting students is a matter of particular focus. In 2009 it was decided that student recruitment should take an entirely new tack. So from 2010, students with ambitions in IT can get acquainted with the programme and the wider working environment of IT through gaming. "It's really current!" Besides, the human aspect of work is my pet subject. I would like to see more attention in the curriculum given to conflict management, negotiation, and leadership. My hope is that minds will be a bit more open to it."