GAINING PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH REAL- LIFE ICT PROJECT INVOLVEMENT Marko Hölbl, Tatjana Welzer University of Maribor Slovenia, Maribor

2 University – industry cooperation PRAXIS 2014 Universities:  Long-term research Companies:  Short-term research –> product development Country / university specific

3 Motivation PRAXIS 2014 Popularity of ICT  Education Industry-university cooperation  Involvement of students University-industry collaboration through project work

4 Students’ involvement on real-life ICT projects PRAXIS 2014 University of Maribor project “The creative path to knowledge”  EU and Slovenian government funded Several chosen project  Among a project by Faculty of Organizational Sciences and the Faculty of electrical engineering and computers science and the company Arctur  Management of multi-project organizations with the support of a cloud-based information system”

5 Students’ involvement on real-life ICT projects PRAXIS 2014 Public call  10 student selected Work organization  Division in groups  Investigation of the deployment and case study for a different company or organization  A kick-off meeting  (Remote) work  (Remote) meetings

6 Findings PRAXIS 2014 Benefits:  Real-life experience (including problems)  Team work  Reporting skills  Technical skills – newest technology Current status:  The end stage  Positive outcome in general  No issues with students‘ performance

7 Findings PRAXIS 2014 University benefits:  Direct and indirect benefits  Networking and possible collaboration  Input for future curricular planning Company benefits:  Insight into the competencies of students  Influence on future curricula  Work force

8 Conclusions PRAXIS 2014 Overall positive feedback Practical experience Project facilitates university-industry collaboration