Strong software engineers who can consistently design, build, debug and maintain complex systems are a rare breed these days. The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano is working hard to prepare the next generation of software engineers through its Bachelor’s programme in Computer Science and its Master’s programme in Software Engineering. But how can their preparation become even more relevant for the region?

A possible answer came from Eduardo Martins Guerra, researcher at our Faculty of Engineering, who found a way to directly make his students work directly with real regional data in their projects. Software development is in fact closely linked to the use of data to create applications that serve a wide range of purposes. While many databases provide generic datasets, Guerra wondered: why not have students work directly with data generated in the region?

For this reason, Guerra began using Open Data Hub in his courses. Open Data Hub is a European digital platform designed to support start-ups, companies and research institutions in developing innovative digital solutions powered by real data. By aggregating data from multiple providers, including the tourism and mobility sectors, it makes this information available through a single access point, providing software developers and other data users with high-quality, up-to-date data that is easy to access and use. These datasets represent a valuable resource for students, who learn how to work with real-world information and apply it in the projects they develop during their studies. 

«It is important for students to use real data because they are very different from those found in standard databases. Real data are not perfect, are often difficult to understand and need to be filtered and adjusted before they can be used. They are therefore much more effective in introducing students to the challenges they will face when working with data collected in the real world», explains Guerra.

During the Open Data Hub Day, Guerra was awarded the Open Data Hub Contributor of the Year prize for his work in involving students in the Open Data Hub ecosystem. Many of his students who used these data in their project work are planning to build start-ups based on them, while others have been contacted by companies for internships in related fields.

Guerra’s award represents an important example of how collaboration between academia and regional innovation initiatives can create valuable opportunities for students while strengthening the local digital ecosystem.