15 April 2025

Fontys ICT launches Smart Industry course to accelerate digital transformation

Good news for technical professionals and companies in the Brainport region: Fontys ICT is expanding its course offering with the new Smart Industry course. With this expansion, Fontys is responding to the growing shortage of technically trained staff and the increasing need for digitisation within industry.

The industrial sector is undergoing a rapid digital transformation. Automation, data analysis and smart technologies are crucial for maintaining competitiveness. The Smart Industry course offers professionals the opportunity to retrain or upskill, so that they can better adapt to the changing labour market and companies can optimally benefit from the latest innovations.

Demand from the Brainport region
As the technological centre of the Netherlands, the Brainport region has a great need for specialists in the field of digitisation and automation. With the new course, Fontys ICT is helping to reduce the gap between supply and demand.

Sandra Verhoeven, location manager at Fontys ICT InnovationLab, emphasises the importance of this step: ‘We are proud of this milestone and the opportunity to respond directly to the needs of the Brainport region. With Smart Industry, we offer professionals the chance to develop in the latest technologies and help companies accelerate their digitisation.’

Learning by doing from within the organisation
The course covers current topics such as data analysis, artificial intelligence and advanced production technologies. The 18-week study programme combines theory with practice: professionals work one day a week with students and lecturers in so-called shared learning teams. They work on a practical assignment from their own company, so that the knowledge gained can be applied directly.

Connection to Digital Industry Boost
This expansion fits in perfectly with the Digital Industry Boost (DIB), an initiative that supports companies in digital transformation and innovation within the manufacturing industry. Digitisation is essential to maintain and increase labour productivity, and DIB plays a key role in this.

Frens Vonken, managing director of Fontys ICT, emphasises the importance of lifelong learning: ‘The increasing shortage of technically trained staff is putting pressure on the productivity, competitiveness and growth of high-tech and manufacturing SMEs in Brabant. Smart solutions such as digitisation and targeted education are essential to meet these challenges.’

Interested parties can now apply and find more information on the official Fontys ICT Smart Industry course website.

Author: Suzette van Deelen
Source: Fontys news

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