Three students from South East Technological University (SETU) recently travelled to the University of Rostock, a partner in the EU-CONEXUS alliance, to participate in the Spring School on AI, Data Visualisation and Smart Industry Technologies.

The intensive programme brought together 45 students from EU-CONEXUS partner universities, offering a compact, practice-oriented week focused on key topics in digital transformation. SETU was represented by Cybersecurity students Kacper Szkutnik and Mateusz Kocon from the Carlow campus, and Information Technology student Conor McGeary from the Waterford campus.

Skill development

The students chose two courses to complete during the programme. These included Artificial Intelligence (in a Nutshell), Essentials of Power BI Data Visualisation and Modelling, and IoT Cloud for Digital Twins.

Speaking about the micro-credentials, Kacper Szkutnik said the AI course gave him a solid overview of how machine learning works and where it is being applied, while Power BI was highly practical, focusing on building dashboards and turning raw data into something clear and usable.

“Power BI is a tool I’ll genuinely use going forward, and having a basic grounding in AI outside of a purely academic context was a good way to round things out.”

Focus on digital future skills

The programme focused on key competencies for digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, data visualisation, industrial digitalisation and sustainable technologies.

By combining foundational knowledge with applied perspectives, the Spring School enabled students to develop skills relevant to both academic and professional contexts, from data-driven decision-making to innovative industrial applications.

Mateusz Kocon found the two micro-credentials he took, AI in a Nutshell and Power BI, to be very hands-on and practical.

“They covered real-world applications of AI and how to work with data through visual dashboards and reports.”

Conor McGeary explained that the Spring School was valuable both academically and personally.

“The modules I took complemented my studies, and being given the opportunity to travel, meet people from different countries across the EU and take part in activities provided by the university gave me a fuller picture of what studying abroad looks like.”

Learning outside the classroom

As an immersive experience, many of the most valuable lessons took place outside the classroom.

Kacper Szkutnik said that beyond the coursework, spending a week in Rostock and meeting students from other universities was worthwhile in itself.

“It’s one thing to hear about the EU-CONEXUS network; it’s another to be part of it for a week.”

For Mateusz Kocon, learning alongside students from other countries added another dimension to the experience.

“Learning alongside students from other countries added a lot to the experience and helped me see things from different perspectives.”

Reflecting on the wider impact of the mobility, he added:

“The mobility gave me practical skills I can actually use going forward, and being in a new environment pushed me out of my comfort zone in a good way. The people I met from across Europe were just as valuable as the courses themselves, and learning alongside students from different countries gave me perspectives I wouldn’t have gained at home. It’s the kind of experience you can’t really replicate at home.”

For Conor, one of the highlights was a visit to the Marine Science Center in Warnemรผnde, a unique research and outreach facility operated by the University of Rostock in cooperation with the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemรผnde (IOW). The visit provided insights into ongoing marine research focusing on the sensory and cognitive abilities of seals.

Conor explained that the tour showed the different types of seals cared for at the centre, along with the research being carried out on marine life in the area โ€” something far outside his discipline but immensely interesting.

Another highlight was the university-wide sports day, which featured activities including football, volleyball, archery and fencing. The mix of academic and activity-based initiatives made the Spring School in Rostock a particularly memorable experience.

For further information on in-person and online bachelor micro-credentials, click here.