Conception, Approval and First Evaluation of a New Master’s Program Engineering Technology: Software Systems (Informatics) in Belgium

Abstract

The demand for skilled software engineers continues to outweigh the number of new graduates by far. Although trends such as AI-based code generation and low-code software development might seem to lessen the need for software engineers, the digital transformation of our society is expected to speed up because of these trends, requiring engineers with fitting proficiencies. This paper highlights the crucial steps in the development and governmental accreditation process of a new curriculum in software systems, and describes the lessons learned after a first generation of graduates. Based on interviews with and studies from diverse actors (e.g., trade unions, local government, EU, and professional organizations such as ACM and IEEE) and in response to top-of-mind concerns from regional industry leaders, we designed and deployed an engineering program that meets the identified needs and aims to educate a new generation of software engineers for the forthcoming digital society. The program educates systems thinkers who engineer this digital society by designing and implementing resilient, intelligent, user-centered solutions that integrate with existing processes and enable new, innovative processes. Our master’s program is a unique joint effort of two Flemish universities, Hasselt University and KU Leuven, and resides in the faculty of Engineering Technology.