Business and Data Analytics

In Business and Data Analytics minor you work in teams on real company challenges, supported by workshops at Saxion on analytics, strategy, and data storytelling. You broaden your perspective through a 3-week international study trip (Vietnam, USA and/or Europe).

The minor concludes with a full-time company project where you deliver a concrete outcome for your client (e.g., dashboard, protoype, demonstrator).

In Business and Data Analytics minor you work in teams on real company challenges, supported by workshops at Saxion on analytics, strategy, and data storytelling. You broaden your perspective through a 3-week international study trip (Vietnam, USA and/or Europe).

The minor concludes with a full-time company project where you deliver a concrete outcome for your client (e.g., dashboard, protoype, demonstrator).

This minor starts before the summer break! On the 17th of June 2024, at 16:00 hours, there is an onsite kick-off of this minor.

Week 1–7 | Saxion (workshops + project start)
You follow an intensive workshop programme at Saxion (e.g., Power BI, SQL, Python, data visualisation, process mining, AI applications, ethics & technology, UX/UI, HMI, business models, strategy, project management, pitching). In parallel, your project team starts shaping the company assignment, aligns expectations with the client, and prepares the first project plan and data approach.

Week 8–10 | International study trip (Vietnam, USA and/or Europe)
You participate in an international study trip. The destination can vary per year (Vietnam, USA and/or Europe). The trip is designed to broaden your perspective through company visits, inspiration sessions and networking, and to help you bring new ideas back into your company project.

Week 11–19 | Full-time company project (team-based)
You work four days per week in your project group on the company assignment. This phase is comparable to professional project work: you manage stakeholders, iterate on solutions, and deliver a usable end result (e.g., dashboard, analysis, prototype, recommendation), concluding with a final presentation.

During the minor you will work on a real company challenge in a multidisciplinary team and participate in workshops that strengthen both your analytics toolkit and your professional delivery. Typical activities include:

• Workshops at Saxion on analytics, business strategy, and professional skills (see Week 1–7 topic examples)
• Team-based company project work (client meetings, progress updates, iteration, delivery)
• Data storytelling and pitching: translating insights into decisions and clear recommendations
• International study trip (Vietnam, USA and/or Europe; destination may vary per year)
• Mid-term and final presentations to your client and Saxion supervisors

Earlier editions of this minor included a collaboration with UC Berkeley. Due to changed circumstances (political and strategical), the programme now works with various partners for the study trip. Destinations may vary per year and can include Vietnam, the USA and/or Europe.

This minor is for students who want to develop into professionals at the intersection of business, data, and technology, and who are ready to commit to an intensive, practice-driven programme.

You will fit well if you are interested in:

• Business & Data Analytics: turning data into insights that support better decisions
• Strategy & Business Intelligence: translating goals into KPIs and actionable dashboards
• Data tools and methods: working with data in environments such as Power BI, SQL, Python (and related analytics tooling)
• Human-centred design & communication: UX/UI, Human–Machine Interaction, data storytelling, and pitching
• Real company projects: collaborating with stakeholders, working in teams, and delivering value to a client

You do not need to be a data expert already. What you do need is curiosity, reliability, and professional commitment, because you will work in a team on a real company assignment where both Saxion and participating organisations invest time and guidance, and where your client expects a tangible result.

The minor is assessed through five assessment moments, spread across the programme.

Attendance and professional participation are essential: at least 80% attendance is required for the workshop programme (and the study trip programme where applicable), and each workshop/module is typically closed with a small assignment or proof of participation.

1. Individual reflection & evidence of learning (Saxion workshops)
2. Mid-term project team presentation
3. Individual reflection on international learning & professional development
4. Final project presentation for the client
5. Group reflection on project work