Bridging Academia and Industry: Why organisations should partner with CS@Work and KE@Work at Maastricht University

KE vs CS@Work

For companies like NLcom, the appeal lies in the depth of research and the quality of work produced by KE@Work students. van Wunnik notes, “The assignments we tackle with KE@Work students are highly complex, they require significant time and research to develop non-trivial solutions and algorithms.” The guidance from university professors ensures that students not only deliver high-quality results but also provide companies with deeper insights into their projects. “Their papers are incredible,” van Wunnik admits.

In contrast, CS@Work students are more hands-on, focusing initially on implementation and on research later in the programme. “Computer Science students produce something tangible from the start,” van Wunnik explains. “They have a year to deliver, so they need to get going immediately.” This distinction creates a natural synergy: KE@Work students can build a proof-of-concept, while CS@Work students can make it operational, integrating solutions into real-world applications.

Student experience

For Maria Duţă and Laura Morales, both Data Science and Artificial Intelligence students, KE@Work was a transformative experience. Morales, a second-year student, chose Maastricht University partly because of the programme. “I knew about KE@Work before I applied,” she said. “It was one of the reasons I chose this university. The international environment and the opportunity to work on real-world projects were major draws.”

Duţă’s journey was more pragmatic. “Maastricht was my backup option,” she admits. “Because I couldn’t find accommodation in Eindhoven, I ended up here.” However, the KE@Work programme quickly became a highlight. “I was unsure about committing for two years, but after meeting Robin and Bart, I felt a good energy. The project was interesting, and I decided to take the leap.”

Both students emphasised the manageability of balancing work and study. “I was scared it would be too much,” Morales says, “but the balance of three days at university and two days at work is perfect.” van Wunnik adds that NLcom supports students during exam periods, allowing them to prioritise their studies when needed.