Learn. Go global. Deliver impact for a company client.

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).

Course content

Want to work on real business challenges where data, strategy and decision-making come together - while building a professional portfolio that employers actually care about? In the Business and Data Analytics minor, you learn how to turn raw data into insights, dashboards and recommendations that help organisations improve performance, make smarter decisions and move faster.

From the start, you work in multidisciplinary teams on a real company assignment. You practice the full analytics workflow: understanding the business context, defining KPIs, analysing data, and translating outcomes into a story your stakeholders can act on. Along the way, you sharpen professional skills such as stakeholder communication, teamwork, and presenting with impact - because insight only matters if people use it

This minor is hands-on, international, and professionally oriented. You combine workshops at Saxion with an international study trip and a full-time company project. By the end of the programme, you won’t just understand data - you’ll know how to use it to create value.

This minor is in English.

Target group

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.

Why this minor?
This minor is designed for students who want more than theory: you want to create measurable impact with data in a real business environment.

• Work on real company challenges (in teams)
  From the start you work in a multidisciplinary project group on an assignment provided by a participating company. You learn how to collaborate professionally, manage stakeholders, and deliver outcomes that matter.
• Business & Data Analytics as a complete skill set
  You don’t just analyse data, you learn how to connect data to strategy, KPIs, and decision-making, and how to communicate insights through dashboards and clear recommendations.
• International experience that strengthens your professional profile
  The study trip adds an international dimension through exposure to different business ecosystems, company visits and networking. Destinations may vary per year and can include Vietnam, the USA and/or Europe.
• A strong portfolio and career advantage
  You finish the minor with demonstrable deliverables (e.g., dashboards, analyses, prototypes, recommendations) and the experience of presenting to a real client; highly valuable evidence of applied competence for internships and future jobs.
• High commitment, high return
  Participating companies and Saxion invest in your development through coaching and a real assignment. In return, the minor expects professional commitment, reliable communication, and consistent contribution to the team and the client result.

Additional information

Study trip
The study trip is part of the programme and provides an international perspective through an organised programme of visits and activities. The final destination can be Vietnam, the USA and/or Europe, depending on the year and practical conditions. This minor previously included a collaboration with UC Berkeley. Due to changed circumstances, the study trip is now organised with other international partners and destinations may vary per year.

Additional costs
There are additional costs connected to the study trip. Because the destination may vary, the total student contribution depends on the final location and is estimated between €500 and €2,500. Further details are shared before the minor starts.

Join our Information sessions
We understand that you need more information! You can join our information sessions.

• 16th of March,16:00
• 30th of March, 16:00
• 13th of April, 16:00
• 11th of May, 16:00
• 21st of May, 17:00

Kick off of this Minor on 17th of June 15:30.

If you want to join one of these meetings, please sign up for your preferred meeting via https://edu.nl/jjvjn. If the link doesn't work, send us an email.

Experiences

Students about this minor:

• "Very informative minor with an exciting study trip."
• "Great experience in the US, good guidance from the coordinators and great foundation for anyone willing to learn more about data."
• "I study a business bachelor, so being involved in data analytics is a huge advantage for my future job prospects."
• "Although I am currently studying in a completely different work field, this newfound knowledge is still very applicable to me."
• "In my study (Finance & Control) are we talking more and more about AI and using Power BI and stuff. I think after this minor I am a step ahead of the rest of my study."

Course structure

This minor starts before the summer break! In June, 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.

Activities
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.

Practical information

Company involvement

• Companies provide a real business challenge and a company coach/contact person.
• Student teams maintain regular contact with the client for alignment, feedback and data access.
• The programme expects a professional working rhythm and clear communication. Your client is not a “case study”, but a real stakeholder investing time and trust.

Additional costs

• The minor includes additional costs related to the study trip.
• Because the final destination may differ per year, the expected student contribution is approximately €500–€2,500.
• The final amount and payment details are communicated at the kick-off in June.

Assessment methods

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

Application for non-Saxion student:

Before registration through Kies op Maat, please contact the minor-contact person: Robert Slot (r.slot@saxion.nl) 06-12619746 if participating is still possible or whether the maximum number of participants has been reached.

How do I apply?
The application process regarding the Kies op Maat minor at Saxion is a bit different than described at www.kiesopmaat.nl

How does it work?
Step 1: Download the learning agreement from the Kies op Maat website and let it sign by a member of the exam commission at your own educational institution ánd sign the document yourself.
Step 2: go to https://sis.saxion.nl/account# and fill in your personal data
Step 3: you will receive an automatic generated email from IAM including your username and password
Step 4: go the https://sis.saxion.nl, log on with your username and password which you have received from IAM and apply!
Step 5: After this we can process your application for a Kies op Maat minor at Saxion

Please note : in 'Upload documents' you are requested to upload some documents. The following documents we need:

• A copy of your valid passport or ID-card. No driving license!
• A copy of your propaedeutic diploma or a printout from the DUO diploma register. In case you do not have the propaedeutic diploma yet, we would like to receive an official statement from your educational institution in which they state that you will receive the propaedeutic diploma before the start of the minor.
• Learning agreement, page 1, 2 and 3 (signed by a member of the exam commission of your own education institution and student)
• Original Proof of Payment for the study year 2025-2026. You can request this proof from your educational institution, also if you pay in instalments. Your educational institution will email the Proof of Payment to Saxion.
  Deadline for handing in the original Proof of Payment is 2 weeks before the start of the minor.

If you have further questions, please let us know. You can contact Saxion Student Registration, telephone number: 088 – 019 3000.