Students from Vienna and Bangkok Are Working Together to Develop Open Data Solutions

From February to June 2025, 13 students from the Bachelor’s program in Computer Science participated in the International Project Course Innovation Lab, which was conducted entirely online, together with 20 Bachelor’s students from King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB).

In mixed teams, they developed innovative applications based on open data – in a practical, creative manner and with a high degree of personal responsibility. The students were free to choose which technologies, frameworks, and platforms they wanted to use – whether web, mobile, or desktop apps. The focus was not only on technical implementation, but also on the quality of the content: What real-world problem is being solved, how does the project benefit users, and how can open data sets be used sensibly and responsibly?

Project closely modeled on real software development processes

The project was closely modeled on real software development processes. After a team-building and brainstorming phase, the teams submitted their initial project proposals and developed a detailed project plan in an initial sprint. This was followed by several sprints, and the final project results were presented at the end. The students analyzed comparable applications in the respective subject area, examined the quality, reliability, and possible distortions of the open data sets used, and documented both the data flow and all implemented features, including open issues for possible further development. A public GitHub repository and a suitable project management tool such as Jira were mandatory for coordinating tasks, documenting progress, and organizing regular virtual team meetings.

Working together in a purely virtual environment allowed students to experience a realistic working environment, as is common in many areas of the IT industry today. Hands-on learning in an international context not only promotes technical skills, but also valuable personal competencies: intercultural communication, initiative, teamwork across time zones, and the ability to find one’s way in complex, digital projects in a self-organized manner. Such experiences are good preparation for later professional life, in which international, remotely organized teams have long been part of everyday life.

Joint student project as an example of valuable learning experiences

The University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien and King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok are partner universities. This joint student project is a good example of how active cooperation can lead to innovative solutions and valuable learning experiences. We look forward to many more successful joint projects and a lively student exchange in the future!

Shown on the cover image: Visit by representatives of the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien to KMUTNB during a study trip to Bangkok in October 2023.

Further Information:

Bachelor’s program in Computer Science

Study trip to Bangkok in October 2023

Study trip to Bangkok in October 2024

Faculty of Computer Sciences & Applied Mathematics

King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB)