In teams, students design an innovation in which AI and a datacenter work together to solve a real problem. From a more efficient datacenter to a smarter neighbourhood or a new startup. They get to work themselves and pitch their idea to a jury, guided by qualified subject teachers.
All levels, years 1, 2 and 3.
Flexible: in one day, in two days or as a lesson series.
For all MBO schools in the Netherlands, thanks to the partnership with Microsoft Dream Space.
There is a huge demand for skilled staff in the datacenter sector. For MBO students this offers real opportunities, and very concrete jobs.
Some MBO programmes offer the Datacenter elective, but students often don't know what to expect from it. This hackathon aims to change that. By introducing students to the world behind the datacenter in a practical and fun way, we hope more of them will consciously choose the elective, and with it a future in the sector.
No boring theory: students work on a real challenge, present to a jury and go home knowing more than before.
In one coherent learning pathway, students get to know the world of datacenters and AI fluency. Then they work in teams to design an innovative solution that brings the two together.
Students discover how a datacenter works, which jobs exist and how design choices affect reliability, security and sustainability. In a crisis meeting they work together as experts to solve an outage, experiencing how much the roles depend on each other.
Using Microsoft's AI Fluency programme, students get a grip on how AI works, where it comes from and where it is heading. They learn the difference between classic rule-based systems and modern generative AI, and look at practical applications in healthcare, education and business.
In teams of 4 or 5, students choose one of five challenges and design an innovation in which AI and a datacenter solve a problem together. They pitch their idea to a jury in three minutes.
The programme is designed specifically for MBO students. A long lecture or a book full of theory doesn't work. That's why students get hands-on a lot, starting from their own world, and we keep the pace high. These five principles run through the entire programme.
Students learn by developing, choosing and pitching themselves. Theory comes when they need it, not up front in a long explanation.
We connect datacenters and AI to things students recognise: their neighbourhood, their phone, their future job. One of the challenges is explicitly about their own surroundings.
No sitting still for hours. Explanation, activities, teamwork and presenting alternate, so attention and energy stay high.
Students choose together, build together and pitch together. That's how it works in real jobs, and it's how MBO students learn best.
At the end there is a result: a worked-out idea, a pitch and an award ceremony. Students go home feeling they have achieved something.
The programme takes about five lessons in total and is flexible. You choose what fits your timetable and programme.
Ideal for a project day, study day or introduction week (approx. 5 hours)
The full programme in one day. Students start the morning with datacenters and AI and get straight to work on their challenge in the afternoon. The day ends with pitches and an award ceremony.
For example two consecutive Thursdays
Day 1 focuses on datacenters and AI. Day 2, a week later, is for developing the challenge and the final pitches. In between, teams keep working on their idea.
Scheduled weekly, within a term or block
The programme is split into weekly lessons that follow the regular timetable. Ideal if digital literacy, ICT or citizenship has a fixed place in your curriculum.
A programme that fits your situation
None of the formats fit your timetable or programme? Then we'll put together a custom programme with you.
Students choose one challenge and work it out in teams of 4 or 5.
Use AI to manage a datacenter more smartly: failure prediction, automatic energy management, smart scheduling or predictive maintenance. How do you make sure servers never go down?
A large part of a datacenter's energy goes into cooling. But heat is also energy: more and more cities use it for homes, swimming pools and offices. AI predicts when demand peaks, when green power is cheapest and how cooling can be more efficient. How would you use this technology for a smarter, greener system?
AI camera surveillance, detecting cyberattacks before they strike, smart access control. But what does AI decide, and what does a human decide? Design a security system and justify your choices.
What could be better in your neighbourhood? Street safety, accessibility, housing shortage, internships for young people? Design a local solution with AI and a datacenter at its core. It doesn't get closer to home than this.
Come up with a startup that can only exist thanks to AI and datacenter infrastructure. A smart app, a digital service for SMEs, an AI consultancy for small businesses. What's your idea, and who are your first customers?
Whichever challenge a team chooses, the final assignment is always the same: a pitch of up to three minutes for the jury, covering six elements.
A name that fits their challenge.
Which problem do they solve, and for whom exactly?
How does the idea work in practice?
What exactly does AI do in their concept?
What infrastructure or computing power is needed?
What changes if this is actually built?
The programme was developed in partnership with Microsoft Dream Space and is therefore free for all MBO schools in the Netherlands. Send us an email with your school's name, the programme and your preferred format. We'll get back to you as soon as possible to arrange the planning.
