Bridging the gap between academia and industry is key to fostering the next generation of software developers. Qt's University & Talent Network, launched in June 2024, is committed to equipping students with real-world skills. Through strategic university collaborations, Qt provides hands-on learning experiences that bring programming concepts to life.
One such collaboration took place in 2024 with Aalto University, Finland’s highest-ranked university. As part of the Object-Oriented Programming with C++ course—offered by Aalto students and also external learners through FiTech—Qt Group partnered with Aalto to introduce real-world Qt development challenges.
Hands-On Learning Through Industry Projects
With over 300 students eager to dig in, the course kicked off with enthusiasm. After a solid introduction to the theory, later in the course, representatives from Qt Group participated in the project kick-off session at Aalto University, where students were introduced to the Qt framework and tools. They also received information about Qt's educational licensing and additional tools, such as Qt Academy, a free online platform ideal for practicing and acquiring new skills related to Qt.
Then, for the most exciting part, students formed teams and tackled three Qt-based project briefs provided by Qt Group:
- Solitaire Card Game
- Mahjong Solitaire
- Turtle Graphics
These projects challenged students to apply their C++ knowledge while gaining practical experience with Qt’s development framework. To support their journey, Qt’s Principal Software Engineer Ville Voutilainen and Staff Software Engineer Zoltán Gera mentored 12 student groups, offering guidance and answering Qt-related queries on Discord.
Despite a tight two-month timeline and limited prior experience with Qt, the students delivered impressive results. Ville reflected on their achievements:
“Advising Aalto University students on a C++ project course was a fascinating experience, considering the tight schedule. Many students managed to deliver remarkably complete and feature-rich work despite their limited exposure to Qt.”
Zoltán echoed Ville’s sentiment, emphasizing the students’ dedication:
“The best part was seeing projects evolve beyond expectations. Thanks to the enthusiasm students put into their work, many of them demonstrated true internal motivation throughout the project.”
Bridging Academia and Industry
The collaboration wasn’t just beneficial for students—it also provided valuable insights for Aalto University. According to Pasi Sarolahti, the university lecturer leading the course, partnerships like these help align academic programs with industry standards:
“Collaborations are essential for keeping our curriculum relevant. It’s important that Aalto’s teaching aligns with industry expectations, ensuring our graduates have the necessary skills to make an impact. For students, company participation adds motivation and an opportunity to establish valuable industry connections.”
From Qt’s perspective, the partnership also sparked new ideas for improving how Qt is introduced to newcomers. As Zoltán noted:
“Watching students take their first steps with Qt has given me valuable insights into how we present and position our product offering.”
Looking Ahead
With a shared vision of empowering students and advancing software education, Qt and Aalto University are looking ahead to future collaborations. By refining how Qt is introduced to newcomers and expanding opportunities for student engagement, this partnership would continue to pave the way for innovation, skill development, and industry readiness.
The journey of fostering creativity, bridging education and industry, and supporting the next generation of developers is far from over—it’s only just beginning.
