Fast-tracking PRO-ICT

Summary
This page outlines the procedures for fast-tracking options within the PRO education programme.

The intake at PRO is highly diverse in terms of work experience, practical ICT experience and prior education. This diversity of admission profiles within PRO calls for a clear framework that enables students to be exempted from a semester on the basis of a previously completed study programme (exemption) or to complete a semester ahead of schedule (acceleration through assessment). This procedure describes the frameworks within which PRO students may progress at an accelerated rate in the PRO delivery variant of both the Ad-ICT and the BSc-ICT programmes.

Principles:

• Work experience and/or a ICT job position in itself do not constitute grounds for exemption or accelerated assessment, as the part-time structure of the study programme already assumes a reduction in contact hours made possible by combining study with relevant practical experience.
• Acceleration within PRO is only possible in the first year of the study programme and must be determined before the start of the study programme.

Students who have completed an ICT study programme at MBO 4 level may apply to the examination board for an exemption from the first semester prior to commencing their studies.

Exemption is granted as standard to students who have completed one of the MBO 4 study programmes listed below, but must be officially applied for and granted by the examination board before the start of the programme.

• Software Developer
• ICT System Engineer (Expert in IT Systems and Devices)
• Game Developer

Students who have completed another ICT-related study programme at MBO 4 level may apply for an exemption, subject to assessment by the examination board.

Procedure:

1. The student enrolls on the study programme via the standard enrolment procedure.
2. The student submits a copy of their diploma, including a transcript of results or diploma supplement stating which modules were taken. This must be done no later than week -1 before the start of the study programme via: https://examboard.fhict.nl.
3. The examination chamber informs PRO’s implementation team of the exemptions granted, along with a brief profile (week 0).
4. The student desk records the exemption in Progress (week 0).
5. The examination chamber informs the student (week 0) of the decision.
6. Following approval by the examination chamber, the student commences in semester 2. The implementation team ensures that the student receives the correct induction information (week 0).
7. During this semester, extra attention is paid to the student’s onboarding; however, the student is also responsible for their own onboarding and may need to attend additional workshops to ensure a successful onboarding process.

Where no exemption can be granted on the basis of a previously completed ICT study programme, it may nevertheless be desirable in some cases for students to be given the opportunity to skip the first semester. For example, this applies to students with prior technical education in an ICT-related field at MBO4 level or foundation year level, or those with highly exceptional practical experience in ICT.

These students have the opportunity, prior to the start of the study programme, to demonstrate the learning outcomes of Semester 1 through self-study and the pre-assessment, thereby obtaining an exemption from the first semester.

Procedure:

1. The student enrolls on the study programme via the standard enrolment procedure.
2. The student notifies the examination chamber of their wish to utilise the fast-track programme and to join the programme in Semester 2 by submitting a reasoned request via the examination chamber portal: https://examboard.fhict.nl.
3. If necessary, the examination chamber consults the programme management team to determine whether a student is eligible for this.
4. If the application is approved, the examination chamber will inform the student.
5. The examination chamber will register the student with the Fast-Track Programme and follow the existing procedure there, which includes granting the student access to systems, adding them to the ‘Versnellen’ Canvas course, and inviting them to an online introductory session.
6. The student independently compiles a portfolio and submits it no later than week -2 for assessment in accordance with the Fast-Track procedure.
7. Pre-assessment takes place in week 0 and is carried out by two appointed assessors from the PRO team.

NB: Redevelopment is required to enable the pre-assessment for PRO. This will also incorporate intake into the AD Smart Industry programme. This can be included in the redevelopment of PRO Semester 1 for the spring of 2027. Implementation from September 2027.

The MHBO is a continuous learning path between MBO and HBO, whereby students follow education at Fontys ICT whilst still on their MBO study programme, thereby:

1. Being able to obtain their MBO and HBO diplomas within 6 years.
2. Being able to obtain their MBO and AD-ICT diplomas within 5 years.

After obtaining their ICT MBO diploma, they are granted an exemption for the first year and may join the programme in semester 3 of the Bachelor’s or AD programme; this includes the PRO programme. Part of the onboarding process will then already have been completed. However, extra attention must be paid to onboarding in open education. Students are responsible for their own onboarding and may need to attend additional workshops to ensure a successful onboarding process.

The examination board is authorised to deviate from this procedure on the basis of individual requests from students.

In very exceptional cases, the examination chamber may permit fast-tracking in later semesters. The guiding principles here are:

• It is the responsibility of the PRO teaching team to determine whether a student possesses the abilities, knowledge and skills to qualify for accelerated completion of a semester or semesters. A student’s application must be supported by at least two supervisors.
• Accelerated assessment always takes place on the basis of a current portfolio assessed by two assessors. Evidence in that portfolio must not have been previously used to demonstrate the learning outcomes of another semester.
• Assessment takes place at semester level (entire units of study).
• Semesters are assessed sequentially (not several semesters at once) and at fixed times in week 10 and week 20 – with submission deadlines in week 8 and 18. No assessments are held in between.

Procedure:

1. The student submits a reasoned request via https://examboard.fhict.nl and provides at least two endorsements from PRO lecturers.
2. If the request is granted, the examination chamber informs the student and registers the request for accelerated progression.
3. Assessments are scheduled for weeks 10 and 20 – with submission deadlines in weeks 8 and 18.
4. If, during the assessment, the learning outcomes for the first semester being assessed are not demonstrated, the option to progress at an accelerated pace is withdrawn and the student continues with the current semester.