Aalst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – HOGENT and AZORG launched a course in Aalst combining computer science and healthcare, teaching AI, data analysis, and ethics. Joeri Van Herreweghe and Frank Staelens highlight its importance.
A VRT News reported, University College HOGENT has started a special course that combines computer science students about to start internships and healthcare professionals already working.
The course uses real hospital examples from the Aalst AZORG hospital group to show how data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) are used in medicine. It also welcomes students from other areas, like medical sciences, to work together.
Officials mentioned that healthcare workers can take the course for credit, allowing them to just take this course, take a test, and pay per credit, making it easy for those already working. They said that AI and data can help with medical diagnoses, predict treatment results, and improve hospital operations, using real-life cases to keep the training useful and practical.
“We are increasingly evolving towards data-driven healthcare,”
says Joeri Van Herreweghe, lecturer in Computer Science at HOGENT.
“Thanks to the collaboration with AZORG, we can count on their practical knowledge, which immediately brings our students into contact with innovation in healthcare.”
How can HOGENT and AZORG bridge the digital skills gap in healthcare?
Joeri Van Herreweghe mentioned that the course brings together HOGENT’s knowledge of data and computer science with the real-world needs of AZORG hospitals. It teaches students how to use their tech skills to help patients and helps healthcare workers understand digital tools. This collaboration helps fill a skills gap.
AZORG hospitals are thrilled to team up with HOGENT. Healthcare is quickly becoming more digital, and they need professionals who know about both medicine and technology. There aren’t many people with these skills right now.
Frank Staelens from AZORG says it’s crucial to train people in data skills for healthcare. They will begin by focusing on accurate data registration. He mentioned that good, reliable data is essential for creating AI models that can assist doctors in making better decisions. This will lead to improved diagnoses, personalised treatments, and more efficient healthcare delivery.
Frank Staelens mentioned that the course teaches not only data analysis and AI skills but also important ethical considerations. As healthcare becomes more digital, protecting patient privacy is a key concern. The course includes discussions on how to protect patient privacy and the legal and ethical limits of using health data.
He mentioned that participants will learn about their moral and social responsibilities when working with healthcare and technology. This prepares them to use medical data responsibly and respect patients’ rights.
