More than technology: why soft skills matter in EngD Data Science

Anyone considering a technical program such as EngD Data Science will probably think first of models, code, and analysis. That makes sense. A strong technical foundation is essential. Still, according to Romy Wachtmeester, the value of the program lies in the combination of technical depth and professional development. “One cannot exist without the other. You can be strong in terms of content, but in practice you also need to be able to collaborate, switch between contexts, and communicate your ideas.”

Romy is a Skills Trainer and Coach at TU/e and supports trainees in the EngD program at JADS in their professional and personal development. In her view, the fact that soft skills have a permanent place in the program is not something separate from the technical side. It is part of the profession. In data science, you rarely work alone. You work with colleagues, stakeholders, and clients who look at the same challenge from a different perspective. That means you need to do more than produce a strong analysis. You need to explain what you see, bring others along in your reasoning, and work together on a solution that is useful in practice.

Between academia and practice

For master’s students, that is precisely what makes EngD interesting. The program not only helps you deepen your technical knowledge, it also helps you step more firmly into your role in projects, teams, and organizations. You learn how to apply your expertise in an environment where multiple interests, disciplines, and expectations come together.

Within EngD Data Science at JADS, you move continuously between two worlds: academic depth and the reality of organizations. Growth happens in that tension. You work on innovative solutions, always in a context where time, budget, collaboration, and decision-making also play a role.

For many trainees, that requires a shift, especially for candidates coming directly from a master’s program. “The step often lies in taking ownership and finding your voice,” Romy says. “You walk into a room with people who have more experience or who view the same issue from a different perspective. Then you need to learn to see that your knowledge matters.”

That is about more than confidence. It is about professional behavior. When do you take initiative? How do you give and receive feedback? How do you work in a team with different backgrounds and expectations? And how do you make sure that a technically strong solution also lands well in an organization?

Romy Wachtmeester, Skills Trainer and Coach at TU/e and JADS EngD

Which skills make the difference

The program covers topics such as feedback, assertiveness, leadership, and creativity. According to Romy, these are not separate themes, but skills that make the difference between being strong in content and truly making an impact.

Assertiveness does not mean dominating the room. It means taking your place when your expertise is needed. Curiosity matters just as much. Anyone who wants to create impact needs to look beyond the technical task alone. What is really happening here? Which interests are at play? Where is the resistance, and where is the room to move?

Adaptability also plays a major role. A solution may be technically sound, but it only gains value when it fits the context in which you work. That is exactly where the strength of EngD lies. You do not only learn how to develop, you also learn how to translate.

EngD candidates on the JADS campus

Learning by doing

The strength of this approach lies in the combination of coaching and practice. In the first year, trainees already work on several projects, often with companies and external stakeholders. That means you can apply what you learn in workshops and coaching sessions straight away.

That makes development concrete. How do you take more initiative in your next project? How do you deal with resistance? How do you make sure your contribution is not only strong in substance, but also heard? In coaching, this becomes highly practical. You reflect on situations, sharpen what could be improved, and try again in the next phase of a project.

Many technically trained people have long been evaluated mainly on content. As a result, trainees do not always realize at the start what soft skills mean in a program like this. It is in practice that they begin to see how much influence these skills have on their work, their collaboration, and their effectiveness. That is when it becomes real.

No mold, but focused growth

One of the strengths of the program is that it does not try to push trainees into a single profile. Not everyone needs to become the same kind of professional. One person may want to take more of a lead in stakeholder conversations or innovation projects. Another may want to go deep technically, while becoming more effective in collaboration and communication.

“We do not want everyone to become the same,” Romy says. “We want someone to become more fully themselves, and from there operate more strongly.”

That space makes the guidance credible. It is not about an ideal image, but about focused growth in a context that matters. This combination of structure and personal development helps trainees grow not only in technical terms, but also in a more conscious and professional way.

What companies gain from it

For companies that work with EngD trainees, the added value is not limited to technical expertise. They work with people who learn how to find their way quickly in a new environment, collaborate well, and think actively about solutions.

You notice that in projects. Not only in the quality of the content, but also in the way someone operates: proactive, curious, and able to translate technical insights into something useful for the organization. A trainee who looks beyond the assignment itself will spot connections earlier, ask better questions, and understand more quickly what is needed to make a solution relevant and workable.

For organizations, that means working with someone who not only builds something, but also understands how innovation takes root in practice.

Companies benefit directly from the training provided through the EngD program

Room to grow as a professional

If Romy had to name one central idea from coaching within EngD, it would be this: you are given room to develop yourself as a professional. To deepen your hard skills, while also gaining a better understanding of how you work, communicate, and make choices.

That is valuable for you as a candidate, because it helps you take the next step in your career with greater awareness and confidence. And it is valuable for companies, because they work with professionals who do not only possess knowledge, but also know how to apply it effectively.

Within EngD Data Science, development is therefore about more than technology alone. You do not only learn how to develop better solutions, but also how to add more value as a professional, for yourself, for your team, and for the organization you work in.