How do computer science and engineering IT students become computer scientists or IT engineers and how do they perceive their engagement in the discipline as meaningful? What is the role of education in this respect, and how does education support or hinder students' identity development?

A research project is described, that addresses these questions by studying students' development throughout their first three years in university. Data is collected from students of two study programs at Uppsala University, "Computer Science" and "Engineering IT". It is an explorative study as previous research is sparse. Outcomes are insights into identity development as well as a theoretical framework and research instruments.