This article aims to provide insights into both the conceptual design and practical implementation of the course Data-driven Challenges for Energy Engineers. Created at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) with the support of InnoEnergy, this course aims to pioneer the development of a program that integrates strategic skills for students, blending data-driven tools within an entrepreneurial and innovation-oriented framework. The article first outlines the primary learning objectives and the course’s basic structure, highlighting the concept of structured flexibility. This approach provides students with a foundational framework, while allowing the necessary flexibility for project development. Finally, the article presents and discusses the results from the pilot course projects, along with the findings from the accompanying survey.