Harrow College’s focus on IT employability has continued into 2017 with the visits of IT powerhouses IBM and Sky already noted. The visits are part of a weekly employability afternoon which has been embedded into the student curriculum.
Employability and career focus, especially around IT, is already an integral part of education at Harrow College. In 2015, two specialist Career Colleges were launched (one of which is dedicated to Digital and Creative) where employers directly engage with course material and help shape study programmes. By working to employer briefs and having the opportunity to engage with organisations both inside college but also off-site during company visits, students are brought even closer to the industry they aspire to work in.
Last week (16 Jan), Ian Morton, Senior Developer at Sky, visited IT students. The college lecture theatre was filled with eager students who listened intently as they learnt about life as an IT Developer and what goes on behind the scenes at Sky. Students were shown how and why IT impacts lots of different departments at Sky including Sky News and Sky Sports.
The importance of gaining work experience was a recurring theme. Whether it’s just a day volunteering or longer term paid employment, work experience is valuable on so many levels. From gaining an insight into the life of work through to learning new skills and meeting new people – all of which help to build up a student’s CV and show future employers their passion for the industry.
Other recent IT employability activities at Harrow College include Digital and Creative Careers College students visiting one of Amazon’s newest London offices and this link will continue with work on a live brief, to be given out at Amazon next month. Guest speakers to the college in recent weeks have included representation from IBM and Tata – the latter inviting students to help design the company’s internal communication platform. More guest speakers and employer engagement is planned as Harrow College continue to focus on employability and career development for its students.
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