THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGISTS
NEWS
T
he University of Northampton has an impressive record in
producing employable graduates, with 96 per cent of students in
work or further study six months after graduating. This is in no
small part due to the University’s commitment to developing graduates
that not o nly get a good degree, but also have a range of industry and
subject knowledge gained through placements, internships and part
time work; all arranged by the University.
The computing programmes at the University mirror this success,
having forged successful partnerships with industry that both inform learning and teaching, and also open up graduate recruitment
pathways that ensure students can gain employment when they graduate.
The University is currently working with local schools, in partnership with The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
(WCIT), recently launching a coding competition in conjunction with Code Club and Northamptonshire County Council. This is part
of a strategic drive to engage young people in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related subjects and to
explore computing as an exciting career option. The University has also been invited to enter the WCIT University IT Awards in
2016.
Dr Scott Turner, Associate Professor (Computing and Immersive Technology)
commented: “Our partnership working with industry specialists and employers ensures
that our graduates and students have the best opportunity to make a significant impact in
their chosen career. Our business partners benefit greatly from these arrangements in
both streamlining their graduate recruitment and developing their business through closer
working relationships with the University.”
To explore how you could work more closely with the University of Northampton please
contact: [email protected].
Contributed by Wray Irwin, The University of Northampton
A
t Code Club, we are really excited to be working with WCIT, who are supporting our work to give children
across the UK opportunities to learn to code for free.
We are a not-for-profit which provides training, support and resources for over 3000 volunteer-led computing clubs
in schools, libraries and community centres across the UK and we believe that every child should have the
opportunity to learn to code. We rely on financial support from the public, businesses and grant funders to ensure
that we can continue to provide and improve our curriculum, train and support Code Club’s volunteers, and reach
more children.
WCIT have already shown their support for Code Club in Lambeth, London, by sponsoring one club for a whole
year within the catchment area of LBTS. The funding will go towards helping us recruit a volunteer for the club,
and to providing club resources so that children can learn how to create games, animations and websites allowing them to use technology creatively, learn new skills, and bring their ideas to life.
It has been wonderful that we have also extended the partnership outside of the capital, where WCIT have also
been working with Code Club as part of a multi-agency initiative to create the “Northamptonshire Race to the Top
Coding Competition” where children will work together in teams to create games and apps with the theme of
“Energy efficiency in your school community” and create a short video presenting their idea.
Contributed by Emma Norton
Communications Executive, Code Club
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