Successful students have their heads in the cloud

Eleven Highlands students are the first in Jersey to gain a new professional qualification in cloud computing that will help them find jobs in the IT industry.

 

The students are studying in the second year of a BTEC Extended Diploma in Information Technology, which is the equivalent to three A-levels. They also opted to take the additional course, which is called the CompTIA Cloud Essentials certification, and is a professional IT qualification usually taken by employees in the workplace.

 

The Cloud Essentials qualification focuses on understanding cloud services from a business perspective. It teaches technical skills that enable students to meet business needs by using cloud systems to solve problems and increase effectiveness.

 

Stuart Philip, Highlands Curriculum Manager for IT said “The commercial element of this course is particularly valuable to students and future employers. Industry representatives told us they supported this qualification so we introduced it earlier than planned. Studying towards professional certifications as part of their BTEC extends the students’ learning experience, enhances their employability skills and ensures that the knowledge and skills they gain through their BTEC meet current industry standards.”

 

Alexander Le Turgeon, one of the successful students said “I have learnt so much from this course. It has shown me exactly how businesses can use the cloud to increase efficiency and improve their effectiveness. It has been a really worthwhile addition to my course.”
 
Stuart Philip added “We are always looking to extend the learning experience of our students in relation to technology. Incorporating these types of professional certifications into the BTEC qualification ensures that students are learning about current trends in technology and applying their learning towards solving business challenges.”