The School of Computing
University of Portsmouth is the first to accredit placement students
Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:20:00 BST
Students at the University of Portsmouth are the first in the country to receive early professional accreditation by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Fourteen students recently picked up new qualifications in a ceremony where the ICTTech qualification was awarded to them by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
The students all successfully completed the qualification whilst carrying out a year-long work placement as part of their BSc Honours degrees in Computer Network Management & Design, Computer Engineering and Internet Technology.
The scope of this initiative will now be widened by the Technology Placements Office to all of this year’s successful returning industrial placement students from the The School of Computing, the Department of Mechanical and Design Engineering and the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering - not just for the ICTTech qualification, but also the Engineering equivalent, the EngTech.
ICTTech and EngTech qualifications provide individuals with technical and specialist skills as well as interpersonal skills that are important to any organisation and working team. It also provides a recognised basis for progression to further professional qualifications such as Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Michelle Richmond, IET Director of Membership & Professional Development said: "The IET has a central role to play in linking industry and academia. A common theme from our corporate partners is that the graduates they recruit are often not 'real world ready' and lack professional skills."
"In achieving this internationally recognised qualification, these students have illustrated that they are ready to hit the ground running in the workplace, and are indeed 'real world ready'."
"ICTTech and EngTech are crucial for young engineers to get an edge in their careers; it gives employers a tangible benchmark that separates them from a competitive field of bright graduates from round the world."
Frank Margrave, Principal Lecturer in the Department of Electronic & Computer Engineering at the University of Portsmouth, said: "It's important that we help young engineers on the road to professional registration early in their careers, as it is looked on favourably by recruiters and continuous professional development is often a requirement of employers."
"Good organisations recognise the value of professional registration, especially as many contracts oblige them to use engineers with professional status. Professional registration opens many more doors for a young engineer and we're delighted that so many of our students are already on the path to professional development."
The IET is currently the only organisation which is licensed by the Engineering Council to award ICTTech.
The EngTech will also be offered by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) to returning placement students in the Department of Mechanical and Design Engineering.