Six Interns Accepted Into Tech Leader Forum

This month saw the launch of the sixth annual Technology Leadership Forum [TLF] Internship Programme and this year, six technology interns were successfully accepted in the summer programme.

The 2014 TLF interns who passed the rigorous selection process are: Mpumelelo Richards, Colisha Smith, Samuel Matthews, Daniel Walker, Dante Richardson, and Ciera Fox.

This week is the first of 3 training weeks that the interns will undergo in an intensive twelve-week summer internship programme that combines classroom learning, team projects, and fieldwork at participating companies.

This combination of theoretical learning and on-the-job practice is to ensure that the interns acquire a rich experience in the ICT industry. Moreover, participants are encouraged to network and develop relationships in the ICT community during the programme which may then assist them as they eventually search for employment.

The TLF was founded seven years ago as a response to the growing need for qualified Bermudian talent in the information communications technology [ICT] field. It aims to encourage Bermuda’s information technology [IT] students to become exposed to the many career paths which they can pursue in the industry. The TLF, a registered charity, is run in partnership between private sector organizations and the Bermuda Government.

Dion Tucker, CIO, Bermuda Hospitals Board and Chair of the TLF said, “We found that many students, after having studied for four years in University, required career direction and real world work experience. The TLF attempts to bridge this gap through two main pillars: internship and mentoring.

“The TLF offers University and college students the opportunity to incorporate textbook concepts with on-the-job experiences. It also allows them to explore the world of work through interaction with professionals in the Technology Industry, and build meaningful professional relationships over the 12 week period.”

It is expected that interns graduating from the programme will become respected and accomplished members of Bermuda’s ICT workforce through experiencing the program and the specialized training offered.

Chris Phillips, a 2013 TLF Intern who was chosen as the Outstanding Student for his year and presently working at CCS, gave this insight into his experience with the programme, ”

He said, “I found my TLF experience to be informative and eye-opening. I came into the program blindly confident that I wanted a career working with computers without a real knowledge of the scale of the industry. I was exposed to various facets of the IT industry, some I hadn’t considered and others of which I was unaware.

“The TLF program presented an opportunity to make an educated decision on the direction of my career in IT. Beyond exposure to IT career paths, equal attention was paid to the soft skills of succeeding in the workplace.

“The chance to form impressions on key players in Bermuda’s IT industry was invaluable. I have seen that TLF graduates are well-rounded, confident and ready to show what they’re made of. The relationships formed with my group and our administrators, I am confident, will last a lifetime.”

Dr. Grant Gibbons said, “As technology needs keep increasing across most industries, the demand for talented IT resources grows. To date, the TLF Internship program has helped prepare 40 interns for careers in the ICT field, many of whom are now employed with local companies.

“We congratulate this year’s interns on being accepted into this successful program. We would also like thank the industry sponsors and mentors who have partnered with us in helping to develop this next generation of local technology leaders.”

The TLF said they thank all of its valued sponsors and partners who have tangibly demonstrated their support for the initiative. This includes: Ascendant Group, Bermuda Hospitals Board, the Department of ECommerce, Logic Communications, CCS, ACT, RenaissanceRe, Elbow Beach Resort, and Catlin.

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Category: All, technology