In order to give students every opportunity to flourish in their future careers, it’s imperative that learning institutions and industry work together to supplement textbook learning with practical applications and solutions to real-world scenarios. This is what’s known as industry-focused learning or industry-oriented education, and what it means is holistic student development.
Why industry-focused learning is better than traditional learning
Traditional learning has been effective for many years, however it can sometimes fall short when trying to keep pace with the rapid pace of technological advancement, in turn leading to students having limited exposure to real-world challenges and scenarios in their field of study. This can ultimately limit their critical thinking skills and problem solving – two key ingredients employers in the tech space look for.
Picture this, you have just graduated after studying for four years. You’re stoked because you are now free and can finally apply for that job you’ve had your eye on. But when applying you don’t intrinsically understand the job requirements nor what it is actually going to be like on the job as you have had limited exposure to the industry you wish to succeed in. Concern and doubt kick in, you panic and close the application tab only to repeat the cycle again and again. In situations like this it can be extremely hard to not only envision oneself doing the actual work, but also to apply for that job because you feel underqualified (even when you aren’t).
Luckily, there is an ever-evolving solution to this challenge; industry-focussed learning.
Industry-focussed learning can provide many benefits, including the opportunity to expose students to the latest happenings within an industry and the modern challenges development teams are looking to solve. Executive, and Head of Research and Development at BBD, Tony van der Linden goes on to say; “It combines the content of a specific topic with the experience of an industry expert.” It can also provide graduates entering the working world with a competitive advantage over their peers as they’re more equipped to find long term success in a rewarding career.
BBD’s commitment to industry-focused learning initiatives
International software solutions company, BBD, has a strong relationship and is actively involved in the Department of Computer Electronic and Electric Engineering at the University of Pretoria (UP). For the past two years, they’ve been one of the main sponsors of their UP-Robot Car Day and are dedicated to not only offering top students bursaries, but also hiring graduates into their Grad Programme in an aim to help cultivate a thriving IT industry.
Being industry-focused means two things: keeping up with the industry and involving the industry. The software engineering lecturer at UP resigned, leaving a class of third year students without guidance. Understanding the need for holistic student development and making use of the relationship with BBD, UP approached Herman Botha, BBD executive, asking if he would like to take over these classes and become the first engineering industry lecturer at UP.
As BBD is committed to grassroot initiatives geared at finding and nurturing talented individuals who may not otherwise have the opportunity while widening the skills pool, Van der Linden joined forces with Botha. The duo lectured the software engineering module at the university three times a week. “It was nerve-wracking at first” says Botha, “having been a difficult student myself, I was expecting a group of difficult students. But that was definitely not the case. They really are a joyous bunch who are eager to learn”.
Within this broad-spectrum software engineering module, the subject matter incorporates both theory and practical. “We are essentially preparing the students, if they were to get into the software world, on what they can expect from beginning to end”, he goes on to explain.
In today’s world, going to university means more than just acquiring a degree. Within these years it’s essential to build the skills necessary for what comes after university and gain a solid understanding of the industry you will move into. Being equipped with the relevant knowledge and resources smooths the transition from student to employee and eliminates the many doubts students face.
Third year engineering student at UP, Karl Etsebeth, weighs in on his experience in the classroom: “The textbook content seemed very abstract at first, with few clear examples of how concepts would combine to assist in software development. Having industry lecturers helped to bridge this gap as they placed the concepts in context with real life examples.”
Nelson Mandela once said that education is the most important weapon, which can be used to change the world. He was not wrong. When universities and industry work together, we can ensure that students have the opportunity to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications and experiences, ultimately leaving university primed for success.
If you’re looking to kickstart your career in the software development field, checkout our Grad and Bursar Programmes here.