Two Southwark College students from the Digital Production, Design and Development T-Level programme were invited to speak at the Association of Colleges (AoC) Provider Insight Day as part of the relaunch of the Student Engagement Charter.
Saabir Ibrahim and Ivana Zaykova demonstrated confidence and professionalism in discussing the impact of their placements on their education and career aspirations. Their articulate and engaging presentations highlighted the real-world skills developed through their T-Level course and the invaluable opportunities afforded by the College's partnerships with industry employers.
The Student Engagement Charter serves as a commitment to enhancing student engagement across the UK’s Further Education sector, with a particular focus on integrating industry experience into the learning process. The AoC Provider Insight Day was an opportunity to showcase the work of The National Association for Managers of Student Services, featuring presentations from several prominent speakers on the importance of student engagement and employer collaboration.
Saabir and Ivana's contributions to this event were instrumental in underlining the importance of employer engagement in the development of young talent and the role of practical experience in the future of education.
Saabir really enjoyed the experience and said: "It was a privilege and a fulfilling experience to present at the AoC conference. It gave us the chance to present our work and have insightful conversations that could influence schooling going forward."
Ivana found the opportunity was very succesful from a career aspect and said: "We were able to exchange experiences and gain knowledge from other professionals in the sector thanks to the AoC conference. Seeing how our combined efforts can lead to constructive change in education was encouraging."
The event, held at La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ School, was a great success, with the students' presentations shining a light on the immense value of work placements in shaping future careers.
T-Levels are vocational qualifications that combine classroom learning with industry placements and have quickly become a vital pathway for students to gain hands-on experience in their chosen fields.
To find out more about the T Level programmes at Southwark College, please visit: southwark.ac.uk/courses/t-levels
