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TCS Summer Camp builds interest in ICT

Information Age staff, Information Age

10/04/2008 13:51:30

At the first InsighT-basic summer camp to be held outside India, the two-week program ran during January this year as part of a corporate sustainability initiative by TCS Australia, in partnership with The Smith Family.

A dozen students going into Year 12 attended the program, which was designed to build interest in ICT careers. It focused on strengthening the core coding skills in Visual Basic, HTML and XML, providing practical training in technical support and developing the soft skills needed for effective communication and presentation.

TCS Australia provided course materials and instructors while TCS FNS provided the facilities and computers. The program was also supported by The Smith Family, a not-for-profit organisationfocused on improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children.

ACS Foundation Executive Director John Ridge was a guest speaker at the event, outlining the many career opportunities in ICT and explaining the various scholarship programs available through the Foundation and how to apply.

"It was very encouraging to see the students come alive to the diverse possibilities available to them in ICT and to start to connect these to their personal dreams," said John. "We had one student who was planning a career in construction, but who recognised the potential for ICT to open up both fields of endeavour for him. He made a decision at the event to become an ICT professional."

Not only did 70 per cent of the students who participated in the InsighT program set their sights on a career in ICT, but TCS plans to build on its success by expanding the program in coming years.

General Manager of TCS A/NZ, Varun Kapur, encouraged the students to reinforce what they had learned at the event with follow-up sessions and mentoring.

"We urge you to continue learning and working hard, and apply and integrate what you have learned into an area that excites you," he told the students on the final day.

ICT industry icon and Chairman of TCS FNS, Neville Roach was delighted with the success of the program. "This is the first time we have run this program outside India so we're very happy to have achieved our outcomes of generating more interest in ICT careers and contributing to Australian society as a good corporate citizen." He also encouraged the students to take advantage of the offer of ongoing learning and mentoring provided through FNS.