International work experience for IT students

3rd May 2016

Ten IT students on the BTEC Extended Diploma in IT Level 3 recently had the opportunity to work and study in historic Prague in the Czech Republic.

Exciting opportunities

The Prague opportunity was part of Barking & Dagenham College's partnership with Erasmus+.

Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. It offers exciting opportunities for students to study, work, volunteer, teach and train in Europe.

Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. Tech interns The students, all aged between 17 and 20, were assigned 3-week internships with one of 4 Prague-based businesses:

Freytag & Brendt Company
Daytrip
Paralelni Polis
SparkTech

The students set to work on hardware and software tech projects including programming in HTML, Python and JavaScript; bug testing; PC building; installing and configuring Linux OS; 3D printing; editing databases, and helping with language translations.

Juggling work and study

They also completed a number of course units as part of their visit and, despite all their hard work and study, they did manage to enjoy everyday Prague life.

Learning the language

The students had language lessons to help them with the basics, and then put their new-found skills to the test by experiencing everyday life in Prague.

Joe Cole, Curriculum Manager for IT, said of the opportunity

“It was a great opportunity for the students to experience a real life overseas work experience internship at the same time experiencing the local culture and language of the Czech Republic.”

Students share their experiences

“I have learnt about how a company works from the inside and have gained many interpersonal skills and attributes such as confidence, determination, independence and tolerance.”

"I enjoyed the professional environment and being able to work as a team to accomplish goals.”

“I enjoyed the fact that they integrated me into a big project.”