Technology Leadership Forum Internship Programme 2010
5 February 2010 | Minister Michael Scott
Mr. Speaker,
I rise before this House to inform the Honourable Members of the House that the Technology Leadership Forum Internship Programme will take place in 2010 with another slate of talented young people who have the potential to become top professionals in Bermuda’s ICT community.
Mr. Speaker,
The Honourable Members of the House will recall that the Technology Leadership Forum or TLF is a leadership initiative designed by the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce, in partnership with private sector technology industry companies. As the demand for talented IT resources continues to be a keen need in Bermuda’s public and private sectors, the TLF in 2009 developed a pilot program that focused on this requirement. Mr. Speaker, the pilot program grew from an idea into an educational internship program that will give IT students a well rounded and in-depth understanding of the ICT industry in Bermuda. The 2009 programme had 10 participants. Students were either recommended by IT companies and professionals or they applied with their resume in writing after hearing about the initiative. Students were chosen from the Department of Labour & Training Summer Employment Programme, Bermuda College and from various overseas Colleges and Universities. The students worked in various Government Departments including the Department of E-Government, Information Technology Office. There were also students placed at BELCO, the Bermuda Hospitals Board, Ernst and Young, Capital G, Renaissance Re, and IBM/BSC.
Mr. Speaker,
We know that a top-performing IT team starts by having the right people on board. However, today's IT leaders are faced with the challenges of recruiting, developing, and retaining quality staff. Mr. Speaker, by investing in future employees, it will ensure that organizations will have a continuous talent source from which to draw upon for the appropriate skills and competencies needed in this dynamically changing environment. A lot of energy and effort was put into the 2009 Programme and the interns who took part were given a very special career opportunity and a head start in developing a successful IT career.
Mr. Speaker,
The TLF embodies the ideals of good corporate citizenship in Bermuda. Participation in the programme show’s an organization’s commitment in attracting and recruiting Bermudian students, mentoring and networking with these talented individuals and providing the educational training that will make them invaluable in the ICT community. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of the organizations involved in the Technology Leadership Forum. In particular, I would like to recognize the major sponsors of the 2009 Internship Programme - Renaissance Re, BELCO, Bermuda Hospital Board. Other sponsors include Bermuda College, the Department of Labour and Training, IBM/BCS, Fireminds, Gateway, Ernst and Young, and CCS Group Limited. The TLF is an investment in Bermuda’s future and both private and public sector organizations play a key role in shaping our next generation of IT leadership. We look forward to working with these and new partners in 2010.
Mr. Speaker,
The success in the 2009 pilot programme can be illustrated by the three students that secured full-time employment with participating companies at the close of the programme. We expect this trend to continue as participants graduate from their respective colleges and certificate programmes and enter the job market. The TLF will persist in contributing to advancing the agenda of creating a sustainable, qualified and professional ICT leadership pool of resources in Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker,
The students selected by the Technology Leadership Forum for the 2010 Internship Programme are a part of an intensive twelve week program, where they acquire experience in the ICT industry through both classroom learning and fieldwork as members of staff at the participating companies. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the internship program, students receive a certificate of excellence, which allows industry partners to know the level of expertise the student brings to the table, after their selection and participation in the TLF program.
Mr. Speaker,
During the classroom training sessions, students focus on modules such as Business Continuity, Project Management, Data Warehousing, Programming, and Networking, to name a few. These modules are taught by industry professionals and are meant to provide the students with a basic overview of the topics. It is the hope of the TLF that these modules will encourage students to focus on areas of study which are of the greatest need in Bermuda businesses. Feedback from 2009 participants indicate that the classroom training sessions exposed them to the many areas that make up the ICT industry and encouraged them to explore new areas of interest.
Mr. Speaker,
The 2009 TLF internship program provided at least two opportunities each month for students to network with IT professionals. During the development of the program, networking was identified as a critical component that would allow students to make contacts within industry, expose them to the range and depth of IT careers and to perhaps develop relationships with a mentor. Mr. Speaker, the two modes of networking include networking breakfasts and networking events. Networking breakfast bring IT professionals and students together in a boardroom for an hour. The environment allows for either group or one-to-one discussion. The organizers have at minimum a 1-to-1 ratio of professionals to students at these breakfasts. Networking events take the students out of their comfort zone but also into an environment that they will ultimately need to navigate when they enter industry.
Mr. Speaker,
The goal of the TLF Internship Programme is to effectively cultivate student interest in technology to address the talent shortfall frustrating the Island’s businesses through a unified approach and philosophy to ICT career development. The intention is to develop world class talent into world class IT leadership. In order to do this, we must expose them to educational and experience requirements to enhance their potential for employment in the future.
Mr. Speaker,
We encourage more companies and Government departments to become members of the Technology Leadership Forum, as their support will enable this important initiative to grow. By partnering in the objective of developing world class ICT talent that meets the needs of global and local business in Bermuda, we provide more reasons why Bermuda continues to be a jurisdiction of choice, even in difficult economic times.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
