April 2, 2015, by Jacqui Storey

Students test the world of consultancy and help local charities

The Bulwell Toy Library team with Project organisers Jacqui Storey and Kathryn Wright

Three groups of Computer Science students presented the results of their IT Consultancy to an invited audience of local charities and businesses at our Jubilee Campus on 25th March. The IT Community Consultants project helps to demonstrate the importance of hands-on, real-life experience for students whilst providing valuable support for charities that often lack in-house IT expertise.

First and second year students Dan Jackson, Hamzah Abdullah and Antony Walker worked with Bulwell Community Toy Library on a variety of issues that were challenging the organisation. These included document storage and sharing, internet connectivity and the assessment of the effectiveness of an existing database. The students regularly met with Andy Pedley from the Toy Library and checked out their thinking with mentors who were University staff with IT consultancy experience. Andy Pedley said, “The students asked us some searching questions and made us think about what we really want from our IT.”

Meredita Susanty Alexander Morley and Chris Nicholls worked with Integritas Advocacy to advise them on how to improve data extraction for reporting purposes and how to improve the way they share documents. The final group involved Daniel Allenby, Kaayem Patel and George Tretyakov working with Self Help Nottingham to advise on a new Customer Relationship Management System.
These projects are not without their challenges which is to be expected in an environment where students are learning skills that will prepare them for the world of work. If we started with the ‘finished product’ then I guess the project would have less of an impact on the students. We are grateful to our community partners who give their time in support of the project and also to our mentors who help to ensure the work the students do is ultimately of benefit to the organisations.

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