Compaq

The Communications Industry Solutions (CIS) Practice has worked in association with Aberystwyth University over the past two years to offer Computer Science undergraduates opportunities to gain useful experience of the IT industry. CIS concentrates for providing business critical solutions to the dynamic telecommunications industry. CIS have found that the undergraduates have been willing to learn new skills, both technical and personal, in order to make an effective contribution to our customer projects.

From a technical perspective, the undergraduates have gained a working understanding of UNIX and NT operating systems; as well as TeMIP (Telecommunications Management Information Platform), a proprietary product deployed by our customer base to manage events and fault reporting and resolution within their voice and data networks. Other areas in which the undergraduates have gained experience during their IT placement year, are…

• web-based user interfaces, using Java
• the design and origination of an inventory control application, deployed on a customer project to track purchase orders, delivery schedule dates, installation dates and product serial numbers at the customer sites
• participating in Y2K product upgrades and compliance testing
• factory testing of customer solutions, prior to customer acceptance testing
• onsite support of deployed solutions
• the revamp of our internal web page

From a personal viewpoint, the work experience offers a relatively safe environment in which the undergraduates can test their interpersonal skills and grow in confidence. During the IT placement year, students meet CIS representatives from all levels of the organisation, and may have the opportunity to see these people "in action", so learning new soft skills through observation. We have seen "quiet undergraduates" grow, during their IT placement year, into "quietly confident undergraduates". CIS can offer a Company sponsorship to undergraduates, who excel during their IT placement year, in order that we can attract them as permanent members of staff.

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