School visits introduce students to digital careers

• May 24, 2023
• neelam

Throughout the past scholastic semester, eSkills Malta Foundation collaborated with the National School Support Services under the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation to orchestrate a comprehensive school visit campaign. This initiative aimed to provide students in secondary public schools with firsthand exposure to real-life work environments, igniting their interest in pursuing studies in the digital realm and forging a career in the burgeoning digital sector.

In pursuit of this objective, eSkills Malta Foundation leveraged its extensive network of partners to meticulously organize and synchronize the campaign, ensuring the active involvement of a diverse array of organizations. Each company visit was meticulously crafted to provide students with a holistic understanding of the business activities, with key representatives from the organizations offering insightful presentations, followed by guided tours of their premises.

During these immersive tours, students were enlightened about various roles within the organizations and were encouraged to envision themselves in such roles, laying the groundwork for potential future careers. Furthermore, several companies incorporated interactive activities into the visits, ranging from quizzes and games to mini workshops, designed to captivate and engage the students on a deeper level. A representative from eSkills Malta Foundation added value to the sessions by delivering talks that shed light on possible roles and areas of specialization within the digital workforce, drawing examples from the specific context of each organization visited.

Each visit accommodated approximately 20 students from various colleges across the island. The engagement and enthusiasm displayed by the students during these sessions, coupled with positive feedback from teachers, strongly indicate that these experiences will leave a lasting impression on the students, influencing their career aspirations and propelling them towards the dynamic digital sector.

The success of this campaign is undeniably attributed to the unwavering dedication and collaborative efforts of all the teams involved in these visits. eSkills Malta Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the industry partners that played a pivotal role in the success of this year’s campaign. Noteworthy contributors include the Malta Information Technology Agency, APS Bank, Ernst and Young, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Cleverbit Software, KPMG, Smart Technologies Limited, and RS2 Software.

Looking ahead, eSkills Malta Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to organizing and participating in similar initiatives in the future. The overarching goal is to continually enrich and steer the national workforce towards a digitally-driven future, ensuring that students are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Why is this a good practice?

The collaboration between eSkills Malta Foundation and the National School Support Services to conduct a comprehensive school visit campaign is an exemplary practice for several reasons. By providing secondary public school students with firsthand exposure to real-life work environments, the initiative effectively ignites interest in the digital sector and encourages the pursuit of relevant studies and careers. Leveraging an extensive network of partners, the Foundation meticulously organized visits to diverse organizations, ensuring students received a holistic understanding of various business activities. These visits included insightful presentations and guided tours, allowing students to envision themselves in digital roles.

The inclusion of interactive activities such as quizzes, games, and mini workshops further engaged students, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. The sessions also featured talks from eSkills Malta Foundation representatives, who highlighted potential roles and specializations within the digital workforce, tailored to the context of each organization visited. This personalized approach deepened students’ understanding and interest in the field.

Accommodating around 20 students per visit, the campaign garnered positive feedback from both students and teachers, indicating a lasting impact on career aspirations. The success of the campaign is attributed to the dedication and collaboration of all involved, including notable industry partners such as the Malta Information Technology Agency, APS Bank, Ernst and Young, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Cleverbit Software, KPMG, Smart Technologies Limited, and RS2 Software.

This initiative not only enriches students’ educational experiences but also steers the national workforce towards a digitally-driven future. By equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the evolving digital landscape, eSkills Malta Foundation demonstrates its commitment to fostering a competent and competitive digital workforce.